I am obsessed with Sussex Christmas Family Events so I put together a list of the ones around.
I am always searching out events and activities that are fun and seasonal. I have a 3.5 year old and just turned 6 year old and we spend lots of time with new experiences, especially at Christmas, free and a few paid ones too. Ending with the absolutely wonderful Burning the Clocks lantern parade and fireworks on the winter solstice, 21st December and the Santa swim on Christmas day, both in Brighton. (Links are the red titles)
Wakehurst Glow Wild – this is the most famous one, and so popular. It is spectacular, we stayed for 4 hours, in the cold and drizzle, our (then) 2.5 and 5 year olds were entranced – we booked again for this year. Trulsy special. Running 27th November 2025 to 3rd January 2026.
Under 4s are free. Ticket prices change based on date booked, roughly £18-26 per adult ticket, child £13-17.
Leonardslee Gardens Light Trail – A beautiful trail around the gardens (one section has a steep hill so may be tricky with a buggy). Running 28th November-30th December (11th December is a quiet night for SEND) 4:15-8:30pm.
Under 2s free (but £1.25 booking fee applies). Tickets from £17, but change based on date booked.
Bedgebury Pinetum Christmas Light trail – a gorgeous lit up walk through the woods. Running 21st November-31st December 2025.
0-2 are free (and yes, more Kent but worth a visit!) Tickets on a Saturday in December are £18 child and £26 adult but changed based on the day and date booked.
Tulleys Christmas Lights You stroll through a forest of twinkling lights, immersive live shows, a ferris wheel, bars, live music, so much food, marshmallow roasting.
Open 28th November 2025 – 3rd January 2026. 4pm-10pm. Under 2s free. Saturday in December – kids £27.95 and adults £32.95 (but a weekday is £19.95/£24.95)
Saxifrage Way, Worthing – 22nd November-1st December 5-9pm. This is amazing. It is someones private house and wow they go all out, there’s music, a snow machine, a sleigh to sit in.
Please do not drive into the close but there’s free parking on Titnore Way, 2 min walk.
FREE – Donations very welcome for the Air Ambulance service so do bring cash. Not to be missed
(Afterwards drive a few minutes to Waterlily Way and see another display there too!)
Coldean Houses! – Not sure of dates but definitely December These are so good, private houses so be respectful. Easy parking on street.
1)Top of Crawley Road, Coldean – loads of inflatables and a sweet magical Santa shed that opens at 4:30pm. The kids loved it.
2)63 Hawkhurst Road, Coldean – lit up from the outside but the magic is when you climb the steps and look hrough the windows of the two sheds. Christmas ornaments, flying hot air balloons, christmas scenes, trains going round… our kids didn’t want to leave and it was freezing when we went.
South Downs Light Railway Christmas Santa train – our boys love this every year, rain or shine. It’s a lovely little steam train with covered carriages that drives past the North Pole station where Santa waves and greets the children on the platform. £5 a ticket but sell out fast.
Running every weekend in December, they will always keep a few tickets on the day, you’d need to wait to get them and unlikely more than a couple at time.
Bonus is that Pulborough Garden Centre, that the train is next to, has a little soft play attached to the cafe and is always Christmassy.
Meet Santa – Drusillas – 22nd November-23rd December 2025
Watch little eyes twinkle with wonder as they experience the glistening magic of Christmas at Drusillas! Come and meet Santa snuggled in his cosy cottage, join in with jolly singing reindeer, stroll through twinkling decorations, and marvel at the spectacular 24ft Christmas tree.
Normal admission fee to Drusillas applies at 20% off if booked at same time – meeting Santa is an additional cost £19 per person (1:1 meeting and gift)
Santa’s Grotto – Knockhatch – 6th-23rd December 2025
Knockhatch is a bit of a gem! A massive wooden castle with dragon, soft play, dinosaur play barn, loads of animals including owl displays, magical fairies, rides, mini golf, jumping pillows, water rides, water play (in the summer)etc etc.
Normal admission fee applies – For Santa all kids pay £8.95 (adults don’t need a ticket) and includes a gift. Tickets sold at the entrance/in Froggies soft play.
Santa’s Grotto – Paradise Park, Newhaven – 30th November + 6/7/13/14/20/21/22/23/24th December 2025
Paradise Park is a lovely surprise. Animals, dinosaurs, mini train, jungle play barn soft play, mini golf.
Normal admission fee applies (under 3s FREE admission)
Santa ticket inc day park pass: Under 3s £9, child £21.95, accompanying adult £12.95
Royal Pavilion at Christmas – 29th November-24th December (weekends and last few weekdays)
Meet Father Christmas – Enjoy a private 5 minute audience with Father Christmas for your family, with a professional photo taken (available to purchase seperately) and a gift for every child. Ticket also includes entry to the Royal Pavilion and a festive family trail. £19 per child, £5 per adult.
Storytime with Santa – Gather around Father Christmas as he reads a funny, interactive and enchanting children’s story, custom written and illustrated for this event. Afterwards an opportunity to take photos with Father Christmas, allowing all families to capture the moment, alongside a small take home for every child. A group activity lasting 45 minutes. £10 per child, £8 per adult
The Elf on the Shelf Trail, Sheffield Park Garden NT – 29th November 2025-11th January 2026
Discover twelve beautifully hand-painted elf sculptures around the garden as you take in the glorious wintry scenes and delight in festive games and activities for all the family. Warm up with a hot chocolate and mince pie at our festive food stalls and make magical Christmas memories.
Normal entrance fee applies, free to National Trust members.
The Pony who Dreamt of Being a Reindeer Trail, Borde Hill – 29th November – 21st December 10am-3:30pm – This Winter, children aged 3-8 years old can ignite their imaginations while exploring the garden on a magical story trail about Bella the little pony who longed to be part of the reindeer sleigh team.
Entrance fee applies – members go free on the trail, £4.50 per child otherwise. It includes a prize.
The Snowman, The Dome – 21st December, 1:30pm (relaxed performance with interval) and 4:30pm
Watch the beloved film on the big screen accompanied by the Covent Garden Sinfonia.
Fairytale Christmas at Nymans NT – 22nd November 2025 – 4th January 2026 – 10-4
In the garden, a Christmas family adventure trail awaits, leading you through classic fairytales. Find Aladdin’s cave of treasures, play a game with Red Riding Hood’s basket of treats and take a seat in Cinderella’s carriage. Created by Tin Shed scenery, the makers of last year’s magical Narnia-inspired garden trail.
Normal entrance fee applies, free to National Trust members.
Brighton Ice Skating – October 25th 2025 – January 4th 2026.
In front of the Royal Pavilion, I don’t think you can get a better backdrop for ice skating! They have a beginners rink too and the kids under 1.2m can use push along penguins (£6 extra).There’s also a rinkside bar and viewing platform FREE to watch it if you don’t want to skate, we often go and watch it instead – Christmas music, colour changing lights and after every session the rink truck that smooths the ice! Off peak tickets £15 – 10am-5pm
Tulleys Christmas Experience – Tulleys is amazing for events (they do various events all year including a halloween experience too). This is an all out American Christmas extravaganza. Various live shows, make reindeer food, bake cookies, ice skating, fairground rides and ticket includes a sleigh ride to storytime with Santa, then you meet him and get a sleigh back to make your own teddy as a gift.
Open weekends from 22nd November-21st December, plus 22-24th December weekdays as well. 9am-6pm. (£150 for family of 4 in November to £215 in December!)
Wreath Making Workshop – Thursday 27th November 7:30pm
Playcafe Toddler Carols – Wednesday 17th/Thursday 18th December 10:30am
Carols by Candlelight – Sunday 7th December – 6pm
Christmas Eve Nativity – Wednesday 24th December – 2pm, 3pm, 4:30pm, 5:30pm – they have a live donkey and an engaging nativity. Our kids loved it.
(They also have a weekday morning play cafe in term time which is a lovely way to meet other parents. 9:30-12. It’s free and they sell nice food and drinks too)
7th December – Family Carols – 10:30am.
14th December Carols – 5pm & 7pm
21st December – Christingle – 10:30am / Carols by Candlelight – 5pm & 7pm
24th December Midnight Mass – 11pm
25th December Christmas Day Celebration – 10am
Brighton Santa Bus – A double decker bus covered in lights that drives slowly around various residential areas in Brighton playing loud Christmas music while Santa and his elves wave from the top deck. Our kids love it! You can track them live to see where they are but they generally appear between 5:30-6:30pm. Each area has a different night and you can see which date on the website. They have collection buckets to raise money for charity so bring some coins but FREE to watch.
To see the routes, inc maps, starting 24th November and ending 23rd December SEE HERE
Bluebell Railway Santa’s Steamlights – The lovely steam train is covered in lights and Santa greets every child on arrival. It runs from Sheffield Park, stops at Horsted Keys station for 30 minutes so you can take photos, then back to Sheffield Park.
Open 22nd November-28th December at 4:45pm or 7:45pm. Kids and adults £35 (under 3s £5) or you can book a compartment for 6-8 people for around £210-250 which works out cheaper per person. Dates sell out really fast.
Bluebell Railway Santa Specials – A steam train ride, Harris fun fair (rides included for the 1 hour stop), every child meets Santa
Weekends – 29/30th November-24th December – 10am/11:05am or 1pm/2:05pm. Compartments £210-250, Adults/kids £35, under 3s £10.
Brighton Santa Dash! Saturday 6th December at Hove Lawns opposite Adelaide Crescent. Running to Hove Lagoon and back again. £20 to enter, FREE to watch.
10:20am kids 400m dash
10:30am Adult santa dash
Christmas Tractor Run! – Sunday 7th December 2025
Chailey Young Farmers gets together and drives 100 Christmassy decorated tractors, cars and trucks from the South of England Showground from 10:30am and back again. You can watch it leave the showground or in one of the villages along the route (Lindfield is a good stop). Our boys loved every second of it, including Santa on top of a tractor and various other decorations. FREE to watch
Santa on Volks Railway – Saturday 13th December – 10am/11am/12pm/2pm/3pm
Meet Santa (book tickets via the link above) and ride the Volks train. Tickets £15 for children (£5 for accompanying adult) and include a present for all under 14s. Photographs taken by staff and emailed free of charge afterwards.
Christmas at Worthing Fire Station – Saturday 13th December – 11am-6pm.
Meet Santa (book tickets via the link), various Christmas activities and of course fire engines!
Christmas Ceilidh, The Dome – Saturday 13th December, 6-9pm – for ages 5+
Legendary barn dance band The Sussex Pistols plus a caller to make this a magical evening of fun and dance. We love a ceilidh!
£12 ticket, £6 concessions
The Book Nook Hove – Sunday 14th December – Story Time with Santa. Book tickets asap.
Old Boat Community Centre – Saturday 20th December 11am-2pm.
Santa’s Grotto (donation based), bouncy snowglobe, dance machine, pocket money stall, crafts. sweet stall, tombola, raffle, guess the teddy’s name
Christmas at Shoreham Fire Station – Monday 22nd December 4-9pm.
Santa and his elves (book tickets), inflatables, soft play, rides, arts and crafts and much more
Goddenwick Farm/Sussex Trees nr Lindfield – a lovely Christmas tree farm that goes all out at Christmas! There’s a trail through the woods, Santa’s grotto (book ahead), real reindeer, plus Christmas tree (cut already or cut your own), red routemaster bus, and a new play barn (£5 cost) with large hay bale fort, slide, ball pit and mini ride on tractors.
Open every day. FREE to visit, Santa visit/buy trees/buy food is extra
Blakers Park Carols – Friday 19th December at 6pm – this is my local but lots of the other parks do carols too like Queens Park. It is such a sweet event with fairylights strung through the trees around the clock tower, a little band, free mince pies and mulled wine at the lovely Cleveland pub opposite, everyone singing a little out of tune and out of time with the band. It’s one of our favourite events of the year. FREE but coins for donation buckets. You can print the songbook from the website or there will be some available on the night.
Christmas Day Santa Swim! – Crazy people running into the freezing cold water near Brighton Pier around 11am with Santa Hats on, while Santas paddleboard nearby for safety. Honestly insane but a Brighton tradition and worth a watch! The council are eager to point out this is not advised or professionally organised. FREE to watch or join in!
2025 TBC – these events ran in 2024 but yet to be confirmed for 2025 – will update when they do
Rotary Club Santa Sleigh – DATES TBC – Santa drives around different streets, an area per night so do check the website for which area he may be coming to! FREE to watch, donations welcome as it’s for charity
Hove Beach Huts decorate for Christmas! – Saturday 13th December 4-8pm. *Not happening in 2025*
Burning the Clocks – Same Sky Events – Saturday 21st December (always the same date every year, Winter Solstice) *Taking the year off in 2025 sadly*
A beautiful lantern parade with music and dancing through the streets of Brighton, starting at Jubilee Library around 6/6:30pm and heading through the streets and ending on Madeira Drive for a fireworks display approx 8pm. it is FREE to watch but you can buy a lantern pack for £40 which includes 2 lantern kits to make yourself and 4 wristbands that get you onto Madeira Drive to watch the fireworks from a less busy place.
Same Sky also run the lovely Children’s Parade every May.