Create your ultimate festive season in Reading with our planner guide. Find all the top holiday events and activities.
The Reading Winter Wonderland transforms Forbury Gardens into a magical winter escape, complete with ice skating and festive lights. The Reading Christmas Market, filled with local artisans and delicious treats, brings holiday cheer to the town center. And the Pantos At The Hexagon is something you definitely don't want to miss, offering enchanting performances for all ages. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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The Top Christmas Events in Reading
See these and even more events listed below!Reading Holiday Markets and Shopping
Reading Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Local artisan-focused market with workshops
Description:
Reading Christmas Market spotlights the region's talented artisans and craftspeople. Unlike typical holiday markets, this event emphasizes hands-on experiences. Visitors can participate in workshops led by local makers, learning traditional crafts like candle making or wreath design. The market's dedication to showcasing Berkshire's artistic heritage stems from Reading's long history as a hub for skilled artisans, dating back to its medieval cloth trade roots.
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Reading Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Pantos At The Hexagon
What to Expect:
Interactive pantomime with local history twist
Description:
Pantos At The Hexagon injects local flavor into the beloved British Christmas tradition. This year's production weaves Reading's rich history into a classic tale, creating a unique theatrical experience. The show encourages audience participation, with actors breaking the fourth wall to engage directly with spectators. Listen for clever references to Reading's past, from its biscuit-making legacy to its literary connections. The Hexagon has been hosting pantomimes since its opening in 1977.
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Reading Other Holiday Activities
Reading Winter Wonderland
What to Expect:
Interactive ice sculpture garden
Description:
Reading Winter Wonderland transforms the town center into a frosty paradise. The event's centerpiece, an interactive ice sculpture garden, invites visitors to marvel at intricate frozen artworks. Skilled sculptors demonstrate their craft live, chiseling blocks of ice into dazzling creations. You can try your hand at ice carving under expert guidance. The tradition of ice sculpting in Reading dates back to the Victorian era when elaborate ice displays adorned grand winter parties.
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Nearby Events
Shinfield Winter Fayre (Shinfield)
What to Expect:
Celebration of rural winter traditions
Description:
Shinfield Winter Fayre celebrates the area's agricultural heritage with a focus on rural winter traditions. The event features demonstrations of forgotten countryside crafts, from corn dolly making to wassailing. Visitors can sample traditional winter fare made from locally sourced ingredients. The fayre honors Shinfield's long-standing connection to farming, which dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086.
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Christmas at Basildon Park (Lower Basildon)
What to Expect:
Georgian-era Christmas experience
Description:
Christmas at Basildon Park transports visitors to a Georgian-era celebration. The National Trust property comes alive with period-accurate decorations, music, and customs. Explore the mansion's rooms adorned as they would have been in the 18th century, with guides in historical costume sharing tales of Christmases past. You can participate in traditional Georgian parlor games. Basildon Park's restoration in the 1950s saved this architectural gem from demolition.
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Woodley Christmas Extravaganza (Woodley)
What to Expect:
Community-led performances and displays
Description:
Woodley Christmas Extravaganza showcases the town's vibrant community spirit. Local schools, choirs, and dance troupes take center stage, performing a variety of holiday-themed acts. The event features handcrafted displays created by community groups, each telling a unique story of Woodley's heritage. Visitors can vote for their favorite community-made decoration. This celebration of local talent reflects Woodley's history as a close-knit market town.
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Woodley Christmas Extravaganza
Henley-on-Thames Christmas Festival (Henley-on-Thames)
What to Expect:
River Thames-themed holiday celebrations
Description:
Henley-on-Thames Christmas Festival embraces the town's riverside identity with aquatic-themed holiday cheer. Illuminated boat parades glide along the Thames, creating a spectacle of floating lights. The event incorporates the town's rowing heritage, with festive races and demonstrations by local clubs. You can enjoy mulled wine while watching water-based performances. Henley's connection to the river dates back to the 12th century when it served as a vital transport hub.
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Henley-on-Thames Christmas Festival
Twyford Christmas Fayre (Twyford)
What to Expect:
Eco-friendly Christmas market
Description:
Twyford Christmas Fayre stands out for its commitment to sustainability. This eco-conscious event showcases locally made, environmentally friendly gifts and decorations. Vendors use minimal packaging, and visitors are encouraged to bring their own bags. The fayre features upcycling workshops where you can create unique presents from recycled materials. Twyford's green initiative reflects its history as a rural village that has long valued its natural surroundings.
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Caversham Artisan Christmas Market (Caversham)
What to Expect:
Fusion of traditional crafts and modern artistry
Description:
Caversham Artisan Christmas Market blends time-honored craftsmanship with contemporary artistic flair. This curated market brings together skilled artisans working in both traditional and innovative mediums. Visitors can watch live demonstrations of ancient techniques alongside cutting-edge creative processes. The market's unique atmosphere stems from Caversham's rich artistic heritage, which has attracted creatives for centuries.
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Caversham Artisan Christmas Market
Bracknell Winter Festival (Bracknell)
What to Expect:
Futuristic winter experience
Description:
Bracknell Winter Festival embraces the town's modern identity with a forward-looking celebration. High-tech light installations and interactive digital art transform the town center into a futuristic winter landscape. Visitors can experience virtual reality winter sports and participate in coding workshops to create their own digital snowflakes. This innovative approach reflects Bracknell's evolution from a market town to a hub of technology companies.
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Wokingham Winter Carnival (Wokingham)
What to Expect:
Tudor-inspired winter celebration
Description:
Wokingham Winter Carnival pays homage to the town's Tudor roots with a historical twist on holiday festivities. The event features a procession of elaborately costumed characters representing figures from Wokingham's past. Visitors can try their hand at Tudor-era winter games and crafts. The air fills with the aroma of traditional spiced drinks and roasted chestnuts. Wokingham's market charter, granted in 1219, set the foundation for its enduring carnival tradition.
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Newbury Victorian Christmas Fayre (Newbury)
What to Expect:
Immersive Victorian-era Christmas experience
Description:
Newbury Victorian Christmas Fayre recreates the ambiance of a 19th-century holiday celebration. The town center transforms into a living tableau of Victorian life, complete with gas lamp-style lighting and period-costumed performers. Visitors can ride in horse-drawn carriages and shop for authentic Victorian-inspired gifts. The fayre draws inspiration from Newbury's rapid growth during the Victorian era, when it became a key stop on the Great Western Railway.
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Newbury Victorian Christmas Fayre
Sonning Christmas Spectacular (Sonning)
What to Expect:
Theatrical village-wide Christmas production
Description:
Sonning Christmas Spectacular turns the entire village into a stage for an immersive theatrical experience. Local residents and professional actors collaborate to bring Christmas stories to life throughout Sonning's streets and historic buildings. You can follow different character storylines as you explore the village. This unique event builds on Sonning's rich theatrical tradition, which includes the renowned Mill at Sonning dinner theatre.
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Thatcham Christmas Lights Switch-On (Thatcham)
What to Expect:
Community-designed light installations
Description:
Thatcham Christmas Lights Switch-On showcases unique light installations designed by local community groups and schools. Each display tells a story of Thatcham's history or represents a local landmark. Visitors can vote for their favorite creation and meet the designers behind the illuminations. This collaborative approach to holiday lighting reflects Thatcham's strong community spirit, which has been a hallmark of the town since its days as a staging post on the Bath Road.
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Thatcham Christmas Lights Switch-On
Pangbourne Christmas Carnival (Pangbourne)
What to Expect:
River-themed Christmas parade and activities
Description:
Pangbourne Christmas Carnival celebrates the village's riverside heritage with a water-inspired twist on holiday traditions. The highlight is a parade featuring floats designed to look like boats, paying homage to Pangbourne's maritime connections. Visitors can participate in riverside carol singing and enjoy boat-shaped treats. The carnival's unique theme draws from Pangbourne's history as an important crossing point on the River Thames, mentioned in Anglo-Saxon chronicles.