Christmas tree in the middle of the square with decorated lights around it on the houses

Christmas Tree and decorations in Poole

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Christmas in Poole

Our festive launch!

Join us on Poole Quay on Saturday 20 November for a family-friendly festive launch between 12.00pm and 4.00pm! Santa on the Quay will make several guest appearances throughout the afternoon along with his elves and reindeer too. With some family entertainment, street music, dancing and face-painting sure to get you into the festive mood! Santa’s sleigh will park up on the Quay offering photo opportunities for children big and small!

Then, why not make your way down to Falkland Square for more of the Christmas spirit starting from 11.30am with more face-painting, entertainment acts starring Love Soul Choir amongst others, snow and bubble machines too, and as dusk falls Christmas lights throughout the town will begin the season of goodwill!

Poole’s festive cheer this November and December is assured in Falkland Square as Poole welcomes a large Christmas tree, donated by the Dolphin Shopping Centre, and glittering lights cascading down the entrance of the Dolphin Centre. A trail of illuminations leads down the High Street to the old quarter. Poole was made for Christmas and the lights provide the boutiques, coffee shops, pubs and cafes with a distinctly Dickensian feel.

Global Rainbow
In November experience Global Rainbow! For three days in November, starting on Thursday 18 November, the night sky above our coastal region will be transformed by Global Rainbow, brought to you by Lighthouse, Poole; a monumental outdoor laser installation by American artist Yvette Mattern. Seven rays of laser light representing the colour spectrum of a natural rainbow will illuminate the night sky. Beaming direct from Lighthouse with its origin on their roof, the lasers will be visible across the area as it heads out across Poole Park toward Hengistbury Head and beyond. The lasers will extend over 35 miles and you can take in the best view of the Rainbow by standing directly underneath and letting the beams soar overhead. Poole Park could be your ideal spot to view the Global Rainbow safely with your family.

Thanks to funding from BCP Council, Poole BID, HSBC UK and the Garfield Weston Foundation this incredible artwork will illuminate the community and signal not only the restart of a major arts organisation, but also become a visual beacon of hope across Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch.

Marvellous market

For the perfect gift shopping why not head to Poole’s Marvellous Christmas Market Poole's Marvellous Market - Christmas Special in Falkland Square on 4 December 10am – 5pm? Wonderful stalls in a festive marketplace will be accompanied by superb music from the Bournemouth Brass Band, and The Mellor Sisters Christmas Show. There will also be shop window trails for children and free eco arts and crafts stalls with ‘Outside In’.

We’re delighted to share in the Christmas spirit thanks to Poole BID and partners for ensuring Poole High Street comes alive again with festivities this year.

Let's go outside!

Upton Country Park invites you for a stomp in the fresh air and a visit to Santa’s Woodland Grotto. They also play host to a craft fair and festive wreath making events during November. Events at Upton Country Park are popular so pre booking is advisable.

Pantomine is back!

We’re delighted that this year you have a choice of Pantomines across the conurbation including Beauty and the Beast at Lighthouse, Poole, Peter Pan the Pantomine at Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre, and Sleeping Beauty at the Regent Centre Christchurch. If you can’t decide you could go to them all. (Oh yes you can!)

We’re feeling festive across the conurbation

For a magical Christmas experience, just along the coast, visit Bournemouth’s Christmas Tree Wonderland. An atmosphere of good cheer is all around with a range of entertainment, dazzling light displays, sweet treats and so much more from 19 November – 2 January. SKATE returns to the Bournemouth Lower Gardens where families can take part in a spot of ice-skating from 18 November and get into the spirit while meeting friends and family at Moguls Alpine Bar.

Celebrate New Year - Poole's Charity Bath Tub Race

If you're stuffed from all the turkey and mince pies, enjoy the New Year craziness that is Poole's Charity Bath Tub Race! Yes, it's back for 2022, come along on 1 January to the Quay. See crazy crews take to the water in their home made crafts and race to the end with cheering crowds. Expect thrills, spills and sabotage along the way. The race begins around 11.40am due to tide times!

Gift Vouchers

With Christmas just around the corner, why not treat your loved one to a gift voucher for a local attraction, theatre, restaurant or even a weekend away in one of our fabulous hotels.

City Cruises Poole offer gift vouchers on a large selection of their cruise programme and make a thoughtful gift!

Compton Acres in Canford Cliffs, vouchers are an ideal Christmas gift for a keen gardener.

For a unique one-off gift why not adopt a monkey from Monkey World or a Heavy Horse from the Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park.

Special Offers

Head to our special offers pages for some great deals.

Transport and Christmas Parking Information

Bus offers

Morebus – purchase a Christmas Group Dayrider ticket giving unlimited travel for up to five people for just £5! It's valid after 5:30pm on Thursday late night shopping nights and on Sundays on the run up to Christmas, enabling you to hop on and off buses and get all your Christmas shopping done!

Yellow Buses – Buster’s Christmas Cracker ticket offers unlimited evening travel for £3.50 across the whole Yellow Buses network. Tickets are available every day for the duration of Christmas Tree Wonderland and can be purchased direct from drivers after 4:30pm.

Beryl Bikes

Beryl Bikes in partnership with us are offering free bike rides on the following dates:

Thursdays 2, 9 16 and 23 December after 5:30pm to support late night shopping
Sundays 5, 12 & 19 December all day

Two free rides up to 30 minutes can be claimed per person per day, giving residents plenty of time to get to the shops and purchase those festive gifts while supporting the local high street.

Free Festive Parking

There is free parking in the following Poole car parks on Thursday 2, 9, 16 and 23 December from 4-10pm and on Sunday 28 November as well as Sunday 5, 12, 19 December from 10am-6pm: Chapel Lane, Dear Hay Lane, Dolphin Centre, High Street, New Orchard, Prosperous Street, Quay Visitors, Seldown, Serpentine Lane, Serpentine Road, Shoppers 1 and 2, Swimming Pool.

Details of parking offers in Bournemouth, Christchurch and other locations across the BCP area including some Saturday offers can be found here.

Whether you’re visiting for the day, on a Christmas mini break or live in the area, there’s so much to discover and enjoy this year in Poole and we’ll be delighted to welcome you!

Merry Christmas from Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Tourism!

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A Creative Christmas at the Castle

Christchurch

A wonderful event that brings together an array of talented local creatives and makers, all under one roof, for you to enjoy and pick up those Christmas presents.

Dates

From:
12 Dec 2021Open 10:00 - 16:00
Beauty And The Beast

21 Kingland Road, Poole

The stage is set this Christmas for the enchanting family pantomime Beauty and the Beast at Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre for the Arts.
The first Lighthouse panto produced entirely in-house, it features an amazing cast headed by long-time Lighthouse…

Dates

From:

9 Dec 2021to31 Dec 2021
Christchurch Living Advent Calendar

Christchurch

Celebrate Christmas and support your local community - festive surprise performances every evening in December

Dates

From:

1 Dec 2021to24 Dec 2021
Liam White presents ‘The Bublé Experience

A Show Packed Full Of Liam’s favourite Bublé, Swing & Big Band Standards!
Join Liam in the Great Hall at Highcliffe Castle for the Bublé Experience for a performance including the very best hits from one of the most successful male artists to date:…

Dates

From:
14 Dec 2021Open 19:30 -
Coastal Comedy Christmas Special

21 Kingland Road, Poole

The Coastal Comedy Christmas Show with Raymond and Mr Timpkins! Legends of the comedy circuit. Likened to Morecambe and Wise and the Two Ronnies, anyone who can bring the house down with nothing more than a couple of Lidl carrier bags and an Oasis…

Dates

From:
11 Dec 2021Open 20:00 - 22:00
Swing Unlimited Big Band – Christmas at the Castle

Christchurch

The annual festive musical spectacular returns to Highcliffe Castle.
Join Swing Unlimited Big Band once again in our majestic Great Hall at Highcliffe Castle for an evening full to the brim with Christmas classics both old and new.

Dates

From:

15 Dec 2021to16 Dec 2021Open 19:30 -
Choirs at Christmas in Poole

Poole

Poole High Street welcomes 'Choirs at Christmas' selected dates from 20 November, weekends in December and Christmas Eve.

Dates

From:

20 Nov 2021to24 Dec 2021
Wish Upon a Star Trail

Christchurch

A fun activity trail around the museum - find the stars hidden around the museum and complete the challenges on the activity sheet.

Dates

From:
18 Dec 2021Various Opening Times
Bournemouth Christmas Tree Wonderland

Bournemouth

Spectacular Christmas tree trail, enchanting illuminations and seasonal family fun! Experience the magical spectacle of hundreds of glittering trees from around the world!

Dates

From:

19 Nov 2021to2 Jan 2022
Michael Ball & Alfie Boe - Together at Christmas

Exeter Road, Bournemouth

They’re back! Just in time for the festive season! The nation’s favourite and most-loved musical duo Michael Ball and Alfie Boe join forces again for a magical new album Together at Christmas.

Dates

From:
4 Dec 2021Open 20:00 -
Festive Fun at Marwell

Thompsons Lane, Winchester

Wrap up warm and get closer to the wonders of the natural world with a magical visit to Marwell Zoo this winter. Meet our hundreds of exotic and endangered animals from Amur tigers and snow leopards to meerkats and penguins, run wild in our five…

Dates

From:

1 Dec 2021to3 Jan 2022Open 10:00 - 16:00
That'll Be The Day Christmas Show

Exeter Road, Bournemouth

Refreshed every year, the show combines the best pop Christmas classics and traditional Christmas songs with hilarious comedy routines. For many, the That’ll Be The Day Christmas Special is the essential start to their festive season.

Dates

From:
19 Dec 2021Open 19:00 -
BSO: Carols Celebration

21 Kingland Road, Poole

Trad. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Trad. Good Kind Wenceslas
Trad. O Come All Ye Faithful
Mendelssohn Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Conductor Gavin Carr

Join us for our traditional singalong, featuring all your favourites alongside the Bournemouth…

Dates

From:
23 Dec 2021Open 19:30 -
That'll Be The Day - Christmas Show

Bournemouth

That’ll Be The Day’s Rock & Roll Christmas show has been running for over thirty years and has grown into the most popular touring production in the U.K.

Dates

From:
19 Dec 2021Open 19:00 -
BSO: Christmas Crackers

21 Kingland Road, Poole

Experience the warmth and joy of Christmas with a concert devoted to the best of seasonal favourites old and new. This convivial evening is the perfect way to start the Christmas holiday in the company of family and friends, heaped with a huge…

Dates

From:
18 Dec 2021Open 19:30 -
Bournemouth Christmas Market

Bournemouth

From handmade gifts, to luxury hot chocolates, enjoy the shopping experience at Bournemouth Christmas Market.

Dates

From:

19 Nov 2021to2 Jan 2022Open 10:00 -
Frosty the Snowman Shop Trail

Poole

Find pictures of Frosty the Snowman -grab an entry form and get started!

Dates

From:

20 Nov 2021to31 Dec 2021
Carols in the courtyard

Christchurch

The museum welcomes The Choir Engine Christchurch for an afternoon of seasonal carols as we switch on our Christmas lights in the museum garden.

Dates

From:
12 Dec 2021Open 14:00 - 15:00

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Christmas Tree and decorations in Poole

Christmas in Poole

Our festive launch!

Marvellous market

Let's go outside!

Pantomine is back!

We’re feeling festive across the conurbation

Celebrate New Year - Poole's Charity Bath Tub Race

Gift Vouchers

Special Offers

Transport and Christmas Parking Information

Bus offers

Beryl Bikes

Free Festive Parking

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