Christmas in Cambridge at Parker's Piece
Parker’s Piece transforms into a winter wonderland with an open-air ice skating rink, the Big Wheel, curling lanes, and a festive funfair featuring dodgems. Visitors can browse Christmas market stalls, sample a variety of street food and winter warmers, and relax in the Alpine Lodge or Christmas Tipi. The grounds also host traditional fairground games, live entertainment, and weekend appearances from Santa.
What to Expect
Free-admission festive village with open-air ice skating, Big Wheel, and markets.
Event Details
Duration
Curling lanes are bookable for 60-minute sessions.
Ages
All ages (with specific notes for Alpine Lodge after 19:00 and alcohol sales)
Timed Entry
Yes
Organizer
Seventa
Food & Drink
The event offers street food, sweet treats, winter warmers and festive drinks.
Local Insight & Ratings
Family Friendly
Best For
Families and groups looking for a lively festive outing
Vibe
Festive and lively
Energy Level
Moderate
Budget
Free
Photo Friendly
High
Weather Sensitivity
High
Location
Know Before You Go
- Tickets: Free entry. Some attractions and experiences are bookable and may sell out in advance. – Get tickets
- Hours: 13 Nov–18 Dec: Mon–Thurs 11:30am–10pm; Fridays 11:30am–11pm; Saturdays 10:00am–11pm; Sundays 10:00am–10pm. 19 Dec–3 Jan: Sunday–Thursday 10:00am–10pm; Fridays and Saturdays 10:00am–11pm.
- Accessibility: The site provides accessible toilets, ramps at the Alpine Lodge, and a wheelchair-accessible ice rink.
- Pets: Pets are welcome in outside areas; assistance dogs are welcome in venues. Dogs may skate on a lead, but are not allowed on site after 18:00 on Friday and Saturday nights.
Tips & Advice
- Book skating online before you come, because the rink always sells out at weekends and you can only change a booking up to 24 hours ahead.
- Bring photo ID if you plan to have a drink, because Challenge 25 applies in all the bar areas and alcohol is only served to over-18s.
- Bring a card or your phone, because the bars and attractions are mainly cashless and each market trader sets their own payment methods.
- Wrap up warm and wear sensible shoes for this outdoor event, and skip the sportswear if you're heading into the smart-casual Alpine Lodge.
- Shuffleboard is first come, first served, so leave the returnable deposit at the bar to collect the pucks, and the table football is free to play.
Special Events & Promotions
- Santa drops in at weekends for informal meet-and-greets, with no booking needed.
- Alpine Lodge Bar Booth package: a reserved booth for up to 8 people with a set drinks allowance, booked ahead.
- Alpine Lodge Ultimate Gondola: a private heated gondola for up to 12 guests for 90 minutes, drinks included, booked ahead.
- Ice skating: 10% off for groups of more than 10, plus school rates and party packages.
Quick Actions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to book the activities in advance?
Entry to the site is free and needs no ticket, but popular attractions like skating, the curling lanes and the Big Wheel are bookable and can sell out. The ice rink always sells out at weekends, so book online ahead.
How young can children skate?
Skaters of all levels are welcome. Age 2 is the suggested starting point because the smallest skate is a child's size 7. Skate aids are there to help little ones balance, but every child still needs a ticket and skates, and under-12s must have an adult with them on the ice.
Can children go into the Alpine Lodge?
Children are welcome in the Alpine Lodge earlier in the day. In the evening the Alpine Bar becomes strictly over-18s, but the rest of the site stays open to all ages.
Where can we get food?
There's street food, sweet treats, winter warmers and festive drinks around the site. The Alpine Lodge has no food menu, but there are festive food traders on the outside terrace, and the street food trucks sit opposite the curling lanes.
Can I pay with cash?
The site is mainly cashless. Bars and attractions take Maestro, Mastercard, Visa, Visa Electron, Visa Vpay and Apple Pay, and each market trader chooses their own payment methods.
More Christmas Events Near Cambridge
More Christmas Events near Cambridge
Always check the official website for the most current information.
We've done our best to keep details up-to-date, but event schedules, prices, and policies can change. For the latest updates, please visit the official website or contact the organizers directly. Christmas Events Near Me is an independent guide and isn't affiliated with the events we list.