Christmas Festivities in North Wales– from Grottos to Santa Trains
19th Nov
So, you’re looking for things to do in North Wales this Christmas? Then look no further, we’ve done the hard work for you and rounded up the best festive activities and events available in Snowdonia over the Christmas period…
Christmas is a time for making memories with family and friends, so let’s take a look at where you can go and what you can do with your loved ones over the festive period. From Santa Trains to Christmas Markets, we’ve got you covered.
Here’s our recommended ‘must do’ activities and events this festive season:
Anglesey Sea Zoo, Anglesey
Christmas at the Sea Zoo, December 4/5 , 11/12, 18/19 from 10am-5pm
- Santa and Elves every day
- ‘Frozen’ Elsa on site every weekend
- Local Food and Craft Fair
- Charity Fundraising – make a donation & hang a bauble on our wishing tree. All proceeds go to Hope House & Tŷ Gobaith children’s hospices. All baubles are £2
- Pulled Pork, Mince Pies and Christmas Treats
- Breakfast with Santa (to book your special breakfast with Santa, please email us at – post@angleseyseazoo.co.uk and request a Breakfast booking form)
- Santa’s Grotto 11am–1pm and 2pm-4pm £5 per child, includes a gift
For more information, head to http://www.angleseyseazoo.co.uk/
Bala Lake Railway, Bala
We’ve just released the tickets for our ‘Mince Pie Special’ trains on our website.
Come along and enjoy some festive cheer with us on the 11th and 12th of December.
Head to https://bala-lake-railway.co.uk/mince-pie-special-trains/to book your tickets
Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway, Porthmadog
We are delighted to be offering a variety of festive fun this November and December as we look forward to Santa trains, Christmas trains, Christmas Markets and Fairs!
During this festive period, Santa will be visiting both of our railways, providing visitors the opportunity to meet him in his Christmas Carriage Grotto at Porthmadog Harbour Station or to join him aboard our Welsh Highland Santa trains!
We will also be running a selection of steam trains between Christmas and New Year on both of our railways, so there’s plenty of choice for a day out following the festivities of Christmas Day!
Our Welsh Highland Railway Santa services will be running on the 11th, 12th, 18th, 19th, 22nd and 23rd of December.
On Saturday, 27th November and Sunday, 28th November, we will be part of the Slate Quay Christmas Market, which will take place across Cei Llechi and our Caernarfon Station building. LL55 2PF. There will be a variety of festive stalls, burger bars and cocktail vans, so make sure you join us and start the countdown to Christmas in style!
For more information and to book, head to https://www.festrail.co.uk/
Greenwood Family Park, Felinheli
For a magical festive experience visit the Enchanted Lodge at Greenwood Family Park this Christmas. Tickets for our Family Christmas experience include:
- A Magical Christmas show
- Decorate your own gingerbread man
- Elf School activities
- A yummy hot meal
- Meet Santa
- A golden ticket, to spend in the toy shop
- Access to soft play area
For more information and to book, head to https://www.greenwoodfamilypark.co.uk/
Corris Mine Explorers, Corris
Brand new for 2021 – Underground Christmas Parties! Perfect for a works party, get together with friends or a special family gathering.
Our Underground Christmas Parties can be perfectly tailored for you and your colleagues or friends. Tell us what you all like (and also what you don’t like), maybe you want to explore the mine with some history and stories thrown in or perhaps you and your colleagues want something a bit more adrenaline pumping, we can do that too with ropes, ladders, climbing and scrambling around.
The duration of your party can be tailored too, anything from an hour long to a full day is available, festive food and drinks can be served in our cafe and loads of party fun is 100% guaranteed! All our trips are run safely with social distancing measures in place.
For more information and to book head to www.corrismineexplorers.co.uk/welsh-slate-mine-tours/parties-corporate-events/
Nant Gwrtheyrn, Llithfaen, Pwllheli
We have a very special offer available at the moment, including bed and breakfast, and a Christmasy afternoon tea for only £70 per person! Relax and enjoy some peace and quiet in a stunning location. To reserve your place, either call us on 01758 750334, or email us at llety@nantgwrtheyrn.org – you deserve a break!
Traditional Sunday Lunch is also served every Sunday between 12pm-3pm.
For more information, head to https://nantgwrtheyrn.org/
National Slate Museum, Llanberis
Digital event: Father Christmas and Friends AT HOME
11 December 2021, 12:15pm – 7pm
Cost £5 + Eventbrite fees
Suitability Families. 3-8 year olds
Christmas will soon be here – and some mischievous elves are busy getting ready for the big day…. There’s so much to do and they really need your help!
Join the elves, Mother Christmas, and Father Christmas himself, for an afternoon full of sparkle and festive magic. All from the comfort of your own home!
Here’s what’s on our Christmas list:
– Father Christmas LOVES gingerbread! Mother Christmas will be in her kitchen to teach you how to make her very special recipe.
– Find out more about some cool Welsh Christmas traditions
– Join a live video call to meet some real reindeer in a Secret Forest in Lapland
– Are you hoping for snow? Visit the Elves at their workshop to make paper snowflakes and snow globes.
– Sing along to some of our festive favourite tunes with the Christmas Crew
– Settle down for story time with Father Christmas in front of the fire
For more information, head to https://museum.wales/slate/whatson/
Talyllyn Railway, Tywyn
Experience the nostalgia of historic steam trains in some of Wales’ finest countryside this Christmas. The railway starts on the coast at Tywyn, snakes through the foothills of Cader Idris to Dolgoch Falls, Abergynolwyn and Nant Gwernol. The train clings to the hillside as it passes through woodland and over ravines. The trip takes about an hour each way. There are four festive train events running throughout December, including:
Festive Steam
Carol Train
Tinsel & Turkey Trains
Santa Special Trains
For more information and to book, head to https://www.talyllyn.co.uk/
Zip World, Blaenau Ffestiniog
Tickets to our magical Christmas Grotto experience at Zip World Llechwedd are now available!
This year in the historical Llechwedd Deep Mine, Santa and his elves will be heading underground with us on the cable railway to our magical grotto from the 29th of November, right up until Christmas eve, every Friday-Monday.
Tickets start at £18, and included in this you get a mulled wine/ hot chocolate on entry, a gift from Santa, a Welsh slate bauble to decorate at our craft station, a mince pie, and a ride down to the Deep Mine on Europe’s steepest cable railway! Families with children of all ages are welcome.
This will be the first Christmas experience we are hosting in quite some time, and to be able to do so in this incredible historic space is an honour. Thank you all so much for your support!
We’d highly recommend pre-booking now, as we’re expecting this to be popular, tickets available by clicking the link https://zipwo.uk/3m1UcaE
Adventure Parc Snowdonia, Dolgarrog
Our seasonal winter menu is now available at Zephyrs Bar and Grill! Enjoy relaxed dining with a beautiful backdrop and stunning views across the lagoon…
Zephyr’s is the ideal spot for recounting your session or adventures while enjoying some of the finest local ingredients, sourced from the rivers, coastline and fields of North Wales. You can now book your table through our online reservation system, hit the link to warm your soul with our hearty autumn dishes as we approach the winter months
For more information, head to https://www.adventureparcsnowdonia.com/