A break from business this Christmas

It’s the most wonderful time of the year

in Leicestershire!

Take a break from business this Christmas with your family

WORDS BY SIDDIQA REININGHAUS

It can be difficult to take time off work, especially around Christmas. So, we’ve put together a list of just some of the things going on in Leicestershire over the festive period.

Book them in your diary to avoid missing priceless time spent with family and friends at these wonderful events.

1Visit Santa in Woodland Wonderland at Manor Park Farm

Located just ten minutes from the M1, visit Santa in his grotto at Woodland Wonderland. Enjoy a scavenger hunt through the Elves’ village and decorate a gingerbread house in Mrs Claus’s home! Spend a day on the farm meeting animals and feed Santa’s reindeer with a tasty treat of Reindeer Moss.

This event runs every weekend starting Saturday, November 27 until Christmas Eve.

Tickets are recommended to be pre-booked online at manorfarm.info/events/christmas-woodland-wonderland where you can choose a time slot to visit Santa.

3Guildhall Christmas Craft Fair

Get your Christmas shopping started at The Guildhall’s Christmas Craft Fair. It’s a unique Christmas shopping opportunity in the medieval hall, with city and county stallholders showcasing a wide range of arts and crafts stalls. It’s also a wonderful chance to support not only your local heritage but local creatives too. There’ll be children’s activities and food available throughout the weekend.

Adults pay an entry fee of £1 on the door, children attend for free.

November 21-28, from 11am to 4.30pm.

2Winter Wonderland and the Snow Queen at Tropical Birdland

Combine a magical experience of visiting the Snow Queen and Santa with tropical animals at Tropical Birdland. Grab a lantern and take a magical stroll down to Santa’s grotto. Feed the parrots before they take their nap at 2.30pm when you’re strolling down the famous fairy walk.

Located in Desford, LE9 9GN, Tropical Birdland’s Christmas events will run between 11am-2pm and 4pm8pm, Friday, December 3 until Thursday, December 23.

Pre-book tickets online to avoid disappointment at tropicalbirdland.com/winter-wonderland.

4Wicksteed Park Christmas Extravagansa

Wicksteed Park is so much more than just a theme park. This Christmas, experience family-friendly entertainment of Christmas music, dance and laughter to kick off this year’s festive season! Available throughout several dates in November and December, the Christmas Extravagansa includes a pre-show three-course festive meal before you enjoy an afternoon performance of thirty costume changes, stunning vocalists, and dancers from the popular West End shows. Whether you want to sing-along or simply sit back and absorb the Christmas spirit, there’s something for every family at this Christmas show.

To pre-book tickets, email hello@wicksteedpark.org or go to wicksteedpark.org/events/Christmas-extravagansa-show.

5Conkers Winter Wonderland

Wrap up warm this Christmas at Conkers. Enjoy a fun day outdoors through the Enchanted Forest, led by Santa’s Elves, and the Valley of Christmas Lights to unveil Santa’s Woodland Grotto. Take a ride on the Twinkle Toes Train through the tunnel of discovery where you can meet the balloon meddler and watch Christmas shows and films. For indoor entertainment, Christmas at Conkers includes paint-a-pot studio, ranger crafts, plus eighty acres of outdoor walks and activities! Each adult receives mulled wine with a special treat and children can choose a tasty treat of Mrs Claus’s freshly baked cookies!

Winter Wonderland is open from Saturday, November 27 until Christmas Eve. Pre-book your tickets at visitconkers.com/events/winter-wonderland/.

6Winter Wonderlights by steam trains are back this year

Starting from Saturday, December 4, see the Great Central Railway like you’ve never seen it before! The Winter Wonderlights train ride experience includes a journey departing from Quorn and Woodhouse station, LE12 8AG, and carries passengers to The Leicester North Pole (Leicester North station). The steam train ride features a magical twist with its myriad of lights and an illuminating spectacular lighting display.

For New Year’s Eve only, there’s a special Night Rider’s train journey departing from Loughborough Central at 7pm with a midnight stop at Leicester’s North station to celebrate the arrival of the New Year. The diesel and steam locomotives will include a Griddle Car which will be open throughout the evening with a fully stocked bar as well as New Year’s Eve meal options.

Tickets can be pre-booked online for both events at gcrailway.co.uk/special-events.

7Christmas Comedy Special at BrewDog

Grab a drink or two at the bar, find one of the finest chairs in the room, then just get your laughing gear in order. Comedians will perform their stand-up routines over the course of two hours and, hopefully, they’ll have you laughing your Christmas socks off. Just The Tonic claims to have some of the best circuit comedians around and that their comedy nights are in high demand up and down the country all year round. You will also find Reds True BBQ serving tasty food in the venue.

The event is strictly over 18s only. Tickets cost £15 and can be booked at seetickets.com.

Doors open at 6.45pm on December 11 for an 8pm start. BrewDog, 8 Friar Lane, Leicester LE1 5RA