Thrilled for holiday celebrations in Gloucester? Discover all the festive events with our ultimate guide! Whether you're a local or a visitor, our guide helps you enjoy the festive charm of Gloucester.
One of the highlights is the Gloucester Cathedral Christmas Market, renowned for its enchanting atmosphere and diverse stalls. Stepping back in time, you can also experience the Victorian Christmas Markets, featuring traditional crafts and festive treats. And the Christmas Lantern Parade and Lights Switch On is something you definitely don't want to miss, with its dazzling display of lights illuminating the city. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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The Top Christmas Events in Gloucester
- Gloucester Cathedral Christmas Market
- Victorian Christmas Markets
- Christmas Lantern Parade and Lights Switch On
- Santa's Grotto at Gloucester Quays
- Christmas Ice Skating Rink
- Festive Afternoon Tea at Hatherley Manor
- Christmas at the Museum of Gloucester
- Christmas Craft Fair at Llanthony Secunda Priory
- Christmas Tree Festival at St. Mary de Crypt
- Christmas Wreath Making Workshops
Gloucester Holiday Light Displays
Christmas Lantern Parade and Lights Switch On
What to Expect:
Community-led lantern parade
Description:
Gloucester's streets come alive with a procession of handmade lanterns, each one a unique creation by local residents and community groups. The parade winds through the historic city center, illuminating ancient buildings and modern shopfronts alike. Spectators can join in, carrying their own lanterns and becoming part of the moving light display. This event marks the official start of Gloucester's holiday season, a tradition that has brought the community together for decades.
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Christmas Lantern Parade and Lights Switch On
Christmas Tree Festival at St. Mary de Crypt
What to Expect:
Tree festival in one of Gloucester's oldest churches
Description:
St. Mary de Crypt, a church with roots stretching back to the 12th century, becomes a forest of creativity during its Christmas Tree Festival. Local businesses, schools, and community groups decorate trees, each telling a unique story. The church's historic features, including medieval wall paintings and Tudor tombs, provide a striking backdrop to the modern expressions of holiday spirit. Visitors can vote for their favorite tree, connecting with the community's collective creativity.
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Christmas Tree Festival at St. Mary de Crypt
Gloucester Holiday Markets and Shopping
Gloucester Cathedral Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Market set within a historic cathedral
Description:
Gloucester Cathedral transforms into a bustling marketplace, blending centuries-old architecture with modern holiday cheer. Artisans and local producers showcase their wares beneath soaring Gothic arches. You can sample regional delicacies while admiring the intricate stonework that has witnessed over 900 years of history. The cathedral's rich acoustics amplify the gentle hum of shoppers and occasional carol singers, creating an atmosphere unlike any other market.
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Gloucester Cathedral Christmas Market
Victorian Christmas Markets
What to Expect:
Immersive Victorian-era experience
Description:
Step back in time at Gloucester's Victorian Christmas Markets. Costumed vendors and entertainers recreate the ambiance of a 19th-century holiday bazaar. Traditional crafts and period-appropriate goods line the stalls, offering a glimpse into Christmas past. Visitors can try their hand at Victorian parlor games or watch demonstrations of forgotten crafts. The market pays homage to Gloucester's industrial heritage, showcasing products that once made the city a thriving commercial center.
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Christmas Craft Fair at Llanthony Secunda Priory
What to Expect:
Craft fair in medieval priory ruins
Description:
Llanthony Secunda Priory, a hidden gem of medieval architecture, hosts a craft fair that bridges past and present. Local artisans display their work amidst the atmospheric ruins, their modern creations contrasting with the ancient stonework. Visitors can watch craft demonstrations that echo the skills once practiced by the priory's inhabitants. The event sheds light on the priory's significant role in Gloucester's history, from its founding in 1136 to its modern-day restoration.
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Christmas Craft Fair at Llanthony Secunda Priory
Gloucester Other Holiday Activities
Santa's Grotto at Gloucester Quays
What to Expect:
Santa's grotto in a converted warehouse district
Description:
Santa sets up his workshop in Gloucester Quays, a revitalized docklands area that once bustled with maritime trade. Children embark on a journey through themed rooms, each revealing a different aspect of North Pole life. The grotto's design incorporates elements of Gloucester's industrial past, blending holiday cheer with local history. Visitors can explore the surrounding outlet stores, housed in restored Victorian warehouses, after their meet-and-greet with Father Christmas.
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Santa's Grotto at Gloucester Quays
Christmas Ice Skating Rink
What to Expect:
Ice skating with views of historic docks
Description:
Glide across the ice while surrounded by Gloucester's maritime heritage. The rink offers a unique perspective on the city's restored Victorian warehouses and historic docks. Skaters can practice their pirouettes or take their first wobbly steps on the ice, all while breathing in the crisp winter air. The rink's location pays tribute to Gloucester's long-standing connection to water, transforming a once-busy port into a winter recreation spot.
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Festive Afternoon Tea at Hatherley Manor
What to Expect:
Afternoon tea in a 17th-century manor house
Description:
Hatherley Manor, a stately 17th-century building, opens its doors for a refined holiday experience. Guests savor carefully crafted pastries and sandwiches that blend traditional British tea fare with seasonal flavors. The manor's period rooms, adorned with subtle holiday decorations, transport visitors to Christmases of yesteryear. You can explore the manor's grounds, which have witnessed centuries of Gloucestershire history, before or after your tea service.
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Festive Afternoon Tea at Hatherley Manor
Christmas at the Museum of Gloucester
What to Expect:
Holiday exhibits showcasing local history
Description:
The Museum of Gloucester weaves holiday themes into its rich tapestry of local history. Special exhibits highlight how Gloucester residents celebrated Christmas through the ages, from Roman times to the present day. Visitors can examine artifacts that tell the story of evolving holiday traditions in the region. The museum's Victorian-era building, once the city's school of science and art, provides a fitting backdrop for this journey through Gloucester's festive past.
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Christmas at the Museum of Gloucester
Christmas Wreath Making Workshops
What to Expect:
Wreath-making using locally sourced materials
Description:
Gloucester's wreath-making workshops celebrate the region's natural bounty and artistic traditions. Participants learn to create unique decorations using materials sourced from local forests, farms, and gardens. The workshops often take place in historic venues, connecting modern crafting with Gloucester's rich past. You can discover the symbolism behind different wreath components, many of which have roots in ancient British folklore. The finished wreaths serve as a tangible link to the Gloucestershire landscape and its seasonal rhythms.
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Christmas Wreath Making Workshops
Nearby Events
Santa Specials on the Gloucester Warwickshire Railway (Toddington)
What to Expect:
Santa's grotto on a moving heritage train
Description:
Board a vintage steam train for a journey through the picturesque Cotswold countryside with a very special passenger – Santa himself. The Gloucester Warwickshire Railway, a preserved line that once connected Birmingham to Cheltenham, springs to life with holiday cheer. Passengers can enjoy hot cocoa and mince pies as they chug along, taking in views that have changed little since the railway's heyday. The line's volunteers, many of whom remember the railway's working days, share stories of Christmases past.
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Santa Specials on the Gloucester Warwickshire Railway
A Georgian Christmas at the Holst Victorian House (Cheltenham)
What to Expect:
Georgian Christmas recreated in a Victorian composer's home
Description:
The Holst Victorian House in Cheltenham offers a glimpse into Christmas celebrations of the Georgian era, set within the birthplace of composer Gustav Holst. Period-accurate decorations and tableaux bring to life the holiday customs of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Visitors can learn about traditional Georgian games and pastimes, experiencing how the composer's ancestors might have celebrated. The event highlights the evolution of Christmas traditions from Georgian times through the Victorian era and beyond.
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A Georgian Christmas at the Holst Victorian House
Cotswold Farm Park Christmas Experience (Cheltenham)
What to Expect:
Christmas on a working rare breeds farm
Description:
Cotswold Farm Park combines agricultural heritage with holiday cheer, offering a unique Christmas experience amidst rare breed farm animals. Visitors can meet winter-hardy sheep and cattle while learning about conservation efforts. The park's nativity scene features live animals, connecting modern farming practices with ancient traditions. You can participate in seasonal farm activities, gaining insight into rural life during the winter months in the picturesque Cotswolds.
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Cotswold Farm Park Christmas Experience
Festive Fun at Dean Heritage Centre (Soudley)
What to Expect:
Christmas traditions of the Forest of Dean
Description:
The Dean Heritage Centre showcases the unique Christmas customs of the Forest of Dean, a historic royal hunting ground. Visitors can explore how the forest's rich natural resources influenced local holiday traditions, from charcoal-burning to coal mining. The centre's period cottages are decorated to reflect Christmases of different eras, offering a journey through time. Traditional Forest crafts are demonstrated, allowing guests to connect with the region's cultural heritage.
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Festive Fun at Dean Heritage Centre