MUDDY’S PICK OF THE MONTH

The Great Christmas Carnival, Newbury Racecourse, 27 Nov – 2 Jan

No need to schlep up to Hyde Park, immerse yourself in festive fun at the very first Newbury Christmas Carnival at Newbury Racecourse. Organiser Underbelly have confirmed The Great Christmas Carnival (27 Nov – 2 Jan) will feature a Flying Father Christmas and grotto, theme park rides like the The Greatest Hits Radio Big Wheel, a spinning coast and giant roller coaster, plus Christmas tree maze, market, Circus Berlin will perform in the Big Top and practice your triple salchow because there’s an ice rink too. Tickets £5 admission.

FESTIVE FUN

A Wild Christmas Beale Park Wildlife Park Elf on the shelf on tortoise

A Wild Christmas, Beale Wildlife Park Pangbourne, now – 24 Dec

Go wild this Christmas, at Beale Wildlife Park’s winter wonderland. Open until the 24 Dec, you can combine the magic of Christmas with your kids love of animals. Travel on the Reindeer Railway, write a letter to Father Christmas in our alpine lodge and complete a special festive trail. You can even meet the BIg FC in his fairy-tale grotto and feed his beautiful reindeer (£8 per child on top of the entry price). Keep the change, you filthy animal.

Virtual Sleigh Ride, The Lexicon Bracknell, now – 24 Dec

Father Christmas – but seriously cool. Take a magical virtual reality sleigh ride on Santa’s new motor at The Lexicon Bracknell this Christmas. With the help of state-of-the-art VR headsets your kids will test fly around the world on the big man’s new sleigh in this immersive and unique experience (£3.95pp). There’s also a Snowflake Trail, South Hill Park’s panto stars will be popping up, a Christmas market and Will Wildwood’s slide will return to Princess Square, dressed for the festive season to help raise money for Bracknell Foodbank.

Reading’s Winter Wonderland, Hills Meadow Car Park Reading, now – 2 Jan

Reading’s Winter Wonderland will be popping up again in Hills Meadow Car Park from 12 Nov. Expect more festive fun than a Mariah Carey video. There’s an ice rink, fun fair, Aprés bar, Santa’s grotto, German sausage and lots and lots of mulled wine. It’s free to enter, but you can buy tickets now for Santa’s Grotto, Ice Skating and an unlimited ride pass.

Legoland at Christmas, Windsor, now –

Legoland at Christmas kicks off on 27 Nov with plenty of twinkly lights and snow-dusted festive magic. Entry price for the Christmas season includes a visit to LEGO Santa, send letters to the North Pole, build a decoration for our DUPLO Christmas tree and new for 2022 you’ll get to see Father Christmas’s Magical Sleigh as it travels across the park. Think of your children’s faces lighting up and the enormous gin you’ll need the you get home.

FOOD AND DRINK

will also will receive a free tube of sausage meat. Who could resist?

Kids Christmas Jumper Party, The Vansittart Arms Windsor, 17 Dec

If you’re limping towards the Christmas finishing line, The Vansittart Arms have your back. The team will be hosting a Kids Christmas Jumper Party (12pm-4pm) on 17 Dec for your over-excited offspring to get their festive craft on – bauble decorating, cookie decorating, there will be a magician, festive films and a large glass of Chablis for you.

On New Year’s Eve they are also hosting a night of nibbles, fizz and live music.
To save your spot, simply pay a £25pp deposit.

OUTDOORS

Festival of Light, Newbury, 11 Dec

Ooh pretty lights. The annual lantern procession is fast becoming a community Crimbo tradition and the lanterns get more and more elaborate every year. It’s amazing what you can do with willow and paper when you know what your doing. Good job I’m not involved in the making. Wrap up warm, head to Northbrook Street for the Festival of Light and join the fun at 5pm. The last lantern making workshop at 101 Arts Creation Space in Greenham will take place on 4 Dec.

The Carnival of Animals, Maidenhead, 10 Dec

Add a dash of festive razzle dazzle at Maidenhead’s annual Community Lantern Parade. It kicks off with live music and entertainment from Bombay Baja Brass Band outside Maidenhead Town Hall from 4.30pm. Tis totes FREE, so wrap up warm and enjoy this awesome Crimbo tradition.

Family Race Day, Newbury Racecourse, 31 Dec

When you’re sick of the sight of cheese and Quality Street and the countdown to 2023 is on – this drag you out of the TV coma. Book tickets to Newbury Racecourse’s NYE family race day (the Coral Challow Hurdle Day to give it it’s proper name) on 31 Dec. Fresh air, fun and rumour has it there are some special guests ready to meet your little ones. Tickets from £22.50. Under 18s FREE.

West Green House Illuminated Garden, Hartley Wintney, now – 31 Dec

Gigantic shimmering flowers, glowing fairies and a forest of illuminated red tulips – the famous Opera Garden at West Green House in North Hampshire undergoes it’s stunning annual winter transformation from late November. Look out for lit water lilies floating on lakes, bridges turned into tunnels of lights and classical follies twinkling in the darkness. Beautiful.

Christmas Racing Weekend, Ascot Racecourse, 16-17 Dec

Ascot Racecourse christmas father and mother christmas arriving in sleigh

Giddee up to Ascot for the last race of 2022. Kick off Christmas with winter cocktails, mulled wine, brass bands, reindeer, Mr and Mrs Claus, Nutcracker toy soldiers, fun fair, carols and two days of dramatic Jumps racing. Just don’t blow your last minute xmas shopping budget on the horses. Come the 25th, your celebrations could be a modern retelling of A Christmas Carol.

Neverland Illuminova, Wellington Country Park Riseley, 17 Nov – 23 Dec

It’s Wellington Country Park’s first illuminated Christmas – say hello to Neverland Illuminova. Enter at dusk and enjoy an illuminated quest with your friends and family. This is a sensory experience with colour and sound creating a symphony of light. Tickets adults £20, kids £16.

Windsor on Ice, Alexandra Garden Windsor, now – 2 Jan

Closeup of unrecognizable girl holding figure skates over shoulder leaving ice rink after sports training, copy space

Windsor On Ice is back for the winter and whether you’re Olympic standard or a ‘cling on’ like me, they’re great for a family day out, or a fun slippy-slidey Christmas party. This year the rink is open from 18 Nov and they’ll be putting up the big screen for super-cool pop up cinema, plus fun fair, food and bar. Sessions are for 45 mins. See you in A&E, I mean on the ice.

Windsor Great Park’s Illuminated Trail, now – 2 Jan

Windsor Great Park’s Illuminated Trail is back for its second year (17 Nov – 2 Jan) and it plans to be bigger and better. The trail, produced by guys behind Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, will feature a field of lights that will extend more than 1,400 sqm, fountains of projected flowers and holograms of woodland creatures. Prepare to be dazzled fro 17 Nov.

FAIRS AND MARKETS

Victorian Extravaganza, Hungerford, 9 Dec

Victorian carousel galloping horses Hungerford Extravaganza

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose… Ahhh, life before Netflix, online shopping and Alexa belting out the carols. Step back in time at Hungerford’s annual Victorian Extravaganza with Helter Skelter, Big Wheel, stalls, side shows, fireworks, jugglers, stilt walkers and mulled wine.

Other fairs to have on your radar:

Winter Night Market and Christmas Fair, Norden Farm Maidenhead, 18-19 Dec

STAGE

Jack and the Beanstalk, Hexagon Theatre, Reading, 3 Dec – 2 Jan

Mr Tumble fan in your house? He’s a panto regular at Reading’s Hexagon Theatre and he’s back again for another charm-filled sojourn in Jack and the Beanstalk. Once again he will team up with award-winning panto dame Paul Morse and plan to do all their Christmas shopping this year using magic beans.

Rapunzel, The Watermill Theatre Newbury, now – 31 Dec

Rapunzel Christmas Show The Watermill Theatre Newbury

Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down your hair… The Watermill Theatre’s brilliantly bookish Christmas show. It’s one of the prettiest theatres in the UK and their Christmas production is a literary alternative to the panto cheesefest. This year, Rapunzel, written by Annie Siddons and directed by Lucy Betts, promises to be a lively Christmas adventure with music, magic pigs and plenty of surprises!

Jack and the Beanstalk, South Hill Park Bracknell, now – 31 Dec

Magic beans and get you a long way these days… all the way to giant country. There’s a reason why families return year after year to South Hill Park in Bracknell. Expect all the cheesy one liners, toe tapping songs and a jaw-dropping set.

A Festive Evening of Burlesque, Norden Farm, Maidenhead, 23 Dec

Have you been naughty or nice this year? Hundred Watt Club’s gift to you is this hot toddy of a show, jam-packed full of festive burlesque, vaudeville and circus acts. If you like your Winter nights bawdy and a little bit naughty, this is for you! No rummaging in the stockings, you’ll get arrested.

One Snowy Night, Norden Farm Maidenhead, now – 30 Dec

ONE SNOWY NIGHT SLAPSTICK THEATRE NORDEN farm MAIDENHEAD

Looking for a Christmas show that dials down the crazy? Norden Farm always put on an atmospheric, bookish production. This year, One Snowy Night from A Tale from Percy’s Park by Nick Butterworth will be brought to life by Slot Machine (the clever peeps behind Miki and Kipper’s Snowy Day. It’s a perfect introduction to theatre for littles and SEND children.

Sleeping Beauty, Theatre Royal Windsor, 25 Nov – 8 Jan

Expect your standard family fun, audience heckling, and grown-up wink-nudges at the Theatre Royal Windsor for Sleeping Beauty, starring Anita Harris, Steven Blakeley, Kevin Cruise and Basil Brush. It’s a great panto in a beautiful theatre. Booooom booooooom!

A Christmas Carol, Reading Rep Theatre, 30 Nov – 31 Dec

It’s Dickens but not as you know it. This is a fun, fresh and lively adaptation of the Christmas classic. A story of second chances – there’s always another day and you can write a brand-new page tomorrow. All the festive feels and a healthy reminder not to be stingy with your gifts.

Jack and the Beanstalk, Corn Exchange Newbury, 25 Nov – 31 Dec

Can’t stand Z-list pantos? The Corn Exchange continues its policy of not bothering with the soap star brigade, with its in-house panto. Watch Jack flog the family cow for some magic beans, climb a beanstalk and discover a mystical castle in the clouds… Can Jack and his panto pals defeat the giant? Oh, yes he can…

Life is a Dream, Progress Theatre Reading, 7-10 Dec

The King plans to step down from the throne and everyone expects him to name either his niece or nephew as heir. Rosaura has fled her homeland in disguise, trying to find a new home in a country about to be torn apart by civil war. All while Segismund, true heir to the throne, lies locked in a tower dreaming of escape.

Top Hat, Mill at Sonning, now – 30 Dec

The Mill at Sonning is bringing Hollywood to Berks. Sadly not a George Clooney one man show, although I’d be front row, for sure, but Top Hat, this year’s Christmas musical. All tickets include a delish two-course meal. First person to spy George and Amal wins Christmas at the Clooneys (joke, obvs).

Sh!t Actually and Sing-A-Long Muppets Christmas Carol, South Street Arts Reading, 15-16 Dec

Sh!t Actually and Sing-A-Long Muppets Christmas Carol, South Street Arts Reading

If you’re desperately seeking something cheese free, the Sh!t Company will be presenting for the first time in living memory Sh!t Actually v Sing-a-long Muppet Christmas Carol. Two cult hits, back-to-back for your Christmassy-pleasure! Experience a two-woman 100% faithful, word-by-word* Richard Curtis remake! It’s going to raucous and moving in equal measure.

Rules for Living, Wokingham Theatre, 8-17 Dec

Comedy drama rather than panto cheesefest in Wokingham. What happens when an extended family gather in the kitchen for a traditional Christmas and they each follow their rules for living to the letter. Like all festive family gatherings, accusations fly, relationships deconstruct and the rules take over.

Chris Dugdale: Ethermind, The Old Court Windsor, 22 Dec

Chris Dugdale Magician The Old Court Windsor

Be wowed by a world class magician and mind control artist who wooed Angelina Jolie and our late Queen. Chris Dugdale managed to fool the greatest minds in the Pentagon and now it’s your turn at The Old Court Windsor on 22 Dec.

DECK THE HALLS

Winter Ball and Illuminated Trail, Basildon Park Lower Basildon, now – 4 Jan

Basildon Park is blinged out for festive fun. This year, the house has a nature theme inside and out with lots of sensory surprises. The Dining Room has been transformed into an indoor terrarium, walks are lit by fairy lights and the smell of dried oranges and cinnamon will fill the house. So crack open the Black Tower, pass the nuts, and introduce your kids to life before Netflix. Basildon Park is also running after dark candlelit tours on the 3 and 10 Dec.

Christmas at Cliveden NT, Taplow

Grand, glam and ready to party, Cliveden near Maidenhead, is all about festive fresh air and family traditions. There’s 365 acres of landscaped garden and woodland to blow off steam and let the kids run wild – pitstop at the Storybook Play Den, the Maze or in the woodland play trail. A fave walk for Muddy is the short but scenic Gold Walk – a leg-stretching 3.1 miles, if you do the whole trail, but you get to see Cliveden’s crown jewels. Also on selected dates (Mon, Tue and Thu, 11am and 12.30pm, until 8 Dec).

Christmas at Windsor Castle, now – 2 Jan

Breaking the seal on the festive season… Christmas at Windsor Castle (from 24 Nov) is one of the county’s festive highlights. Although it will be tinged with sadness as the first without Her Majesty the Queen, it’s a great opportunity to see Windsor Castle, wearing all its festive accessories. The 6m spruce in St George’s Hall, taken from Windsor Great Park, is the show-stopping centrepiece and in the Waterloo Chamber a table will be laid with a display of decorative items from the Royal Collection.

ARTY PARTY

A brand new exhibition opens on 10 Nov at the Stanley Spencer Gallery in Cookham of the paintings loved by the volunteers. It’s a rare opportunity to see the most popular artworks at the same time, including The Last Supper, set in the Cookham malthouses, Neighbours; and paintings from Spencer’s ‘Marriage at Cana’ series, which weave Biblical stories into village life.

BIG SCREEN

Christmas movies, The Old Court Windsor, 17-18 Dec

Is it even Christmas if you’re not watching cheesy festive films while mainlining Mulled Wine and eating an entire tub of Celebrations. The Old Court – Windsor’s only cinema – is screening two classics – Home Alone and The Holiday. If this doesn’t get your jingle bells ringing, nothing will.

Christmas films, Renegade Brewery Taproom Yattendon, 15-17 Dec

Hugh Grant and Martine McCutcheon with boy wearing octopus costume Love Actually

All the festive feels with lashings of craft beers. Renegade Brewery will be screening Muppet Christmas Carol on 12 Dec, Love Actually on 15 Dec and one of my personal favourites Arthur Christmas on 20 Dec. The films are free, but it would be rude not to have a little seasonal tipple.

CAROLS CONCERTS & MUSIC

Silent disco santa with retro ghetto blaster star sunglasses and santa suit

Christmas Carol Concert, Reading Minster, 10 Dec

Get yourself in the Christmas spirit without having to wait for King’s College Cambridge on Christmas Eve! There will be familiar carols and some others that may be less so, sung by Reading Pheonix Choir – and anyone who wants to join in.

Sugar and Sax, The Vansittart Arms Windsor, 24 Dec

If your family tradition is Christmas Eve at the pub, then you’ll love The Vansittart Arms’ night before Christmas fun. Sugar and Sax will be performing and there will be nibbles and fizz, with sharing platters available. £10pp
deposit.

Gig in the Garden, Forbury Garden Reading, 9 Dec

Duvet coat and hot wine on standby for the a fab, festive night in Reading’s iconic Forbury Gardens. Head to Gig in the Gardens on 9 Dec from 5pm, celebrating the best of Reading’s music, food and drink. There will live music from local bands including The Magical Mystery Four, Kill Committee and Tim Kay Band. Expect festive lighting, firepits, street food and bar. Once the bands have wrapped up, stay on for the after-party – your very own silent (night) disco rave! For more PG fun there is also a Festive Family Rave on 10 Dec from 10am to 3.30pm.

OOPS, TOO LATE

Royal Ballet Live: The Nutcracker, South Hill Park Bracknell and Corn Exchange Newbury, 8 Dec

There’s nothing like a sea of tutus, twinkly lights, sugar plum fairies to lift the spirits… it can only be the Nutcracker – an 18^th century prequel to Toy Story. The Royal Ballet’s staging of this classic ballet is jaw-dropping. Peter Wright’s reworked production is available to watch live without leaving the county. Pass the popcorn, it’s a cracker.

Cézanne: Exhibitions on Screen, South Hill Park Bracknell, 7 Dec

Get under the skin of one of the greatest 20th Century artists. This intimate portrait of Paul Cézanne, filmed at London’s National Portrait Gallery, includes interviews with experts and correspondence from Cézanne. Coincides with a major Cézanne exhibition at Tate Modern, on until Mar 2023.

Ever wondered what blue smells like? Or what colour jasmine would be? The Scent of Colour exhibition at HUMOS – an artisan perfume studio in Caversham. The exhibition explores the cognitive and sensory mystery associated with colour and scent. Have a fragrant nose around until 4 Dec.

A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story, Corn Exchange Newbury, 1 Dec

A Christmas Carol, alongside Nicholas Farrell (Chariots of Fire, The Crown, The Iron Lady) as Scrooge. This powerful tale of life, love, loss and redemption is as relevant today as when it was first published 179 years ago. A Nottingham Playhouse production, it was filmed live for cinemas during the 2021 stage run at London’s sumptuous Alexandra Palace Theatre and filled with Dickensian, spine-tingling special effects, prepare to be frightened and delighted in equal measure as you enter the supernatural Victorian world of A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story on the big screen.

The Privileged by Jamal Harewood, South Street Arts Reading, 1 Dec

Have you ever seen a polar bear in the flesh? Been close enough to notice just how white these magnificent mammals are? Here is your chance to get up close and personal – remove your shoes, coats and bags, as you are about to encounter the Arctic’s whitest predator, with black skin.

Victorian Christmas Fayre, Newbury 3-4 Dec

Newbury Victorian Christmas Market vintage carousel

Dig out your crinolines, hat, furry muff, Newbury’s going back in time to create a Christmas Card pretty vision of the festive season. OK so you don’t have to go in fancy dress unless that’s how you roll. But expect 100+ retailers, stall holders, pubs, restaurants and entertainers to be channeling A Christmas Carol. This is a traditional Christmas market with all jingle bells on. Choirs, vintage carousel, mulled wine and the chance to smash through your gift list.

Reading’s Indie Market – Christmas Gifting, Double-Barrelled Brewery Reading, 2 Dec

Beer and gift market… what could possibly go wrong? Double-Barrelled Brewery will host Reading’s Indie Christmas Market on 4 Dec, 1pm-6pm. Hit the brewery with your flexible friend with delicious street food, Anonymous Coffee Co., and lots of DB beer!

Blind Champagne Tasting, Reading Biscuit Factory, 8 Dec

This has got our name written all over it – a blind Champagne tasting. Hello and come to mama. Berks Fizz will be hosting this bubblicious event at Reading Biscuit Factory. Served blind, you will taste six of the most famous Champagne brands – discover your no1 without being seduced by price or label. Ooh exciting.

Christmas Tasting Day, Cobbs Farm Hungerford, 3 Dec

Pea & Co Christmas+Dinner+Delivered_1000x666

Tis the season to be merry. Tickle your tastebuds at Cobbs Farm Shop’s Christmas Tasting Day on Sat 3 Dec. Sample lots of delicious festive foods from local producers – everything from its award-winning turkeys to mince pies, sausage rolls and cheese. Any Christmas meat orders placed on the day

Jingle all the way! 55 things to do in Berkshire this month

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