Lights, fayres, food: Local festive fun this winter

Christmas may still be seven weeks away, but with the festive season just around the corner and an array of events planned in the local area, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about how to get in the festive mood.

Festivities will be kicking off in Leamington next weekend, on Sunday 16 November, with the annual Christmas light switch-on. Fit with a Christmas market from 10am, live music from 1pm, and more live entertainment from 2–6pm, students will be able to get into the Christmas mood early in the season.

The lights will be switched on at 5:30pm by Mayor Cllr Ruggy Singh, who will be joined by Father Christmas himself. For those students who live further afield, Warwick District Council have announced that all off-street parking in the area will be free on the day to help support the event.

The University will also be hosting their annual Christmas fayre and light switch-on on Wednesday 26 November, with campusset to become full of good cheer and seasonal fun. A Christmas market will take over the Piazza, followed by craft sessions, the ‘Rodeo Reindeer’, and the switching on of Warwick’s lights.

The Warwickshire area is full of celebrations, so you can make new traditions to enjoy with friends

For those living in the city, Coventry Cathedral will play host to many different Christmas events, including carolling, crafts, and film screenings. Where else to celebrate the festive season but one of the filming locations of the iconic holiday movie, Nativity!?

Also in Coventry, St. Mary’s Guildhall are hosting several historical-themed events, including a ‘Victorian Christmas’, complete with a one-man re-telling of A Christmas Carol and walk-throughs explaining Tudor Christmas traditions.

Elsewhere, Kenilworth will also be full of festive cheer, spreading their events over two days. The town’s light switch-on will take place on Friday 28 November, with further festivities on Sunday 30 November.

On the light switch-on night, there will be entertainment, food and drink, and even real reindeer from 5–8pm, with the lights turned on at 6pm. The high spirits will continue on the Sunday,with market stalls, more food and drink, and fairground rides. The lights will even be switched on again at 6pm, so you can enjoy the fun twice.

No matter how you’re celebrating, as the weather gets colder, there’s plenty of events to warm your hearts

Warwick Castle’s ‘Christmas at the Castle’ event is also set to be a highlight of many celebrations from 22 November. Whether you to love to ice skate, want to enjoy the seasonal light trail, or hear stories from Santa, there’s something for everyone. Both Stagecoach and National Express buses drop off within walking distance of the castle, so if you’ve never been, this is your chance to immerse yourself in some Warwick history.

And, of course, if you want to explore Birmingham (only a short train journey away), the city’s annual Frankfurt Christmas Market – the largest outside of Germany and Austria – is the perfect excuse to visit. Open every day until Christmas Eve, the market boasts food stalls, entertainment, and fairground rides. Ice Skate Birmingham is also back, “bigger and better than ever”.

Starting the festive time of year away from home doesn’t have to be upsetting. The Warwickshire area is full of celebrations, so you can make new traditions to enjoy with friends. No matter how you’re celebrating, as the weather gets colder, there’s plenty of events to warm your hearts.