What’s On in North Devon in December 2019

25th November 2019

What’s On in North Devon in December 2019

What do you know - 2019 has flown by, and we’re nearing the end of another year in North Devon! We’re not there quite yet though, first of all, we’ve got a busy December to look forward to. From festive entertainment to live music, craft workshops and more, discover it all in this handy little guide.

w/c 2nd December

Credit: James Robinson

From Sunday 1st December, Snow Sundays will be beginning at Affinity Devon and running until December 22nd. Trust us, nothing will help you embrace the winter season like stepping inside a free giant snow globe, and that’s exactly what you can expect! Step inside, and take intriguing photos for the family album - and if you feel so inclined, pop a few pennies down in aid of Chemo Hero.

Sunday 1st December will also see the Christmas lights switch-on at Clovelly Village. Never an event to miss, the entire village will be lit in a beautiful glow, and there will be festive refreshments, Christmas carols, and a jaw-dropping firework display to finish off the evening. 

The North Devon Christmas Market returns to Braunton on 7th December, and is one of the fastest growing in the South West. Packed out with 150 traders and stalls, find some fantastic, unique Christmas gifts.

Towards the end of the week, there’s another opportunity to give a little something back, with Santas on the Run returning to RHS Garden Rosemoor, raising money for Children’s Hospice South West. If you’re not up to the 2k course, you can spectate for £5 - which also covers your entrance fee, allowing you to make a whole day of exploring the gardens!

w/c 9th December

As the countdown to Christmas really begins, so does the pantomime - this year, ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ will be showing from the 13th December at the Queen’s Theatre, and is sure to get the whole family feeling appropriately festive.

If you’d rather watch a Christmas classic on film, head to Affinity Devon’s Amphitheatre and watch Elf in their open-air cinema. Wrap up warm for the occasion, and enjoy hot treats like mulled wine and hot chocolate to stay nice and cosy. 

For the more musically inclined, the iconic folk band Steeleye Span will be heading to Landmark Theatre in Ilfracombe on December 14th as a part of their 50th Anniversary Celebratory Tour! With a legendary lineup and decades of musical experience, this won’t be one to miss - they’ll be playing favourite after favourite and some of the best, most recognisable tunes from over the years. 

Meanwhile, if you feel like getting creative, why not attend a Stained Glass Workshop? You’ll have the chance to learn all about the process and create a beautiful piece of art, combining gorgeous stained glass with your choice of driftwood. 

w/c 16th December

Credit: The Big Sheep

This week is your last chance to visit Dartington Crystal’s Visitor Centre or Factory Tour - because both are closing for Christmas from Friday 20th December until January 6th. The good news is that if you visit before they close, you can get FREE entry! How’s that for a Christmas present?

Over at The Big Sheep, the kids have the chance to have breakfast with Santa! There’s a variety of different packages available, but the kids will love the chance to meet the big man himself in his grotto, as well as taking away a surprise gift. Alternatively, if your little ones are more into Frozen, visit The Big Sheep on a variety of dates for themed evening parties starting from the 20th - meet the stars of the film, enjoy a disco with their favourite songs, and have a play in Ewetopia.

In addition, the park will be hosting Woolly’s Winter Wonderland throughout the month, with festive touches being added to usual attractions plus Santa and his elves making an appearance. If you’re further towards Hartland, The Milky Way will be welcoming Santa’s Grotto and Buzzlewick’s Elf Emporium, which promises a whole host of fun from gingerbread decoration to creating eco-friendly reindeer food. 

w/c 23rd December

This is Christmas week, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had in North Devon! You can really get into the spirit of things on the 23rd with Westward Ho! Ho! Ho!, a night of family celebration on the village green. From the Sandy Santa Run to the craft fair, live music and Christmas carols, there’s something for everyone.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are best spent with your nearest and dearest, and after the main event, you can head to Clovelly on the 26th for their annual Boxing Day BBQ. There will be delicious hot food, mulled cider or hot chocolate, and live music running from 1pm until 3pm.

Meanwhile, the festivities don’t have to end after Christmas - at least, not at the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway! Visit between December 29th and January 1st and blow away the cobwebs and take a relaxing trip across beautiful Exmoor, with a complimentary mince pie to warm you from the inside out. 

w/c 30th December

This week is of course all about New Year’s Eve. Luckily, in North Devon, there are plenty of places to celebrate - from the legendary celebrations over at Bideford Quay, to Clovelly’s annual Pirate Party, you’ll have no trouble finding somewhere special to see in 2020. Down in Westward Ho!, Soul Intention will be hosting a great night playing popular soul and motown at The Pierhouse, while Disco Delight returns to Lilico’s for another smashing New Year’s Eve party.

It’ll be a busy one, but wherever you end up spending the night, we bet you’ll have a fantastic time!

Of course, being the most festive time of year, we have even more themed events taking place throughout North Devon - so we’ve also produced an entire guide to Christmas in the area! Ranging from Christmas markets to light switch-ons, more opportunities to meet Santa and winter festivals, click here for many more options and local festivities galore!

Have a great month everyone, don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and make sure to check back in a few weeks for our first What’s On guide of 2020!