The Festive Season in Buxton 2019
Come to Buxton, the winter wonderland in the hills, to get you in that festive mood.
With a wealth of independent shops, fairs and markets, it’s a great place for finding unique and special gifts.
Come watch a festive film or concert, tour the town all snug and cosy or visit Santa in his grotto.
Information is updated regularly and is subject to change. Please check with the venues the events are going ahead.
For a daily listing, see our What’s On When calendar.
Festive Tours & Treats
Festive Tram Tours
Join Discover Buxton Tours for special Christmas tours. Festooned in festive attire, the tram will transport its guests on a tour of Buxton. But do not fret, you will be kept toasty with cosy blankets for your knees, a hot water bottle and a warming mug of luxurious hot chocolate from Charlotte’s Chocolates with marshmallows, sprinkles and truffles.
Saturdays and Sundays from 30 November and throughout December at 2pm and 3pm from outside the Cavendish Arcade.
£16 per person. Pre-bookings only.
01298 79648, 07530457755, info@discoverbuxton.co.uk.
Santa’s Grotto at Poole’s Cavern
Santa will be returning to his favourite Grotto at Poole’s Cavern each weekend in December, and Christmas Eve too. Bring your Christmas wishes and all the family to visit the wonderfully illuminated grotto, meet the man himself and explore the spectacular cavern.
Every weekend in December 10am-4pm. ***SOLD OUT***
The cavern is open as usual for Christmas visitors 27-31 December and from 2 January.
Tea Around the Tree
Join us at Buxton’s Devonshire Dome for an exclusive Christmas Afternoon Tea. This is a one off event and the first of its style to be held in this amazing venue. There will be a selection of Christmassy treats such as turkey and stuffing sandwiches, mini mince pies, Christmas cake slices and a glass of mulled wine is also included – a real twist on your traditional afternoon tea!
Tuesday 10 December, 3pm-5pm, Devonshire Dome.
£15pp. Tickets available from the Dome reception (cash only).
Santa at The Springs
Santa is also coming to The Springs Shopping Centre! Take a trip up The Springs candy cane walkway to meet Santa and receive a free present from the big man in red. There will also be craft activities throughout the afternoon to keep everyone entertained whilst they wait.
Saturdays 14, 21 December, 12pm-3pm.
Reverse Santa
Make a difference to someone this Christmas and drop in an unwrapped present which will be given to a child who may not receive anything on Christmas Day.
Festive Fairs & Markets
Grand Bazaar & Christmas Lights Switch On
The annual Grand Bazaar and Christmas Lights Switch On returns. Christmas shopping gets underway at 2pm in the Octagon Concert Hall where you will find over forty Christmas stalls selling a fabulous selection of seasonal food and drink, Christmas gifts and decorations, and handcrafted jewellery and crafts. Santa’s Grotto and the face painter will be in the Pavilion Café and children’s fairground rides and donkey rides will be opposite the swimming pool. The miniature train will be lit up and running in the grounds and hot festive food and drink will be served both indoors and outdoors on the promenade. There will be late night shopping at the Pavilion Retail Arcade and the ‘Gallery in the Gardens‘ and Buxton Lions will be collecting for their charities throughout the night. There will be entertainment from 5pm – yet to be confirmed.
Friday 22 November, 2pm-8pm, Pavilion Gardens.
Christmas Market Night
See the hotel transformed into a bustling festive marketplace, with a range of stalls showcasing the local area’s fine food, crafts and gifts. There will be hot pork baps with stuffing and apple sauce, along with warming glasses of mulled wine and other festive treats available to purchase.
Tuesday 3 December, 4-8pm at the Old Hall Hotel. Free entry.
Christmas Fair
The Christmas Fair is a great chance to pick up those stocking fillers and unique gifts and a perfect place to go to get you into the festive spirit. The Octagon Concert Hall will be full of stalls who can offer some unique and thoughtful gifts for your loved ones. During the event, Santa Claus himself will also be paying us a visit and you’ll be able to go and see him in his Grotto, situated in the cafe.
Saturday 7 – Sunday 8 December, 10.30am-5pm, Pavilion Gardens.
Christmas Market
Join Buxton Markets at their annual Christmas Market with seasonal gifts and activities alongside their regular traders. There will be extra stalls with hot chocolate, mulled wine, gifts and decorations, Santa’s cabin and games for the children including Lucky Dip and a Treasure Hunt.
Saturday 14 December, 10am-6pm on the Market Place.
Festive Community Events
Jingle Bell Jog
Jog 5km or run 700m all in aid of Blythe House Hospice. Sign up at www.jinglebelljog.co.uk/ or call 01298 875 089.
Sunday 1 December from 10am at the Pavilion Gardens.
Lantern-Making Workshops
The Lantern Procession through the town and built year on year bringing festive lights and carols throughout the town. This year it has a Cinderella theme.
Join Buxton Sparkles at making-workshops
- Buxton Museum & Art Gallery on Saturday 30 November between 10am and 3.30pm
- Devonshire Dome on Wednesday 4 December, 6-8pm, DO/G17
Full instructions and materials are provided. It takes about half an hour. For all ages. Children must be accompanied.
Lantern Procession
Bring your lantern on Saturday 7 December and parade and sing through the town from Spring Gardens, up to the Market Place and down through to the old bandstand stage and Christmas Fair in the Pavilion Gardens.
Gather from 4.15pm near Boots in Spring Gardens.
Monthly Make Workshops
With Make With Lara
Mini Christmas House Decoration
Wednesday 4 December, 7:00pm, Pavilion Arts Centre.
Tickets available from the Buxton Opera House Box Office – call 01298 72190 or click here.
Origami Gift Boxes
Wednesday 11 December, 7pm, Pavilion Arts Centre.
Tickets available from the Buxton Opera House Box Office – call 01298 72190 or click here
Buxton Festival Fringe Village Carols Workshop & Party
A celebration of the opening of entries for Buxton Festival Fringe 2020 including a ‘come and sing’ session of Derbyshire village carols between 2.30pm-4.30pm. Drink and party food provided – donations welcome.
Saturday 7 December, 7pm-10pm, Green Man Gallery.
Lake of Lights
Join the Thomas Theyer Foundation at the Pavilion Gardens lake to remember those we have lost. Lights will be floated from 6.15pm.
Saturday 7 December, 5.15pm-7.15pm, Pavilion Gardens.
Serpentine Community Farm Winter Gathering
Get together with old friends and new. Warm welcome and hot drinks. Tree decorations and play hunt the robin.
Sunday 8 December, 12noon to 3pm, Serpentine Community Farm.
Seasonal Sing-a-long
With Friends of Buxton Station and Burbage Brass Band.
Friday 13 December, 6pm-7.30pm, Turner’s Memorial, near the Crescent.
Singing Santas
Traditional carol singing with the Rotary Club of Buxton in Spring Gardens and Higher Buxton. Bring your own hat and join in! Song sheets are provided. This year, the carolling street collection is in aid of Derbyshire Flood Relief.
Saturdays 14 & 21 December, from 1.15pm, meet at Turner’s Memorial, near the Crescent.
Buxton’s Christmas Dance
Festive Shows & Concerts
A Christmas Carol
Chapterhouse Theatre Company bring their production of this classic Christmas tale adapted by Laura Turner. Charles Dickens’ classic ghost story is brought alive in this most traditional of productions, complete with beautiful period costume, song, dance and a magnificent, original musical score. Join critically acclaimed theatre company Chapterhouse as Scrooge’s frozen heart begins to melt and he finally embraces the festive spirit in this most Christmassy of Christmas tales.
Thursday 12 – Friday 22 November, 7.30pm, Pavilion Arts Centre. Tickets available from the Buxton Opera House Box Office – call 01298 72190 or click here.
The Houghton Weavers’ Christmas Concert
The Houghton Weavers have been entertaining folk now for over 43 years with their unique blend of popular folk music, humour and audience participation. They guarantee a wonderful evening of entertainment which is suitable for all the family. Their experience – together with their style and professionalism – ensures that, as their motto says, they always ‘Keep Folk Smiling’.
Saturday 23 November, 7.30pm, Buxton Opera House. Tickets available from the Buxton Opera House Box Office – call 01298 72190 or click here.
Cara Dillon – Upon A Winter’s Night
Cara Dillon, possessed of one of the most celebrated folk voices to have come out of Ireland, will be touring her Christmas show Upon A Winter’s Night this December. Cara and her band will once again capture the mystery of Christmas with a collection of songs ancient and modern providing a welcome reminder that the festive season can be about more than just commercialism. A far cry from Jingle Bells and Santa Baby, Cara will be joined by her wonderful band who weave celtic and folksy rhythms alongside reverent and atmospheric carols while Cara holds the darkness at bay with the purity of her voice.
, 7.30pm, Pavilion Arts Centre.
A Christmas Spectacular of Brass & Comedy
Come and enjoy a programme of Christmas music by the world-famous Brighouse & Rastrick Band to get you singing and laughing towards Christmas. Along with very special guest and former Houghton Weavers frontman, Norman Prince, expect a night of feel-good entertainment and good times all round.
The Snowman
Experience the magic of The Snowman in a whole new way this Christmas – brought to life by a live accompanying orchestra. The concert will open with a toe-tapping Christmas Medley and a fun introduction to the orchestra and will be followed by ‘A Donkey’s Tale’.
With Carrot Productions.
Tuesday 10 December, 6.30pm, The Octagon.
Tickets available here.
Christmas Concert
With Buxton Studio Choir. They are joined again this year by Choir of Fairfield Endowed C of E Junior School and the concert will feature a performance of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf.
Thursday 12 December, 8pm, Buxton Methodist Church. Tickets are available from the Buxton Opera House Box Office – call 01298 72190.
A Celebration of Christmas Music
With Buxton Musical Society. They are joined again this year by Choir of Fairfield Endowed C of E Junior School and the concert will feature a performance of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf.
Sunday 15 December, 7pm, St John’s Church. Tickets are available from the Buxton Opera House Box Office – call 01298 72190.
Rick Wakeman – The Grumpy Old Christmas Show
Combining spellbinding piano music with side splitting stories and revealing insights into his lengthy and varied career. Expect an evening of superb musicianship, featuring music from YES, Rick’s own solo epics and early Bowie hits, plus fantastic arrangements of Beatles’ tunes, and much, much more, interspersed with knockabout (and sometimes bawdy!) humour.
Adam Kay – Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas
Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat… but 1.4 million NHS staff are heading off to work. Following the million-selling success of This Is Going To Hurt, Adam Kay delves back into his diaries for a hilarious peek behind the blue curtain at Christmastime. Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas is a love letter to all those who spend their festive season on the front line, removing babies and baubles from the various places they get stuck, at the most wonderful time of the year. This brand new live show mixes highlights from the book with his award winning stand-up comedy and exclusive new content.
Each ticket includes a copy of the book Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas. There will be a book signing after the show.
Cinderella Family Pantomime at the Buxton Opera House
Close your eyes, make a wish…
If you want next Christmas to be even more magical, then we’re here to make that wish come true. Star of Waterloo Road and CBBC presenter Shannon Flynn will join James Holmes as he returns for a fifth hilarious year (this time as one of Cinderella’s hideously horrible step-sisters) in a show that’s pure magic from beginning to end.
Buxton Opera House’s Christmas pantomime is a real family favourite, so don’t miss out. The palace clock’s counting down to midnight and tickets are selling fast, so book now before the best seats disappear in a cloud of fairy dust.
Thursday 12 – Tuesday 31 December, various performance times.
Relaxed, autism-friendly performance on Wednesday 18 December and BSL-interpreted performance on Sunday 22 December at 5.30pm.
Tickets available from the Buxton Opera House Box Office – call 01298 72190 or click here.
Festive Films at Buxton Cinema
White Christmas (U)
Monday 9 December, 1.30pm
Silver screening. Tickets available from the Buxton Opera House Box Office here.
Home Alone (PG)
Saturday 14 December, 10.30am
Tickets available from the Buxton Opera House Box Office here.
The Grinch (U)
Saturday 14 December, 4.30pm
Sunday 15 December, 10.30am
Tickets available from the Buxton Opera House Box Office here.
Nativity Rocks (12A)
Friday 20 & Saturday 21 December, 7.30pm
Sunday 22 December, 4.30pm
Tickets available from the Buxton Opera House Box Office here.
Last Christmas (12A)
Friday 20 & Saturday 21 December, 7.30pm
Sunday 22 December, 4.30pm
Tickets available from the Buxton Opera House Box Office here.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (U)
Saturday 21 December, 4.30pm
Tickets available from the Buxton Opera House Box Office here.
Miracle of 34th Street (1947) (U)
Monday 23 December, 1.30pm
Tickets available from the Buxton Opera House Box Office here.
Die Hard (15)
Monday 23 December, 7.30pm
Tickets available from the Buxton Opera House Box Office here.
It’s A Wonderful Life (U)
Tuesday 24 December, 1.15pm
Tickets available from the Buxton Opera House Box Office here.
Polar Express (U)
Tuesday 24 December, 4.30pm
Tickets available from the Buxton Opera House Box Office here.
Frozen 2 (tbc)
Friday 27 December – Thursday 2 January, various times
Tickets available from the Buxton Opera House Box Office here.
For a full film screening listing at Buxton Cinema, click here.
Other film events:
- It’s A Wonderful Life, dementia-friendly screening with Matinee Derbyshire, Monday 2 December, 1pm, Trinity Church
Advent & Christmas Church Services
Carol Service at the Dome
Join the University of Derby, Buxton Chaplaincy for a carol service under the magnificent Devonshire Dome. They will be taking donations for High Peak Foodbank for over the Christmas period so please bring a contribution if you can.
Wednesday 11 December, 2.30pm, Devonshire Dome.
Refreshments will be served from 3.30pm.
Other Carol & Church Services
- Advent Carols by Midnight – Sun 1 Dec, 6pm, St John’s Church
- Folk Carol Concert – Sat 7 Dec, 7.30pm, St Mary’s Church
- Carol Service – Sun 15 Dec, 9.30am, Christ Church, Burbage
- Memorial Service – Sun 15 Dec, 6pm, Buxton Methodist Church
- Carol Service – Sun 22 Dec, 10.30am, Buxton Methodist Church
- Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols – Sun 22 Dec, 6pm, St John’s Church
- Crib Service – Tue 24 Dec, 4pm, St Mary’s Church
- Handbell Ringers & Crib Service, Tue 24 Dec, 4pm, Christ Church, Burbage
- Christingle Service – Tue 24 Dec, 5pm, Buxton Methodist Church
- Midnight Mass – Tue 24 Dec, 11.30pm, Christ Church, Burbage
- Midnight Mass – Tue 24 Dec, 11.30pm, St John’s Church
- Holy Communion – Wed 25 Dec, 10am, Christ Church, Burbage
- Family Communion – Wed 25 Dec, 10.30am, St Mary’s Church
- Christmas Day Service – Wed 25 Dec, 10.30am, Buxton Methodist Church
- Song Eucharist – Wed 25 Dec, 11am, St John’s Church
- Parish Eucharist – Sun 29 Dec, 10.30am, St Anne’s Church
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