Visit Southampton has announced an exciting festive programme running from the 15th November until 5thJanuary.
The city centre will be transformed into a winter wonderland with a giant snow slide and festive light show – which will see the historic Bargate monument sparkle every night with a spectacular illuminated display and live music. A Santa’s grotto, thrilling rides plus the return of the alpine chalet-styled Christmas market and two pop-up bar areas will complete the festivities for a magical Christmas in Southampton. For more information: www.visitsouthampton.co.uk/christmas
The full festive programme line-up includes:
Christmas Market with Thrilling Rides and a Fabulous Light Show
Southampton’s bustling Alpine-style magical Christmas Market will take pride of place on the Above Bar pedestrian precinct and Bargate over the festive period (15 November 2024 to 5th January), offering a range of hand-made, authentic gifts including candles, clothing, and jewellery as well as handcrafted Christmas decorations.
To keep evening spirits high, a spectacular light show will illuminate the historic Bargate monument every 30 minutes each night, from 5pm to 9.30pm throughout the festive period, with live music too.
Hungry shoppers can choose from a mouth-watering menu of festive delights including delicious Dutch pancakes, doughnuts, Yorkshire pudding wraps and German sausages (including vegetarian and vegan options). There will also be two bar spaces – the Moose Bar and Alpine Bar – offering the perfect respite from shopping and festive meet-ups with friends and family.
Close by, visitors will be able to experience the thrills of Southampton’s Festive Wonderland in Guildhall Square with the option to enjoy a choice of rides including, for thrill-seekers, AtmosFear and a Snowball Bungee, plus a family-friendly giant big wheel offering great views of the city.
Plus, perfectly placed to experience the city’s other festive fun, the Southampton magical Christmas Market is right next to Westquay, the premier shopping and leisure destination on the South coast, and conveniently located just a few minutes’ walk from Southampton Central train station in the heart of the city centre.
Westquay for Festive Fun and Ice Skating
With Southampton’s historic city walls as a backdrop, from November 2024 and throughout December Westquay shopping centre is putting on some festive fun and Westquay on Ice will pop up on the Esplanade.
Swing into Christmas with the Down for the Count Orchestra
Celebrate the festive season in style with the vocalists and instrumentalists of the Down for the Count Orchestra, as they return to Turner Sims building at the University of Southampton for their annual festive extravaganza!
On Sunday 22 December, the 30-piece orchestra will recreate the music of Nat ‘King’ Cole, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra evoking the sounds of the great Capitol Studios recordings. Expect to hear faithful recreations of the best music of the swing era such as I’ve Got You Under My Skin as well as festive classics like The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting) and It’s Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas. Performances at 230 and 7pm. Adult tickets from £37, under 18s £20. More information here
Christmas All Wrapped Up with Mayflower
From 28 – 30 November, over 100 dancers and musicians from English National Ballet will bring Nutcracker to life with exquisite dancing, beautiful sets and Tchaikovsky’s iconic score played live at Mayflower Theatre. Tickets from £24.
On 1 December for one night only, the ultimate Irish-inspired Christmas concert, Fairytale of New York is back with an even bigger production. Tickets from £22.50.
From 3 – 7 December, Elf, the hit Hollywood blockbuster movie has been supersized into a live spectacular stage show. The story is enhanced with amazing film backdrops on a huge LED screen, Santa’s flying sleigh and an audience snowball fight! Tickets from £29.50.
Also, following their first triumphant Mayflower Theatre pantomime last year in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, street dance sensations, Ashley Banjo & Diversity, and award-winning actor and comedian, Kev Orkian, are returning to climb a beanstalk of gigantic proportions to cloudland in the spectacular family pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk.
Tickets from £19.50.
Families will love watching The Wind in the Willows at MAST Mayflower Studios where a cast of 50 young people will take them on a musical adventure with Toad, Rat, Badger and Mole from 22 – 31 December. Tickets from £12.50.
MAST Mayflower Studios will also be staging The Very Hungry Caterpillar Christmas Show from 4 – 14 December. The Critically acclaimed production will feature a menagerie of 75 lovable puppets and faithfully adapts four of Eric Carle’s books. Tickets from £16.50.
Tickets for all shows at both Mayflower Theatre and MAST Mayflower Studios can be purchased here:www.mayflower.org.uk
Adult Panto at The Stage Door
While for a more risqué take on Christmas, The Stage Door in the heart of Southampton’s cultural quarter, is putting on Alice in Wonderbra, anadult panto from 21 November to 21 December 2024, tickets from £24. https://thestagedoor.org.uk
For news and inspiration about what’s on and what to do in the city www.visitsouthampton.co.uk
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