Relaxed Visits to Father Christmas 2024

Relaxed Visits to Father Christmas 2024

A wondrous winter wonderland awaits


Bolton Abbey Father Christmas Event

Father Christmas returns to Bolton Abbey this winter.

December 1, 14, 23

It is with great pleasure we announce that Father Christmas will be sharing his wild winter wonderland with families again this Christmas.

This year will see the Strid Wood Christmas Village reimagined and transformed into a magnificent bushcraft adventure. Led by traditional woods-people the children will begin their festive journey by lighting the village fire and roasting their own cocoa beans (to be enjoyed a little later in the experience).

Under twinkling Christmas lights (and while the cocoa beans roast), the children will take part in a number of exciting bushcraft activities including clay candle making, axe throwing and natural crafts. The children will get to take home all the items they make.

During the activities, families will be called individually to meet the great man himself, inside his cosy log cabin. Here, there will be opportunity to talk to Father Christmas and to take photos before re-joining the activities.

The experience will conclude with the children coming together to enjoy the hot chocolate from their roasted beans while listening to a communal story from Father Christmas and his elf and receiving a special gift to take home.

We welcome adults and older siblings to enjoy the winter village and soak up the festive atmosphere. There will be a coffee van selling refreshments and snacks throughout.

What’s included?

  • Children will join the woods-people to take part in hot chocolate making, two festive craft activities as well as axe throwing.
  • During the craft activities, children and their families will be invited to go and meet Father Christmas inside his log cabin
  • After completing all the activities, children will end the experience by making their own hot chocolate and enjoying it around the fire as a group.
  • There will be an opportunity during the experience to purchase hot drinks and snacks.
  • Due to the remote location, it will be cash only card payments may not be possible, please come prepared with cash.


Information to help you know what to expect and prepare for your visit…

  • The experience will last approximately 1 hour 30 minutes.
  • Riverside car park will be open from 8:20am.
  • The lavatories situated between the Cavendish Pavilion and Shop will be open.
  • The walk from Riverside car park to Strid Wood Christmas Village takes 15 minutes. The route is on the same side of the river as the Cavendish Pavilion. It follows the Green Trail through Strid Wood, which is wheelchair and pushchair friendly. Festoon lighting marks the route in Strid Wood. It runs along the right edge of the path approximately 1m above the ground.
  • Visiting families are asked to wait outside the big gates at the entrance to the Christmas Village until an elf welcomes everyone to the village. Entrance is via a small “elf sized” door. A larger door does open should anyone need this.
  • Through the door the elf will greet you. This area is relatively small, with the river running down one side and a fire pit in the opposite corner. The fire is fenced off.
  • Once everyone has arrived the elf will take the group into the village.
  • In the village, you will meet the 4 woods-people who will show you how to light the camp fire, help roast cocoa beans for hot chocolate, make candles, bracelets and have a go at axe throwing.
  • The village will be dressed with clusters of Christmas tress adorned with fairy lights and fire pits. A catering van with serve hot and cold refreshments and marshmallows for anyone wishing to buy them.
  • The woods-people will be dressed in lumber shirts while the elf will be dressed in costume.
  • After the children have lit the fire and put the cocoa beans onto roast, they will be split into groups to take park in the bush crafts. During this time, the elf will take families one at a time to meet Father Christmas in his log cabin. Here the children will have the opportunity to chat with Father Christmas about what they would like for Christmas and have photographs taken with him. After the chat, the children will return to the village and the bush crafts. The children will not receive a gift at this point. Father Christmas will explain that he will see them before they leave.
  • Once the children have all met Father Christmas with their families and finished their activities they will all gather round the fire for hot chocolate made from the cocoa beans they roasted earlier.
  • Father Christmas and the elf will join the children and their families round the fire for a story. After the story, he will hand out presents to the children before wishing everyone a Happy Christmas.
  • Throughout the experience, children are free to move from one section to another. The ground surface will be top dressed with bark chip. Some areas have protruding tree roots. Festoon denotes the riverbank. Children can get under the festoon lighting so we advise parental supervision at all times.

Useful Information

  • Event suitable for children age 3+
  • In the interest of health and safety, and for the enjoyment of all, the event is not suitable for children under the age of 3
  • The event runs from 9.00am – 5.00pm (last event timeslot 3.30pm).
  • Each session will last for approximately 90 minutes
  • Please park in Riverside car park – BD23 6AN/ what3words: whirlwind.dimension.jeeps
  • Present your car park ticket on arrival to gain entry to Bolton Abbey. You can print or present on a smartphone.
  • The Christmas village is located in Strid Wood. There is a 15 minute walk from Riverside car park, through Strid Wood to the Christmas’ village. Please allow time for the walk and arrive no more than 5 minutes before your booking.
  • The event takes place outdoors, shelters will be in place for some of the activities however some sections are exposed to the elements so wrap up in warm clothes and wear sturdy shoes.
  • An element of the event involves making hot chocolate from scratch – there will be options available to children that are vegan or lactose intolerant – this MUST be flagged at the relevant stage of the booking process.
  • The Christmas Village experience is exclusive to ticket holders.
  • Dogs are not permitted in the Christmas village – other than guide/service dogs.
  • After dusk, extra lighting will be in place in the wood, but torches are advisable. Please take extra care during this event.
  • Bolton Abbey does not accept responsibility for the loss of tickets.
  • Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.
  • Please check and double check your diary before booking your visit to Father Christmas’ village because we are unable to transfer, exchange or refund tickets.

Pre-book your tickets early to guarantee a memorable visit and avoid disappointment.

Click here for further event information and FAQ’s

Tickets:

*One complimentary car parking ticket will be included per booking – if you are arriving in more than one vehicle, please add this on during booking.

Child –
All children visiting Father Christmas and taking part in the activities must have a child’s ticket

23/24 November – £32.50
30 November/1/7/8 – £35.00
14/15/20/21/22/23 December – £40.00

Adult – £12.00
Every booking must include at least one adult ticket

Older Sibling – £10.00
Cannot be booked without an adult ticket
These ticket holders cannot take part in the activities and will not receive a gift