Our Top Christmas New Forest Festivities

With chilly mornings and dark nights, houses' lit, looking warm and inviting…it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas! And it wouldn't feel like Christmas without our local towns decorating the streets with lights.

All Christmas events here in the New Forest really do get you in the festive spirit with parades, Christmas carollers, Santa’s grotto and market stalls filled with New Forest Produce. Perfect for selecting Christmas gifts.

Here is our top 3 Christmas light ‘switch ons’ in the New Forest this year…..

Lymington

Lymington is arranging a celebration evening on Friday 28^th November, when the high street will be closed to welcome Santa, and to turn the lights on at the tree at approximately 6pm. This year the town will also be decorated with 30 Christmas trees overhanging the high street which should look spectacular! The town’s shops have been invited to stay open, so you will be able to partake in some late night Christmas shopping and then maybe head off for a bite to eat in one of the many bars or restaurants in the town.

Lyndhurst

Lyndhurst will be full of Christmas cheer as Simon Clarke from Wave 105 will switch the lights on this year on Thursday 27^th November at 7pm. Shops will be open for a spot of late night shopping and carollers will be singing songs throughout the evening.  Lyndhurst will also be hosting another festive event, the Christmas Fun Day on Saturday 13^th December including Santa, market stalls and carol singing!

Ringwood

On Saturday 6^th December the town of Ringwood is having its very own Christmas ‘switch on’, with new Christmas lights and tree, a lantern parade, fair rides, Santa’s Grotto and guaranteed snow!  Included in the day’s activities will be an Elf workshop for young children, sweets being given out by elves, choirs and singers on stage in the market place and local charity and business stalls selling gifts and food along the high street. This fun packed day of activities starts at 10am through till 7pm. 

So wrap up warm, gather your friends and family and come to the New Forest for what promises to be a great start to the festive season!

The New Forest Christmas Fair 2014

After the huge success of the inaugural Christmas Fair, Hoburne Bashley (new confirmed venue!) is hosting an even bigger event this year.   The Christmas Fair will open its gates between 10am and 4pm on Saturday 7^th December and Sunday 8^th December.  Entry is FREE so be sure to bring the whole family along to this festive extravaganza!

This is the perfect place to get you into the Christmas spirit.  With locally produced seasonal gifts, tasty hot food and the children can meet Santa in his Grotto.  Enjoy a glass of mulled wine; browse the stalls for unusual and interesting presents and sample the delicious locally produced festive food. 

The whole event has such a friendly and festive atmosphere – whilst staying with New Forest Cottages in the New Forest take advantage of the fantastic range of local products on offer and remove the hassle from Christmas by doing all your Christmas shopping in one place! Now that’s an offer you can’t refuse!

And if you still need to buy a Christmas Tree there are plenty here  – the Forestry Commission have said that they can’t promise a white Christmas but they can help make it green!  Nothing beats the experience and the smell of a real tree….which use about 10 times fewer materials and five time less energy than an artificial tree – plus, they smell divine!

There is something for everyone in Hoburne Bashley this Christmas so why not book a last minute, cosy getaway in one of our New Forest Cottages. Visit our Offers page for our last minute deals.

Image Credit: Ornament Bokeh, Mike Tungate (flickr.com)