With so many festive things to do for the whole family, Christmas in Gloucestershire is set to be spectacular in 2026.
SoGlos’s handpicked selection of Christmas events in the county will help you make the most of the festive season, rounding up everything from Christmas light trails and where to meet Santa, to the very best pantomimes in the region.
Planning your Christmas events in Gloucestershire
Where are Christmas events taking place in Gloucestershire?
The whole county goes to town at Christmas, with a variety of events from Christmas lights switch-ons to festive shows and pantomimes taking place across Cheltenham, the Cotswolds, Gloucester, the Forest of Dean, Stroud, and Tewkesbury.
Are there Christmas events for kids and families taking place in Gloucestershire?
The majority of Christmas events taking place across Gloucestershire are family-friendly – through grown-ups aren't left out, with things like adults-only pantomimes and Christmas wreath-making workshops on offer, too.
Where are the best outdoor Christmas light trails and displays in Gloucestershire?
From illuminations at Gloucester Cathedral to Westonbirt Arboretum's magical woodland trail, see SoGlos's pick of the best light trails in Gloucestershire.
Where are the best Christmas markets in Gloucestershire?
Offering everything from unique, handmade gifts and decorations, to tasty local treats for your Christmas table, check out SoGlos's round-up of magical Christmas markets in the county.
Christmas events in Cheltenham
Christmas pantomime and family shows at the Everyman Theatre
What's on?
It's pantomime season once again, oh yes it is, and audiences can expect a rather eventful royal ball when Cinderella arrives at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham this Christmas.
On stage from Friday 27 November 2026 to Sunday 10 January 2027, the classic rags-to-riches tale gets a generous helping of comedy, courtesy of Gloucestershire favourite Tweedy as Buttons.
Why go?
For families who like their Christmas entertainment sprinkled with sequins and silliness, the Everyman Theatre brings together lavish scenery, colourful costumes and lively musical numbers, with West End dancers adding polish to the proceedings.
Alongside Tweedy, Olivia Bella will be putting on Cinderella's famous slippers, starring opposite Josh Crowther as Prince Charming. Kevin Brewis and Miles Western make a formidable double act as the Ugly Sisters, with Dominic Treacy completing the principal cast as Dandini.
SoGlos loves
A fairy-tale romance is all very well, but Buttons has his own ideas about keeping everyone entertained! Tweedy's physical comedy and gleeful clowning give Gloucestershire families a special reason to make a theatre trip part of their Christmas celebrations.
The Everyman Theatre also offers audio-described, captioned, BSL-interpreted and relaxed performances of Cinderella, to make the panto as inclusive as possible.
Plus, for younger children discovering the magic of live theatre, the intimate Irving Studio offers a welcoming introduction. With Box Tale Soup's The Wind in the Willows bringing Mole, Ratty, Badger and Mr Toad's Christmas celebrations to life through handmade puppets, original music and songs, from Friday 27 November 2026 to Saturday 2 January 2027.
How much does it cost?
Cinderella tickets cost from £13.75 per person, with a special offer on family tickets costing £128 – including two full-price and two under-16 tickets, saving at least £28. The offer applies to performances from 27 November to 18 December 2026 and 4 to 10 January 2027. Enter code PANTOFMLY26 when booking qualifying tickets online. Tickets for The Wind in the Willows cost from £10 per person.
How to book
For more information and to book tickets, visit everymantheatre.org.uk/cinderella or everymantheatre.org.uk/wind-in-the-willows.
Christmas events in Gloucester
Stories with Santa at the National Waterways Museum
What's on?
Children can gather round for a cosy Christmas story read by Santa himself at Gloucester's National Waterways Museum this festive period.
These 30-minute story time sessions are ideal for little ones and their grown-ups, with enchanting Christmas tales and seasonal ambience bringing Christmastime magic to the heart of the city for the run up to the big day. All held within a calm environment, each child also gets the chance to meet Santa and collect a special present from him.
Why go?
The Stories with Santa sessions are a shared experience with other families. Children can sit on a rug right in front of Santa with peers their own age and make new friends, while grown ups can sit or stand behind them.
After Santa's Christmas story, there will also be some time leftover for the children to chat with Father Christmas so they can double check they've made the all-important nice list, ask about his magic flying reindeer, or find out how he manages to reach everyone's home in just one night.
SoGlos loves
When story time is over, guests can have a wander around the museum (admission is included with each ticket) to make more of a day out of their visit. With festive drinks and cakes available in the museum's tea rooms, as well as an Elf trail to explore in the galleries, there's plenty more to see and do at the museum for families of all ages and interests.
Not only does each child receive their very own gift from Santa, there will also be ample opportunity to snap a photo with Mr. Claus for families to treasure for years to come.
How much does it cost?
Tickets cost £15 for one child and one adult, which includes entry to the museum on that same day. Spaces are limited, so it is recommended that you book online in advance.
Babies aged 12 months and under can attend for free. There is no age limit, but the experience is recommended for children between the ages of two and nine.
How to book
For more information, visit canalrivertrust.co.uk/event-tickets.
Christmas events in Stroud
Wetland Wonderland at Slimbridge Wetland Centre
What's on?
Every weekend from Saturday 5 until Sunday 20 December, and on Monday 21, Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 December 2026, Slimbridge Wetland Centre is transformed into a Wetland Wonderland, where visitors are invited to help Waterlily the elf and the Slimbridge swans save Christmas.
Why go?
Wetland Wonderland offers visitors a magical, story-led experience where they can listen to Waterlily the elf read a brand-new story written especially for Slimbridge, follow the trail around the centre to find all of the characters like Lottie the otter, Phoebe the flamingo, Gribit the frog, and Bettie the Bewick's swan – and their best cracker jokes – and have a go at making a willow star tree topper in the elf workshop.
Families can also visit Father Christmas in his sparkly grotto to receive a special gift of a Lottie the otter from the story, shop for artisan handmade Christmas gifts at the festive market, and enjoy live performances from regional choirs each day in the Swan Cafe, too.
SoGlos loves
Animal-loving families won't want to miss the chance to spot the migratory Bewick's swans which travel to Slimbridge for winter every year.
The birds fly over 2,000 miles from Arctic Russia to spend the season at Slimbridge – and are the inspiration Bettie the Bewick's swan from the story.
How much does it cost?
Tickets to Slimbridge cost from £17.91 per adult, from £11.84 per child, and are free for under threes – with Wetland Wonderland included within the cost of admission.
Santa's Grotto costs an additional £15 per person. Marshmallow s'more toasting kits cost an additional £3.50 and are available to reserve when booking online, or pick up from the Kingfisher Cafe on the day of your visit.
How to book
Visit wwt.org.uk/slimbridge/wetland-wonderland.
Christmas events in Tewkesbury
Sleeping Beauty pantomime, Christmas concerts and festive cinema screenings at The Roses Theatre
What's on?
The Roses Theatre in Tewkesbury has a host of Christmas shows taking place throughout November and December 2026 – and it's promising audiences 'more chaos and fun than ever before' from this year's pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, on stage from Saturday 28 November 2026 until Saturday 2 January 2027.
Why go?
After last year's show become its best-selling panto of all time, The Roses Theatre is pulling out all the stops this Christmas, with a brand-new cast and creative team, which includes an Olivier Award-winning director!
Transporting audiences back in time to the eve of the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471, this unique take on Sleeping Beauty is described as 'the same fairytale you know – considerably less well-behaved', featuring the dazzling costumes, big musical numbers and belly laughs audiences have come to expect, along with plenty of audience participation and even some surprise appearances.
There are also Christmas concerts including The Ultimate Elvis Christmas Experience, The Roses Choir's Christmas carol concert, and Tewkesbury Town Band's Christmas concert, plus festive cinema screenings of The Royal Ballet's The Nutcracker, and Andre Rieu's Let It Snow.
SoGlos loves
Ensuring every family member can join in the fun, The Roses Theatre is hosting a sensory-friendly pantomime performance on Sunday 6 December at 11am, and a BSL-signed performance on Tuesday 29 December at 2pm.
There's also a limited run of adults-only pantomimes on selected dates from Thursday 3 until Wednesday 30 December 2026 – but be warned, they're not for the faint-hearted!
How much does it cost?
Tickets to Sleeping Beauty at The Roses Theatre cost from £20 to £32.50.
Tickets to The Ultimate Elvis Christmas Experience cost £33.50, The Roses Choir's Christmas carol concert cost £7, and Tewkesbury Town Band's Christmas concert cost from £13 to £15.
Cinema screening tickets from £14.50 to £20.
How do I book?
To book tickets for the panto, visit rosestheatre.org/sleeping-beauty, or to see everything that's on this Christmas, see rosestheatre.org/whats-on.
Christmas Aroma Trail and visits with Santa at Cotswolds Designer Outlet
What's on?
Christmas is literally in the air at Cotswolds Designer Outlet this winter, with an Aroma Trail to follow, festive crafts, photo opportunities, live music, and Santa will be stopping by, too!
Why go?
Get into the festive spirit with 12 exclusive Christmassy scents to discover on Cotswolds Designer Outlet's Aroma Trail from Friday 13 November 2026. Visitors of all ages can put their noses to the test to see if they can identify all of the scents, from nostalgic favourites to trickier challenges.
Father Christmas and his elves invite families into their free festive wonderland, where little visitors can meet the man himself and take home a special gift.
Children can also write and post their letters for Santa to take back to the North Pole with him, have a go at Christmas crafts, snap a festive family photo in the giant snowglobe, and enjoy live music and seasonal pop-ups, too.
SoGlos loves
With over 50 stores including BOSS, Hobbs, Levi's, Reiss and Molton Brown, crowd-pleasing restaurants like Five Guys, Wagamama and Zizzi, and plenty to keep little ones entertained, Cotswolds Designer Outlet is a great choice for Christmas shopping in Gloucestershire.
Getting there is easy, too – there are over 1,000 free parking spaces and EV charging for drivers, while for shoppers who prefer to use public transport, Ashchurch for Tewkesbury train station is only 500 metres away and there's a regular shuttle bus into Tewkesbury town centre which stops directly outside the abbey, too.
How much does it cost?
Cotswold Designer Outlet's Christmas activities are free – just turn up and take part.
Visits with Santa can be pre-booked online at cotswoldsdesigneroutlet.com/free-visit-father-christmas.
How to book
Visit cotswoldsdesigneroutlet.com.
