This winter, explore our vast array of Christmas activities featured across our museums, galleries and art centres. Visitors can join in with the Hampshire festive cheer by visiting reindeer in Basingstoke, minting coins in Winchester, getting creative in craft workshops or learning more about Christmases past with a museum trail.
Coin minting at 878 AD – Winchester, SO23 8QY
During opening times.
Brand new for Christmas at 878 AD - coin minting. Learn how the Anglo-Saxons made their currency, watch your own coin stamped right in front of your eyes and take home your own piece of history! Coin minting will incur an additional charge and can be bought from the venue on the day of visit. Suitable for ages 5+, children must be accompanied. Pre-booking recommended.
Christmas in wartime at Aldershot Military Museum – Aldershot, GU11 2LG
Thursday 14 to Sunday 31 December, during museum opening hours.
Step back in time to discover what the festive period was like for those serving oversees and for those at home during times of war. Included with admission charge, donations welcome. Suitable for ages 5+, children must be accompanied. Pre-booking not required.
Christmas film: It’s a Wonderful Life at the Allen Gallery – Alton GU34 2BW
Saturday 16 December, 6:30pm.
Join us at the Allen Gallery Café for a drink from 6.30pm before the screening of the Christmas classic, It’s a Wonderful Life at 7pm. £7.50. Film rated U.
Christmas crafts at Andover Museum and Museum of the Iron Age – Andover SP10 1DP
The Time Traveller's Christmas family trail – Friday 15 to Sunday 31 December, during museum opening times.
We've been celebrating the festive period for millennia, but where do our modern-day traditions come from? From the Iron Age to the Age of Industry, join our Christmas Time Traveller on a quest through history to learn about all things festive. Included with admission charge to Museum of the Iron Age, donations welcome. Suitable for ages 5+, children must be accompanied. Pre-booking not required.
Family festive crafts – Thursday 21 and Thursday 28 December, 11am-3pm.
Join us each Thursday during the Christmas holidays for a children's craft activity themed to the winter festivities. £3 per child. Suitable for ages 3+, children must be accompanied. Pre-booking not required.
The Nosy Little Troll at Ashcroft Arts Centre – Fareham, PO16 7DX
Tuesday 19 December, 2pm.
An interactive, funny and magical show for family audiences from 3 – 8 years. A warm-hearted funny Scandinavian story, starring a tasty brown cheese song, a lost goat and a bushy old troll with green fingers. Garlic Theatre hold their young audience spellbound with wonderfully crafted troll puppets, live music and lots of joining in. £9 full price, £32 family of four. Suitable for 3-8 years, children must be accompanied. Pre-booking required.
Games and paper chains at the Curtis Museum – Alton GU34 1BA
A link to the past – Tuesday 14 November to Sunday 31 December, during museum opening times.
Come and help us create the longest paper chain, moving through the years in our museum. Free, donations welcome. Suitable for all ages, children must be accompanied. Pre-booking not required.
Games trail – Tuesday 14 November to Sunday 31 December, during museum opening times.
Can you find the games hidden around our museum. Drop in and pick up a trail. Free, donations welcome. Suitable for all ages, children must be accompanied. Pre-booking not required.
Dance at Forest Arts Centre – New Milton BH25 6DS
Christmas disco dance, craft and face painting! – Saturday 16 December, 2pm-4pm.
Join us for our Christmas Disco with crafting, dancing and FREE face painting! Dress up is encouraged! Be quick... tickets are due to sell out for this event! £6. Suitable for ages 5-13 years, children must be accompanied. Pre-booking required.
Make-and-take craft table – Monday 18 December and Tuesday 19 December, 10am-12pm.
You get all the fun, and we get all the mess! Explore various materials, activities, colouring and make creative objects at our craft table. What will you create with your imagination…the possibilities are endless! £3. Suitable for ages 5+, children must be accompanied. Pre-booking not required.
Oliver: Dance workshop for families – Monday 18 December, 1pm-2pm.
Consider yourself a great dancer? Well come along with your family and show off you fancy footwork. A fun, general dance session, suitable for all (children 5+), dancing to music from the iconic film Oliver! £6/£8 including film. Suitable for ages 5+, children must be accompanied. Pre-booking required.
Oliver! – Monday 18 December, 2:30pm-4pm.
After being sold to a mortician, young orphan Oliver Twist runs away and meets a group of boys trained to be pickpockets by an elderly mentor in 1830s London.£3. PG, children must be accompanied. Pre-booking required.
Singing in the Rain: Dance workshop – Tuesday 19 December, 12:30pm-2pm.
Join us to learn a soft shoe version of the famous title number of this film about the birth of the talkies. No specific dance experience required. Umbrellas will be provided, but hopefully we’ll have no rain! £9/£11 including the film. Adults (18+). Pre-booking required.
Singing in the Rain – Tuesday 19 December, 2:30pm-4pm.
Singing in the Rain is a 1952 musical comedy film that celebrates the transition from silent to sound movies in Hollywood. £3. Children must be accompanied. Pre-booking not required.
Make merry memories at Milestones Museum - Basingstoke, RG22 6PG
A classic Christmas at Milestones, during museum opening hours.
Experience a family Christmas to remember this year at Milestones! Our period streets will be decorated for the season and our giant Christmas tree will give a warm, festive welcome. Children can help Father Christmas find his lost reindeer with our special Reindeer Spotter trail around the museum, while the smell of mulled wine and the taste of mince pies will transport adults into the atmosphere of a perfect Christmas! Included in admission. All ages, children must be accompanied. Pre-booking recommended.
Meet the reindeer: an enchanting encounter – Friday 22 December, 11am - 4pm.
Santa's elves very much enjoy taking their reindeer out to meet people and sharing some of the experience, knowledge and skills they have gained over many years of caring for and working with these special, gentle animals; come and meet the reindeer, which are very much a part of Santa's family, and learn a bit more about them! Hop on Father Christmas' sleigh, too, for the perfect family photo opportunity. Included in admission. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Please note: the reindeer will be outdoors, under our sheltered roof.
Twixmas tidings at Milestones – Wednesday 27 to Sunday 31 December, 10:00am-4:45pm
At Twixmas, you can entertain the whole family between Christmas and New Year at Milestones Museum. Included in admission price. All ages, children must be accompanied.
Christmas carols and crafts at Red House Museum – Christchurch, BH23 1BU
Yuletide family fun – Saturday 16 December, 11am-3pm.
Seasonal yuletide themed storytelling, facepainting, museum trail and craft activities. £2.50 for facepainting, £2 for trail. Suitable for all ages, children must be accompanied. Pre-booking not required.
Carols in the Courtyard – Saturday 16 December, 3pm-4pm.
Local Community Choir performing seasonal songs with mince pies and mulled wine. Free, donations welcome. Suitable for all ages, children must be accompanied. Pre-booking not required.
Make-and-takes at Westbury Manor Museum – Fareham PO16 0JJ
Festive make-and-take: decorations – Monday 18 December, 12pm-1pm, 2pm-3pm.
Make your own crafty festive decoration.£4 per child, includes babyccino. Suitable for ages 3+. Children must be accompanied. Pre-booking required.
Festive make-and-take: crackers – Saturday 23 December, 12pm-1pm, 2pm-3pm.
Make your own crafty cracker. £4 per child, includes babyccino. Suitable for ages 3+. Children must be accompanied. Pre-booking required.
Father Christmas' Grotto experience at Westgate Museum – Winchester, SO23 9AP
Saturday 16 to Sunday 17 December, see website for times.
Father Christmas will be dropping down the chimney at the Westgate Museum again this year. Find out if you made it on to the good list and receive a gift from the man himself. Then head down to City Museum to get stuck into a Christmas craft and trail! Finally, treat yourself to a hot chocolate to go, a Christmas day out, complete with all the trimmings! £15 per child, accompanying adults £4. Suitable for all ages, children must be accompanied. Pre-booking required.
A crafty Christmas at The Arc – Winchester SO23 8SB
DIY reindeer ears – Tuesday 19 December and Thursday 21 December 10am-11am and 2pm-3pm.
Our DIY reindeer ears workshop is the perfect way to celebrate the joyous season and let imaginations run wild. We will guide children through this one-hour workshop as they design and assemble their very own set of adorable reindeer ears. From selecting fluffy fabrics and soft materials to adding sparkles and embellishments, they'll fashion a unique accessory that's perfect for spreading Christmas cheer. £6 per child, accompanying adults free. Refreshments available from Café at The Arc before and after the session. Suitable for all ages, children must be accompanied. Pre-booking required.
Make your own pom-pom Santa – Monday 18 December and Wednesday 20 December, 10am-11am and 2pm-3pm.
Join us for a delightful holiday workshop where your child can create their very own cuddly pom-pom Santa. It's the perfect way to celebrate the season and add a touch of Christmas magic to their crafting adventures. £8 per child, accompanying adults free. Refreshments available from Café at The Arc before and after the session. Suitable for ages 6+, children must be accompanied. Pre-booking required.
Make your own lolly stick gingerbread house decoration – Wednesday 20 December and Friday 22 December, 10am-11:30am 2pm-3:30pm.
Calling all little architects and sweet-toothed artists! Step into a world of Christmas enchantment and join us for a whimsical workshop where kids can bring their very own wooden gingerbread house decoration to life. It's a delightful way to embrace the spirit of the season and indulge in some creative fun! £8 per child, accompanying adults free. Refreshments available from Café at The Arc before and after the session. Suitable for ages 6+, children must be accompanied. Pre-booking required.
DIY snowman bowling craft and games – Thursday 21 and Friday 22 December, 2pm-3:30pm.
We invite you to our festive DIY snowman bowling children’s workshop, where imagination and creativity will take centre stage. Get ready to craft your very own snowman pins and enjoy a jolly game of snowman-themed bowling! £8 per child, accompanying adults free. Refreshments available from Café at The Arc before and after the session. Suitable for ages 6+, children must be accompanied. Pre-booking required.
Snow and stories at the Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery – Basingstoke RG21 7QD
Christmas doodle room – Saturday 16 December to Saturday 13 January, during opening hours
The Basingstoke Gallery will be dedicated to Christmas crafts, make-and-takes and stories. Feel free to draw on the walls! Doodle room free to use - special events will have a charge. Suitable for all ages, children must be accompanied. Pre-booking not required.
Snow buddies trail – Saturday 16 December to Saturday 23 December, during opening times.
Find the animal buddies hidden in the snow and help Santa make his deliveries. Free, donations welcome. Suitable for all ages, children must be accompanied. Pre-booking not required.
Decorate a Christmas pinecone – Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 December, 10am-4pm.
Drop in during this weekend and give a pinecone a festive make over and take it home. £1 per pinecone. Suitable for all ages, children must be accompanied. Pre-booking not required.
Christmas story time – Thursday 21 December, 11am-12pm and 2pm-3pm.
Christmas stories for preschool children. Sit back and relax and enjoy some timeless Christmas stories. £1 per child. Suitable for ages 5 and under, children must be accompanied. Pre-booking required.
Clay dog planters – Thursday 28 December, 11am-12 pm and 2pm-3pm.
Inspired by our Sainsbury Gallery exhibition of works by David Remfry, make your own dog themed planter. £3 per child. Suitable for ages 5+, children must be accompanied. Pre-booking required.
Magic show and workshop Winchester City Museum –Winchester SO23 9ES
Thursday 28 December, 10:30am-11am, 12pm-12:30pm and 2pm-2:20pm.
Back by popular demand, Tony Charles will return to Winchester City Museum for another show! Whether you're in need of a touch of magic or you are an aspiring magician, this performance promises to be fun for all! Each show will be followed up by a magic workshop, where you can learn how to perform some of the amazing tricks you have just seen.
Included in the price of admission. Suitable for all ages, children must be accompanied. Pre-booking not required.
For more information about Christmas at Hampshire Cultural Trust, please visit the link below.
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