8 minute read
Festive Watch
Festive Festive Watch Watch
long held family traditions make christmas magical for both children and grown-ups alike! from trimming the tree, to digging out the stockings and leaving a mince pie out for santa, it’s a season to be treasured. make yours even more special with a visit to some of these sparkling destinations – all ready to treat and entertain you to make it your merriest christmas yet.
northampton & lamport railway host santa specials this november & december
Get in the festive mood with a magical, relaxing train ride aboard the Northampton & Lamport Railway and meet Santa in his magical Grotto! Details of the event will be released soon, so keep an eye on their website for dates and times. T: 01604 820327 W: www.nlr.org.uk
festive joy returns with magical wicksteed - bigger and better than ever!
Wicksteed Park has launched its incredibly popular Magical Wicksteed festive experience for this Christmas. The event will run from Saturday November 27th through to Christmas Eve, with this year promising to be bigger and better than ever. This year’s Magical Wicksteed will include a Christmas show in the park’s new theatre as well as a visit to Santa’s reindeer and meeting Mr and Mrs Claus and their cheeky elves. The price also includes unlimited rides on the train and all the rides in the Adventure Zone. Tickets are £19.50 for children and £17.50 for adults. A Wicksteed Twilight experience will also be available on selected midweek evenings. Magical Wicksteed is covered by the park’s Covid promise, which guarantees guests a full refund if the government introduces restrictions which prevent it from putting on the event. Check out all the details online. W: www.wicksteedpark.org
the magic of christmas set to illuminate kettering
The Christmas Lights BIG Switch on event will run from 4-8pm and will be hosted by local community radio station Shire Sounds on Thursday 25th November at Kettering Market Place. The fun and festive schedule will be released soon, so keep your eyes peeled on This is Kettering social media channels as you won’t want to miss what’s in store this year! There will be plenty of chances to support your local town centre with Christmas Markets on Kettering Market Place on Saturdays 4th, 11th and 18th December with lots of gift ideas, food and drink with festive entertainment for the whole family. W: www.thisiskettering.com
ho ho ho - weston favell presents santa!
The star of the show is back! Santa will be headlining Christmas at Weston Favell Shopping centre from Saturday 20th November to Friday 24th December. Meet Santa in his sparkly new grotto this Christmas and enjoy other fun activities and live acts throughout the centre as we countdown to the big day! Discover a rather cheeky talking post-box, make a wish on the wishing star, receive some good old-fashioned advice from a Pink Fairy Godmother and so much more! Visit the website for more details and to book tickets for Santa’s Grotto. T&C’s and a booking fee applies. Ticket includes entry with gift. W: www.westonfavellshopping.com
it’s a busy time of year in santa’s lapland workshop
Go along and meet Santa and see the Elves busy at work making lots of presents at Santa’s Lapland Workshop on Kettering Market Place, on selected days from Saturday 4th – Friday 24th December, between 10am – 4pm. Late night opening 17th & 23rd December, between 10am – 8pm. The cost is £7 per child and booking is required. For more details visit www.thisiskettering.com/christmas/ or call the booking office on 07392 665 143. Plus, open Monday to Thursday from 6th – 17th December, between 10am – 4pm, you can walk through the workshop and see the Elves at work while Santa is away on other business! Entry is £1 per person and there’s no booking required, just turn up!
decking the halls with a sparkling, traditional christmas market
Lamport Hall are hosting their first ever Christmas Market on the 4th and 5th of December! Go along to shop over 90 stalls of gifts, crafts and produce – you’re sure to find something for all the family. From hand poured wax candles to homemade cakes, Christmas decorations to handmade baby clothes, their talented stallholders will help take the stress out of Christmas shopping. Refuel after all that retail therapy with seasonal food and drink and get your festivities off to a traditional start with roasted chestnuts from Falcon Forge. The Hall and Gardens will also be open under separate entry. W: www.lamporthall.co.uk
Theatre Watch
Castle Theatre
Friday 29th-Sunday 31st October DRAGONS AND MYTHICAL BEASTS
Unveil a myriad of dark secrets and come face to face with some of the most magnificent monsters and terrifying beasts ever to walk the earth. Discover the colossal Stone Troll, the mysterious Indrik and Japanese Baku; the Tooth Fairy (not as sweet as you’d think), an adorable Unicorn and majestic Griffin. Take your place among legendary heroes, just don’t wake the Dragon.
Saturday 4th December 2021 – Sunday 2nd January 2022 SLEEPING BEAUTY
Get ready for the pantomime you’ve been dreaming of and awaken to a world of wonders this Christmas! Join us this Christmas as we transform the much-loved classic story into a fun-filled family panto, full of songs, dances and even a firey Dragon! Cursed by the jealous Wicked Queen on her 16th birthday, the beautiful Princess falls into a deep sleep that can only be ended with a kiss from her betrothed. Prince Charming, our hero, needs all the help he can get from the good fairies to help him escape the Queen’s evil clutches, wake the Princess and live happily ever after. Will true love win the day? Join us and find out!
The Core
Corby, Northants https://www.thecorecorby.com
Sunday 31st October WE ALL WOBBLE
Join the two lovable clowns as they weeble and wobble their way through a chaotic picnic. This life-sized roly poly spectacle is full of hilarious slapstick, near misses, and messy chaos for the whole family.
Thursday 11th -Friday 12th November THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR SHOW
Created by Jonathan Rockefeller, this critically acclaimed production features a menagerie of 75 lovable puppets, faithfully adapting four of Eric Carle’s stories, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, 10 Little Rubber Ducks, The Very Lonely Firefly and The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Wednesday 8th-Friday 24th December SANTA’S MAGICAL MYSTERY GUEST
Santa, Ellie, and Rudolph are getting ready for the big night! One of their presents is a magic cabinet which mysteriously conjures up a pirate who seems to be lost. With lots of Christmas songs to sing along with and tons of magic and festive cheer, see if Santa can help the Pirate find his way home in time for the big day.
Deco Theatre
Northampton https://www.thedeco.co.uk/ events/
Sunday 24th October STAND UP COMEDY FOR KIDS
Live on Stage Mester the Jester’s real-life alter-ego Mark Jones brings his solo comedy show to The Deco.
Saturday 20th November FIREMAN SAM SAVES THE CIRCUS
When all of his friends go away, Norman Price decides to find adventure in Pontypandy and become the star of a visiting circus. But with a tiger on the loose and faulty lights, the adventure soon turns to danger. Can Fireman Sam come to the rescue and save the circus?
Friday 10th -Friday 31st December ALADDIN 2021
The classic adventure story of Aladdin and his magic lamp springs to life with flying carpets, genies and lots of comic mayhem.
Milton Keynes Theatre
Saturday 11th December – Saturday 8th January 2022 JACK AND THE BEANSTALK
Follow Jack and climb a beanstalk of gigantic proportions to cloudland in this spectacular family pantomime. Doomed to sell his trusty cow, join Jack as he fights to save the beautiful Princess, outwit the evil giant and win riches beyond his wildest dreams, and the hand of the girl he loves.
Royal And Derngate
Northampton https://www. royalandderngate.co.uk/
Tuesday 26th-Saturday 30th October SHREK THE MUSICAL
Featuring characters from the film, Shrek an Ogre, finds himself on a daring adventure alongside a wisecracking Donkey to rescue the feisty Princess Fiona. Performed by Northampton Musical Theatre Company.
Monday 13th December 2021-Sunday 2nd January 2022 THE GRUFFALO
Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Searching for hazelnuts, Mouse meets the cunning Fox, the eccentric old Owl and the high-spirited Snake. Will the story of the terrifying Gruffalo save Mouse from ending up as dinner for these hungry woodland creatures? After all, there’s no such thing as a Gruffalo – is there? Songs, laughs and monstrous fun for children aged 3 and up and their grown-ups, in the much-loved show that’s toured Britain and the world!.
Thursday 9th DecemberSunday 2nd January DICK WHITTINGTON
Dick Whittington is the purrfect pantomime adventure that follows our hero to seek his fame, fortune and happiness in London Town. With help from the magical Fairy Bowbells and his trusty feline friend, what could possibly go wrong?
We take great care to ensure this information is correct at the time of going to press. However, we would advise parents to phone and check details prior to making a long trip …or promise!
