What’s On

Until Saturday 17th

Santa Trains Let the festive magic begin! It’s the most wonderful time of the year and Santa is coming to the Severn Valley Railway – plus, mischievous elves Jingle and Jangle are joining him for more festive fun! Meet a pair of Christmas characters at our beautifully decorated station at Kidderminster, then travel by vintage steam train in reserved seats to Arley and see your favourite characters in an all-new pantomime. After being entertained by Jingle, Jangle and friends, you’ll re-board the train where a present for each child awaits. Suitable for all ages. www.svr.co.uk

Until Monday 2nd January 2023

Cinderella Swan Theatre. You shall go to the ball this Christmas! Join Cinderella, her best friend buttons and the ugliest sisters in town in the classic rags to riches fairy tale that enchants all ages! The Worcester Repertory Company proudly presents the most magical pantomime of all, packed full of all your favourite traditional pantomime comedy moments. Join us for this well–loved tale and cheer, boo, hiss, laugh, and sing along to your favourite songs in what promises to be Worcester’s most spectacular family pantomime yet! £10 - £21

It’s Christmaaas! at Hanbury Hall This Christmas, we’re turning back the clock for a nostalgic trip to the late twentieth century, inspired by rumours of wild and vivacious house parties at the Hall in the 70s and 80s. Get a blast from the past as you explore the house dressed for the Christmas we all remember: a riot of colour, with bright lights, baubles and tinsel galore! And whilst you’re here why not have a reminisce over your favourite toys from the era or dander around listening to all the Christmas number ones? You never know, you might spot Father Christmas having a snooze in front of the television! Admission prices apply to this event, free for National Trust members.

Thursday 1st - Sunday 4th

Worcester Victorian Fayre The Victorian Fayre was first started back in 1992 by traders from picturesque New Street and Friar Street. The Fayre may have grown a lot but it has stayed true to its traditional roots with plenty of Victorian themed characters, festive treats and a wonderful atmosphere. This year there will be almost 200 stalls across the city centre, selling local arts and crafts, delicious street food and gifts. As well as a wonderful array of stalls, we are looking forward to a fantastic programme of entertainment. Look out for Victorian characters in Gin Lane, lofty entertainers on stilts, brilliant musicians on our stages and buskers on every street corner. There really is something for everyone and we hope you have a wonderful time! Come along and see all the fun festivities for yourself, support local businesses and take part in one of the highlights of the Midlands’ festive calendar.

Friday 2nd

Christmas in the Link Join us on Friday 2 December from 4pm to 7pm for an evening of late night shopping with a warm glow of Christmas spirit.The community of Malvern Link warmly invites you to celebrate Christmas in the Link, an evening of carols singing, Santa’s Grotto, festive stalls, late night shopping with local independent businesses, children’s craft activities, charity tombola and a Christmas

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Peter Cooks Bread, an award winning bakery will be opening a new Bakery Shop at No.3 The Hop Market on Saturday 10th December 2022.

The bakery has been winning awards for its bread since 2014 and won the Baking Industry Awards ‘Britain’s Best Baker’ in 2022. The bakery will be ‘Sharing the Joys of Real Bread’ each day Monday to Saturday 8.00am until 5.30pm, alongside pastries, local produce and Christmas specials.

Pop along to the launch on Saturday 10th December 2022 to meet Peter and celebrity Chef Marcus Bean from 10am until noon and join the tasting event.

(Single supplement £8.00 pppn) January Bargain Breaks

Quite possibly cheaper than staying at home (and someone else does the washing up!)

The Sandringham Hotel, Weston Super Mare

The Sandringham is a lovely hotel on the Seafront opposite the Grand PIer Friday 13th to Monday 16th January 2023 4 days half board ONLY £139.00

Sinah Warren Character Hotel, Hayling Island

A lovely Hotel at the Southern tip of Hayling Island, Hampshire Monday 23rd to Friday 27th January 2023 5 days half board ONLY £269.00

Bembridge Coast Hotel, Isle of Wight

A wonderfully situated Hotel on the Isle of Wight overlooking the solent. Monday 30th January to Friday 3rd February 5 days half board ONLY £269.00

All breaks are half board from Dinner on Arrival day through to Breakfast on departure day. All breaks are inclusive of Coach Travel NB: There are no excursions on the 4 day breaks. There are two includedexcursions on the Warner 5 day breaks.

Mystic Isle Travel Limited

53 High Street, Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire WR9 8EP Tel: 01905 770 870 Office Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 9am - 4:30pm Sat 9am - 1pm Email: holidays@mysticisle.co.uk Website: www.mysticisle.co.uk

tree light switch on.Local choirs and groups with be spreading festive joy and all are welcome to sing along!The United Reformed Church Hall will offer facilities and host various activities to keep you entertained, so please pop in and say hello! Malvern Link, your local independent shopping and service hub, we are here all year round... not just for Christmas!

Friday 2nd & Saturday 3rd

Christmas Winter Wonderland Ralph Court Gardens. Throughout the day and selected evenings in December the gardens will be filled with Christmas cheer. Whether you are young or ‘young at heart’, we have lots to make you smile.The musical fountain will be set to Christmas songs, there will be Christmas inflatables, a Christmas story read by Boris the bear and hear our singing reindeer, supported by a donkey and snow. Evening ‘Winter Wonderland’ Sessions- 6pm – 8.30pm. (Adults £15, Children £10 and Family £48): Our licensed restaurant will be offering festive hot food, our special Alice in Wonderland cream teas and cakes all homemade on the premises. Father Christmas will be in attendance on the various dates in December. Please see website for full details. £4 per child (includes gift) All proceeds to Bromyard Lions. No pre-booking available, just turn up on the day to see him. Also taking place on Friday 9th, Saturday 10th, Friday 16 and every evening through to and including Friday 23 December.

Friday 2nd - Sunday 4th

Craftworks Elmslie House, WR14 3AG. An exhibition and sale of jewellery, textiles, ceramics, glass and metalwork created by twenty local designer-makers.

Saturday 3rd

Colwall Mistletoe Fair Colwall Mistletoe Fair will be outside Colwall Provisions (Walwyn Road) all morning with our mulled apple juice, cakes and mince pies offering: mistletoe in decorated bunches and balls; wreaths, holly and fir cones; all manners of jams, jellies and chutneys (and some honey; Colwall Apple juice and preserves; lip balms and gardener’s hand balm; fruit leather and dried apple rings; various handmade crafts (robins, snowflakes, lavender bottles etc). Do come and stock up with presents for your friends and relatives. Another opportunity to buy preserves and juice and other orchard related cards and books. The Mistletoe Festival Tenbury Wells. Come along for the traditional crowning of the Mistletoe Queen, stalls, music, Mistletoe ceremony, workshops and more. Don’t miss this free family day out. 10am. www.tenburymistletoe.org

Tenbury Town Band Christmas Charity Concert Regal Tenbury Trust49 Teme StreetTenbury Wells, WR15. 7pm - 9:45pm. Tenbury Town band presents its annual Christmas concert where we give the proceeds to charity. Come along and get your Christmas season off to the very best start with a fabulous mix of Christmas music with a few additional acts to entertain you.

Thursday 8th - Sunday 1st January

Beauty & The Beast Malvern Theatres Grange Road, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 3HB. A sparkling fairy tale pantomime for 2022-23, starring Melanie Walters (Gavin and Stacey) as Fairy Bon Bon, Malvern’s Favourite Funny Man Mark James as Louis La Plonk, Olivia Birchenough from Channel 5’s Milkshake! as Belle and Leon Craig as Polly La Plonk. Join Belle, The Beast, Fairy Bon Bon, larger than life Polly La Plonk and

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her cheeky chappy son Louis La Plonk as they are transported to a cursed castle, under the spell of an evil enchantress. Can the wicked Hugo be defeated, can Belle see beyond the Beast and fall in love with her captor, will the Beasts heart be melted by Belles beauty? With an unmissable transformation moment, slide splitting comedy, stunning sets and costumes, and an award winning script (Best Script – Great British Pantomime Awards 2019), join us for a must see, magnificent adventure.

Saturday 10th

Hallelujah! Worcester Cathedral. Music lovers will have a chance to hear Handel’s best-loved oratorio, Messiah, sung by 140 voices and renowned soloists at Worcester Cathedral on Saturday 10 December at 7.30pm. The concert, which includes the stirring Hallelujah chorus, is being staged by the region’s leading large classical choir, Worcester Festival Choral Society, under the baton of Worcester Cathedral director of music, Samuel Hudson. Also appearing are acclaimed soloists Philippa Hyde (soprano), Sarah Denbee (mezzo soprano), Tom Robson (tenor) and Edward Grint (bass baritone). Accompanying is the Meridian Sinfonia, playing Baroque-pitch instruments. Established in 1861 and closely associated with Sir Edward Elgar in its early years, Worcester Festival Choral Society draws its auditioned singers from across the region. The Society stages three major concerts in Worcester Cathedral each year, bringing some of the world’s ‘great choral works’ to the City. A Come & Sing one-day workshop, open to all singers, is also held each spring. Tickets £15£27 from www.wfcs.online or the TicketSource hotline: 0333 666 3366.

WYO & WYSO Winter Concert St Martin’s Church, London Road, Worcester, WR5 2ED. Concert by Worcestershire Youth Orchestra and Worcestershire Youth String Orchestra, showcasing a variety of music performed by our talented Severn Arts young musicians. Tickets will also be available on the door: Adults - £5.00, students, over 65 years, unemployed - free. We want as many Worcestershire children as possible to benefit from taking part in musical activity. This is why we are building a music fund for families who can’t afford the full cost of music lessons and instrument hire. Donations made when completing your booking will be added to our music awards fund. 5pm - 7pm. info@severnarts.org.uk Big Fish Little Fish EVESHAM Christmas DnB Family Rave Marilyn’s Nightclub Bridge Street Evesham R11 4RY. Join award-winning, Glastonbury Festival playing, family-rave sensation, Big Fish Little Fish for a festive skank out! Expect a nightclub environment with club lighting (no strobes) and dnb tunes, bubbles, confetti cannons and a certain Mr. Claus will lead the giant parachute dance! All music is played at a safe level for little ears. All ages are very welcome, but activities are designed with 0-8 years olds in mind. There will be Multi-sensory dancefloor filled with confetti cannons, bubbles, snow, balloons and our fab parachute dance finale; Festive craft activities; Homemade playdough table; Toddler Area - tents, tunnels and toys; Baby chillout area - mats, small ball pool and tents; Licensed bar with snacks; Christmas fancy dress is optional but encouraged! Please email Sophie at sophie@bigfishlittlefishevents.co.uk, if you have any questions.

Wednesday 14th

Festive Late Night Studio Opening The Fold, Bransford, Worcester, WR6 5JB.

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Come along to The Fold’s festive late night studio openings for mince pies, mulled wine and special late night festive offers.Shop for unique, handmade, eco-friendly gifts from local artists, designers and makers at The Fold. All welcome. 5pm – 8pm.

Saturday 17th

A Christmas Wassail Hartlebury Castle, Worcestershire County Museum. Begin your Christmas celebrations in the best way possible with the Crescent’s ever-popular Wassail - a show with enough Christmas spirit to last all year! We’re delighted to say that the Wassail is back for 2022 with the usual festive feast of music, comedy and spoken word, all brought together to warm your heart with the magic of Christmas. Come and enjoy a mince pie and a glass of mulled wine with us. Our wassailers are here to enchant, delight and entertain you. Be sure to get a ticket while you can! Tickets £25.00 - Including a serving of Mulled Wine and a Mince Pie Also On Tour Highbury Hall Crescent Theatre - Main House

Stourport Christmas The Civic, Stourport, Worcestershire, DY13 8UJ. 7pm. The annual traditional concert Sunday 18th - Wednesday 21st

Stanbrook Abbey Hotel, Jennet Tree Lane, Callow End, WR2 4TY. Powick Community Choir will be joined once again by the fantastic string chamber orchestra led by Shulah Oliver. Concerts take place in the chapel at Stanbrook Abbey hotel. Bring your family and friends to make this the most fabulous start to the Christmas season. There will be a retiring collection for charity. These festive concerts are a sell-out year after year so please book early.Tickets are £12.

Tuesday 20th – Friday 30th

A Christmas Carol Malvern Theatres, WR14 3HB. Malvern Theatres Stage Company presents A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. A Seasonal treat for all the family. A Christmas Carol recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. After their visits, Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler man. Santa Saves Christmas The Civic, Stourport, The Civic, Stourport, DY13 8UN. Each performance lasting approximately 45 minutes, followed by a meet, greet and treat with Father Christmas that includes a wrapped present for each child Starts at 11am. Individual ticket price £9.50 - £10.50 Group ticket price £36.00

Wednesday 28th

Funhouse presents: Live Stand-up Comedy Funhouse Comedy Club brings another night full of laughter to 45Live, Kidderminster on Wednesday December 28th. Topping the bill is the appealing and gripping writer and comedian Eddy Brimson. Known as a ‘geezer’ he is one of the most entertaining comedians on the circuit. Opening the night will be comedian and actress Fiona Allen who has appeared on ‘Mock the Week’ and in many sketch shows, including ‘Smack the Pony’. Completing the line-up is ‘Brummie’ funny man Tom Christian joint winner of 2015 Midland Comedy Awards New Act with his liking for customer complaints and complex and silly wordplay. Compere for the night will be James Cook with his sharp tongue and dry sense of humour. 7.00pm doors. 8.00pm show. Tickets £10 advance.