Looking for something to do this weekend? See our list below for what’s on in Preston.

Friday 13 December

Santa’s Post Box
Brockholes Nature Reserve, off Junction 31 of the M6, PR5 OAG
10am – 1.30pm
Write your letter to Santa at Brockholes before heading off on a winter walk to Santa’s Post Box. Letter packs are priced at £5 for online orders (available until 11.45pm the day before) or from the Welcome Centre on the day at £6.50 per pack. Car parking charges apply.

Harris Open Exhibition
Harris Museum, Art Gallery and Library, Market Square, PR1 2PP
6pm – 8pm
The Harris’ annual celebration of local artistic talent opens this week with a special public preview night on Friday 13 December. The work of over 320 Preston-based artists will include photography, sculptures, ceramics and textiles as well as digital and traditional painting. Free entry, no ticket required. The exhibition will run until 26 January 2020.

Party Games Night
Belong Preston, Unit 12 St Georges Shopping Centre, PR1 2TU
6pm – 9pm
A night of Jackbox and other games. £5 on the door, £3 for an advance ticket or included in the Weekday Pass.

Comedy Night At The Venue
Penwortham Arts Centre ‘The Venue”, Liverpool Road, PR1 9XE
6.30pm – 10pm
For Penwortham Arts Centre’s second comedy night, Dom Woodward (MC), Gareth Richards and Alex Boardman will be performing. This event is for over 18s only. Online tickets are £10, take a printed or electronic copy with you to gain entrance at the door. Some tickets may be available on the night for £12 – check Facebook for updates.

Family Christmas Bingo
6th Fulwood Scout HQ, Preston, PR2 8EU
7pm – 9pm
6th Fulwood are holding their annual family Christmas Bingo.

Dick Whittington by Barry Crossley
Preston Musical Comedy Society, Unit 1, Pittman Court, Pittman Court, Fulwood, PR2 9ZG
7.30pm
The traditional tale of Dick Whittington becoming thrice Lord Mayor of London. With lots of comedy and jokes, plus fantastic costumes and great musical numbers, this fast paced panto will get you in the mood for Christmas.

Black and Gold Xmas! Soul/Motown/Northern Soul
New Continental, South Meadow Lane, PR1 8JP
8pm – 11pm
Black and Gold have been performing together for over ten years. Dubbed as Lancashire’s greatest soul, Motown and Northern Soul band, they cover artists such as Al Wilson, Dusty Springfield, Wilson Pickett, Rufus Thomas, Dobie Gray, Bill Withers and Aretha Franklin. Tickets are £10 advance or £12 on the door, and are available online from See Tickets, WeGotTickets or Skiddle, or by calling 01772 499425.

Saturday 14 December

Makers Market Preston
The Flag Market, PR1 2JA
10am – 4pm
Preston hosts the Makers Market on the second Saturday of each month. Meet unique creators, makers, designers, producers, bakers, musicians & artists.

Book Café & Christmas Craft Stall
Ingol Library, PR2 3YX
10am – 12pm
Held on the second Saturday of every month. Pop in for a brew or bag yourself a bargain book or craft item. All proceeds will be donated back into organising and holding community-based events.

Preston Dragons Christmas Paddle
Preston Marina, Navigation Way, PR2 2YP
10am – 12pm
Go down to Preston Marina for some festive mischief, merriment and mirth! The Preston Dragons and friends will be out on the water in full festive attire, singing carols and spreading Christmas cheer to all!

Crafty Vintage Festive Market
Wyresdale Park, Snowhill Lane, PR3 1BA
10am – 4pm
An eclectic mix of vintage wares, handmade crafts, art and quirkiness from some of the finest makers, creators and collectors in the land, all with a festive twist. It’s free to enter the fair but to attend you need to book a ticket via Eventbrite.

Giant Interactive Snow Globe
Preston Market, Earl Street, PR1 2JA
11am – 3pm
You can step inside the winter wonderland inflatable snow globe at Preston Markets this Christmas. Complete with a winter forest background and fun props, snap your photo for free.

Christmas at the Belvedere
Avenham and Miller Parks, PR1 8JT
11am – 11.30am
Meet at the South Meadow Lane entrance (near Continental pub) 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. The cost is £10 per child plus £3 per accompanying adult. Booking not essential but to guarantee a place call 01772 906471 (Monday to Friday office hours).

Penwortham Santa Dash 2019
12pm – 3pm
Galloway’s Society for the Blind, Howick House, Howick Park Avenue, PR1 0LS
Penwortham Santa Dash is a family-friendly 3km dash (or walk!), starting and finishing at Galloway’s. Everybody who takes part will receive a Santa suit to dash in along with a medal, a mince pie and hot drink at the end. There will also be food and entertainment at Galloway’s after the event. Registrations begins at 11.30am.

Preston North End FC V Luton Town FC
Sir Tom Finney Way, Preston PR1 6RU
3pm
Preston North End will entertain the Hatters for the 22nd time this weekend, looking to extend their winning run against Luton Town at Deepdale.
Tickets are Adult from £24.00 to £30.00, Junior from £6.00 to £9.00, Senior Citizen from £16.00 to £23.00. Under 11 from £1.00 to £2.00, Young Adult from £15.00 to £21.00.

Family Christmas Night
Plungington Community Centre, Brook Street, PR1 7NB
6pm – 9pm
Love Community Christmas Night is all about the community of Preston coming together to celebrate Christmas and family together. There will be food, hot chocolate, Christmas crafts, bouncy castle and a bake sale.

Christmas Concert by Preston Orpheus Choir
St Michael’s And All Angels, 2 Egerton Road, PR2 1AJ
7pm – 9pm
This ever-popular Christmas concert with Freckleton Brass Band will include Christmas music old and new with plenty opportunities for audience participation. There will be seasonal refreshments and a raffle. Admission is £12, under 18s cost £5, family ticket (two adults and two under 18s) are £30. No need to book, just pay on the door.

One Winter’s Night…
Penwortham Arts Centre ‘The Venue’, Liverpool Road, PR1 9XE
7pm -10pm
A heart-felt and uplifting evening of original material performed by choir, singer-songwriter and poet, plus a sprinkling of Christmassy cheer, carols and free mince pies. Children welcome. Tickets via Eventbrite or pay on the door, £2.

Christmas Concert
Fulwood Methodist Church, Watling St Rd, PR2 8EA
7.30pm – 9.30pm
The Valley Singers will be singing a medley of traditional and modern carols and songs for the festive season. The concert is in aid of the L’Arche Community charity – 12 centres in the UK, including Preston for people with and without learning disabilities to live, and share in life, together.

Parka Monkeys – Christmas Special
Ancient Oak, Merrytrees Lane, PR4 0NZ
8pm – 12am
North west indie rock and rollers Parka Monkeys will perform two live sets of covers from Arctic Monkeys, The Smiths, Oasis, The Libertines, Catfish and the Bottlemen, The Strokes, The Stone Roses plus many more. Tickets £8 in advance, £10 on the door.

Sunday 15 December

Christmas Farmers’ Market
Hoghton Tower, PR5 0SH Preston
10am – 2pm
Visit one of the busiest and biggest market of the year. Farmers and growers are joined by bakers, confectioners and craftspeople. It’s £2 per car, £1 for pedestrians.

Read more: St Catherine’s Christmas festival got everyone in the festive mood

Children’s Christmas Craft Fair and Reindeer Trail to see Santa
Cuerden Valley Park, The Visitor Centre, Berkeley Drive, PR5 6BY
10am – 2pm
There’s a variety of Christmas crafts and games in and around the Visitor Centre for £10 per child (aimed at children ages 4-11 years). Or follow an enchanted reindeer trail through the woods to discover Father Christmas in his grotto for £5 per child. Tickets only.

Crafty Vintage Festive Market
Wyresdale Park, Snowhill Lane, PR3 1BA
10am – 4pm
An eclectic mix of vintage wares, handmade crafts, art and quirkiness from some of the finest makers, creators and collectors in the land, all with a festive twist. It’s free to enter the fair but to attend you need to book a ticket via Eventbrite.

Santa’s Grotto and Christmas Markets
Bowland Wild Boar Animal Park, PR3 2QT
11am – 2pm
Christmas stalls offering mulled wine, crafts/gifts and food. There is also a grotto where the little ones can meet Santa and receive a gift for a £5 additional charge.

The Big PNE Sleep Out pay-in donations event
The Foxton Centre, Knowsley Street, PR1 3SA
11am – 2pm
A chance to pay-in your cash/offline donations collected for the Big PNE Sleep Out. Have a brew, see the Foxton Centre and learn more about the difference they make in the city. The Big PNE Sleep Out team will be there too, and they would very much like to say thank you to everyone involved. Everyone is welcome, you don’t have to have taken part in the Sleep Out to attend this event.

Read more: Big PNE Sleep Out donations pay-in event at The Foxton Centre

Spooky Tours with Simon Entwistle
Samlesbury Hall, PR5 0UP Preston
11am – 12pm
Simon’s spooky stories are the kind that send a shiver down your spine. Visit Samlesbury to hear his ghostly tales of the Hall and beyond. The free tours begin in the Great Hall, and there is no need to book.

Christmas Market
Lea Club Ltd, 872 Blackpool Road, PR2 1XN
12pm – 4pm
Go along to the Christmas Market, visit Santa in his grotto or try and win a prize on the tombola. Stallholders can message to reserve a place.

Christmas Carols by Wrea Green Institute
Wrea Green Institute, Station Road, PR4 2PH
1pm – 4pm
In conjunction with Freckleton Brass Band – sing along to your favourite carol while enjoying mulled wine and seasonal food.

Read more: Christmas events for the family in Preston

Glow Party
RIVA Showbar, 35 Tithebarn Street, PR1 1DJ
3.30pm – 6pm
On every Sunday, the Glow Party is billed as Preston’s biggest kids party. There’s inflatables, a glow disco, dance-along fun and music videos. Food is available and the bar is open for the adults. Tickets are £6.50 per child and £2.50 per adult on the door.

Annual Christmas Concert
Lostock Hall Conservative Club, Brownedge Road, PR5 5AA
7.30pm
Go along to this annual Christmas Concert for a festive evening of music. Free admission with a raffle and a retiring collection.

Read more: What’s on in Preston

Are you going to any exciting events this weekend? Let us know in the comments below.