A full calendar of Christmas celebrations is lighting up Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, bringing together markets, performances, and family-friendly attractions throughout the festive season.
In Christchurch, Highcliffe Castle hosts its Christmas Market on 22–23 November, followed by the Christmas Tree Festival from 5–23 December and special evening viewings with live music.
Christchurch town centre’s lights switch-on on 22 November begins a month of activity including the Living Advent Calendar with nightly pop-up performances and the Regent Centre’s pantomime Beauty and the Beast from 13–28 December.
Over in Poole, the festivities begin on 22 November with a Santa Parade and Light Switch-on from the Lighthouse Theatre to Poole Quay.
The event includes live music, street performances, and fire shows, supported by Poole BID and BCP Council. Poole’s town centre features light installations, illuminated letters, and a 14-metre Christmas tree, while an Italian Market offers festive food and gifts before Christmas Day.
Families can also join a Dick Whittington-themed window trail and vote for their favourite festive shopfront.
Poole Museum’s Scaplen’s Court hosts Storytelling with Santa, where families can enjoy crafts, gifts, and festive tales, while Upton Country Park offers a series of events including the Ice and Snow Trail (19–24 December), Santa Paws for dogs, the Christmas Market (6–7 December), wreath-making (12–13 December), and festive teas and Santa Experiences (20–21 December).
In Bournemouth, Christmas in Bournemouth returns with a refreshed look. There’s a Christmas Market in the town centre, Glow Golf evenings in the Snow and Glow Gardens Mini Golf, and Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf has been transformed into a winter attraction, complete with lights, competitions, glitter tattoos and a Santa letter-writing station for children.
The town’s Lower Gardens feature new themed attractions and interactive light installations across The Triangle, Westover Road, Beale Place, Horseshoe Common, and Lansdowne, alongside lamppost lights.
At the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, a Victorian Christmas runs from 18 November to 3 January, offering festive trails, afternoon teas, Father Christmas visits, and Candlelight Nights with live music. The Queen’s Park Golf Course ‘Christmas Day’ event takes place on 21 December with a festive roast and quiz at the Woodpecker Café Bar.
Across BCP, theatres are adding to the Christmas atmosphere. Bournemouth Pavilion hosts Cinderella, alongside The Nutcracker, The Overtones Christmas Party, and Elf The Musical at the BIC. Christchurch’s Regent Centre presents Beauty and the Beast, and Lighthouse Poole stages Dick Whittington starring Chris Jarvis.
BCP Leisure Centres are also joining the celebrations with festive decorations, a 12 Days of Fitness challenge, and Play and Meet Santa sessions at Kings Park Leisure and Learning Centre.
For those looking to enjoy the outdoors, the Explore BCP website offers scenic walking trails across the coast and countryside, while the BCP Family Information Directory lists a range of free and low-cost family events.
Bournemouth Coastal BID’s coastal towns will each host local events: Westbourne’s light switch-on on 29 November, Santa’s Grotto in Boscombe from 6 December, and Southbourne’s festivities on 13 December with animals, mulled wine and mince pies.
BCP Council is creating an expanding list on its website here with more details.
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