The cold weather might make us want to snuggle up indoors but the list we’ve compiled will definitely make you head on out over the Christmas period.
Family friendly events include:

Old Holly Farm
Old Holly Farm, Cabus Nook Ln, Garstang, Preston PR3 1AA
9am – 5pm
The reindeer are back! Two of Santa’s reindeer are at Old Holly Farm daily from the 1st of December through to 3pm on Christmas Eve.
There will be a £1 gate charge to enter the open farm (under 1s free).

The Harris Museum and Art Gallery
Market Square, Preston PR1 2PP
The Harris Christmas Fair will be a weekend of super Christmas shopping on November the 30th and December the 1st.
Local artists and makers will showcase their products from 11am until 5pm.
From 12pm on Sunday, there will also be festive live music from Preston-based Kitty Hawk ceilidh band.

Hoghton Tower
Hoghton, Preston PR5 0SH
Hoghton Tower has so much going on for Christmas, starting with their Christmas Gift Market on Sunday the 1st of December, 10am – 3pm, £2 per car, £1 for pedestrians.

Also, on the 1st at 12noon and 2pm for £11 per person you can step back in time and get into the festive spirit with an atmospheric one hour guided tour around the seasonally decorated house. Listen to tales from Christmas in different ages.

Meetings with Father Christmas will take place on Sunday the 8th, Saturday 14^th, Sunday 15th, Saturday 21^st and Sunday the 22nd of December
from 10am to 2pm and are £7.50 per child. Must be booked online.

On Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd December there are also Christmas Carols with Santa & His Elves at 3 pm & 4pm for £5 per person. Book your tickets online for traditional Christmas Carols performed by Hoghton in Harmony choir. Each session is 30 minutes long and tickets includes mince pie or sweet treat on departure.

Guys Thatched Hamlet
St Michael’s Rd, Bilsborrow, Preston PR3 0RS
Join Santa’s Elves for Breakfast or Tea on the 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 21st & 22nd December.
Breakfast is at 10am and tea at 4pm. £16 per child, £8 adult.Also, at Guy’s is Santa barges “Inn” to Guy’s at Santa’s Family Fun Day. A free event with craft, gift and market stalls on Sunday Dec 1st, 1.30 – 5.30pm.

Samlesbury Hall
Preston New Rd, Samlesbury, Preston PR5 0UP
Samlesbury Hall’s Christmas events include their festive fair on the 23rd of November at 10am until 4pm. Wander around the Hall and have a look at the different stalls displaying local products made across the county. Entry is free.

The Wreath Making Workshop is on the 24th of November in the Great Hall at Samlesbury, from 1:30pm until 4pm. From £45pp including mince pies and mulled wine. Tickets must be booked.

Panto Crime’s Murder Mystery Evening takes place on 13th December at 7pm until 11pm. Tickets for the evening, include a three-course dinner and all entertainment and are £38.50 per person.

Cuerden Valley Park
Berkeley Drive, Bamber Bridge, Preston, Lancashire, PR5 6BY
Cuerden Valley Park’s Christmas events include Santa’s Grotto Building.
Go along and create Santa’s grotto with natural materials. Please dress for the weather and bring your lunch. Warm drinks and mince pies will be provided in a Christmas celebration too. Please book your FREE place.

Christmas Wreath Workshops take place on the 4th, 5th and 6th of December, £44 per person – includes coffee/tea on arrival, lunch and all materials. Please bring a sturdy pair of scissors or secateurs. Must be booked.

The Christmas Bottle & Plaque Workshop on the 7th of December (10am to 3pm), uses a variety of creative painting and craft techniques including decoupage, chalk painting, foiling, raised stencilling etc. Please contact Joanne at The Boho Shed on 07595433259 or hello@thebohoshed.co.uk for more information or to reserve your place.

There is also a magical Christmas experience in the Park. Tickets includes a breakfast or lunch provided by Cuerden View café. After which the children will write a letter to Father Christmas and collect a trail map to find the Santa’s secret grotto hidden in the park. The children will exchange their letter for an early Christmas gift. All children must be accompanied by an adult who also has a ticket.
buytickets.at/CuerdenValley to book

Barton Grange Garden Centre
Garstang Rd, Brock, Preston PR3 0BT
See Father Christmas at Barton Grange from the 23rd of November until the 24th of December. Children receive a gift, book, photograph with Santa and some reindeer food for Christmas Eve. The cost is £19.95 per child. Visits are by appointment only.

The annual Charity Carol Concert on behalf of local churches takes place on 1 December, 6:30 pm – 9pm. Music and entertainment will be provided by Preston’s Salvation Army Brass Band and the Bible Storytellers. There will be mulled wine and mince pies served after the concert. All proceeds will be donated to the following charities: Vine House, the Salvation Army and Adoption Matters. Tickets are £7 per person.

Avenham and Miller Parks
S Meadow Ln, Preston PR1 8JP
Meet Father Christmas in Avenham Park at the South Meadow Lane entrance under the bridge. From there take a tractor ride through the park up to Santa’s grotto at the Belvedere.
Children will have time to chat with Father Christmas before receiving a gift. Christmas at the Belvedere takes place at 11am, 12pm, 1pm, and 2pm on the following dates: Saturday 14 December, Sunday 15 December, Saturday 21 December and Saturday 22 December. £10 per child (plus £3 per accompanying adult). Booking is not essential but if you’d like to guarantee a place please call 01772 906471 (Monday – Friday office hours).

Brockholes Nature Reserve
Preston New Rd, Preston PR5 0AG
Santa’s Post Box takes place at 10am until 1:30pm every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday until the 15th of December.Write your letter to Santa at Brockholes before heading off on a winter walk to Santa’s Post Box! Once you’ve posted your letter, enjoy a hot chocolate by the fire in the Kestrel Kitchen.

Breakfast with Santa is every Saturday and Sunday from the 7th until the 22nd of December. Booking is essential, £8.95 (adult), £10.95 (children under 3), £12.95 (children over 3) Both children and adults can enjoy a tasty cooked breakfast before a special visit from Santa Claus.

Santa’s Grotto is every Saturday and Sunday from the 7th until the 22nd of December. Booking is essential, £7.50 per child. Santa will be waiting to greet children in his Grotto between 11.30am-3pm. Each child will receive a present and there will be the chance to have your photo taken with Santa.

What are your plans over Christmas? Let us know if we’ve missed off your event by adding it to the comments below: