5 things to do this festive season

From glittering light trails in beautiful locations to fine art in our top galleries, here is a taster of events for this festive season.

FOLLOW THE LIGHT

JEFF EDEN © RBG KEW

Light tunnels, lanterns and beams in botanic gardens: a Christmas light festival makes a magical after-dark outing. Look out for one near you from websites such as Light up the North, or those of heritage houses, including Blenheim Palace, where a Tunnel of Light will sparkle with 100,000 pea lights, and the woodlands will be alight with lasers. Discover new routes, too, at locations such as Kew Gardens, where the Treetop Walkway will be shimmering, white haze arches ‘smoking’ and specially curated soundtracks will heighten the festive feel.

Until early January

lightupthenorth.com; blenheimpalace.com; kew.org  

DECORATE WITH A TWIST

© AKIKO WAKEFIELD

Give Christmas an exotic eastern flavour at a special workshop at Bath’s Museum of East Asian Art. Origami instructor Akiko Wakefield will be running three sessions with a festive feel, to teach the craft of Japanese folding paper art, including Christmas tree card making. Places are limited, so it will be necessary to book in advance. 

6 and 13 December; an additional Family Christmas Origami Workshop will be held on 7 December 

meaa.org.uk

SEEK OUT THE PEACE…

LAING ART GALLERY, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE (TYNE AND WEAR MUSEUMS)

…with a visit to an art gallery, taking time out to enjoy the way artists past – and present – have chosen to depict the Nativity scene. Seen here is Nativity (part of a triptych), from the early 16th century, part of Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne’s collection. 

laingartgallery.org.uk

CHOOSE HANDCRAFTED GIFTS

SARAH RICKARD

Galleries and craft centres are a wonderful source for unique Christmas presents – and a great way of supporting the artists who create them. Scour arts calendars for events such as The Christmas Show 2019, the annual selling exhibition from the Craft Centre and Design Gallery, Leeds, where among the fine glass, wood-turned pieces, prints and ceramics will be these white and gold leaping hares by artist-potter Sarah Rickard.

Until 11 January 2020 

craftcentreleeds.co.uk

ENJOY THE SWELL OF SONG 

CHICHESTER CATHEDRAL

Long before we started to celebrate Christmas, the winter months would be a time for song in festivals such as the Roman Saturnalia. And some of our best-known Christmas carols began as ancient dance tunes, prior to having words on the birth of Jesus added to them. Enjoy those sounds and stories, when ancient sites such as Chichester Cathedral stages its carol services on various dates, and York Minster hosts its candlelight procession and musical celebration of the Sankta Lucia Festival of Light, a traditional Swedish celebration, on 6 December.

chichestercathedral.org.uk; yorkminster.org