Christmas Fairs In Cheltenham
It’s officially feeling festive here in town - everywhere you look stalls and stores are selling their seasonal sparkly gifts and warming wintery mulled wines! In fact, it's tough to move a muscle without the whiff of a Gingerbread Latte or sound of Jingle Bells on the breeze!
Whilst wandering through town we can’t help thinking there must be a way to avoide the crowds of Christmas shoppers while picking out presents a little more unique? Thankfully, Cheltenham schools and businesses are hosting a flurry of Christmas fairs over the festive period, offering us the chance to choose something made with love and care, for someone we love and care for.
Here’s our selection of the best community fairs in town in order of dates and opening times for the convenience of your Christmas calendar! We suggest you grab a mince pie or two, this is a long one! Ho, ho, happy scrolling!
Running until Saturday 15th December
The Cheltenham Christmas Market returns to our promenade this winter, bringing with it a plethora of chalets offering cheer, beer and churros! The continental twist ensures a variety of trinkets and treats to choose from, with 40 stalls selling gifts, crafts, food and drink. From 9am - 8pm daily, free to browse. Find out more.
Thursday 29th November
Get your song on at Christmas Carols On The Green, organised by Shurdington Pre-School. 'Tis the season to be jolly and to start off (or wrap up) your Christmas shopping from array of gifts from local businesses. An evening to enjoy Christmas carols and festive baked goodies, as well as a chance to marvel at Father Christmas in his magical grotto! From 5pm - 7pm at Shurdington Social Centre. Find out more.
Friday 30th November
The FOSVPS Winter Fair is kindly planned as an after school event so parents can attend post pick up! There’s a chance to buy carefully crafted creations made by the children, as well as to meet Father Christmas in the grotto, and join in with some fun games and win prizes! Hot food and refreshments are available for grown ups too! From 3:30pm - 5:30pm, free entry for all. Find out more.
Giggly Craft Christmas Fair is a great opportunity for a evening out with friends whilst doing some Christmas shopping! This event is held to raise funds for the wonderful charity, Goals Beyond Grass. 50 goody bags are available on arrival too, so best get there early! Stalls include Giggly Crafts, Handmade in Cheltenham, Manda Makes, Teddy And Beast, Paisley Cottage and Hansel and Gretel. There’s a bar, raffle and tombola and with free entry and free parking - it’s not one to miss! From 6pm - 10pm at The King’s Head. Find out more.
Saturday 1st December
The Broadlands Christmas Fair is a wonderful event, with Father Christmas in attendance and lots of homemade goodies to eat and buy. What more could we want?! Entry cost is £2 per family, from 10:30am - 12:30pm. Find out more.
The Cheese Rollers Christmas Craft Fair offers shoppers a chance to browse the various stalls selling Christmas cards, jewellery and gifts, as well as to stop for a bite to eat - shopping sure is hungry work! From 12pm - 3pm with free entry. Find out more.
This year Lakeside PTA is putting on a Christmas Fair even bigger and better than before! The school will be transformed into a variety of areas, each offering something exciting for both the children and adults at the Lakeside Christmas Fair! You can expect a life-sized snow globe and falling faux snow, child-friendly activities, reindeer stables, football in Snowman’s Land, laser quest, a bouncy castle in Winter Wonderland and crafting in the Elve’s workshop! Of course, you will be able to visit Santa in his grotto before popping into Mrs Claus’ Café for a festive hot chocolate! It’s just £1 entry per adult and children enter for free, from 1pm - 4pm. Find out more.
The Bishops Cleeve Christmas Market provides a fun-filled afternoon, all whilst raising money for Bishops Cleeve Primary Academy. With wonderful stalls selling lovely homemade goodies, it's an ideal time to gather Christmas present ideas, or just play games (suitable for both children and their grown ups). Refreshments, face painting and more - oh my! From 2pm - 4pm with free entry. Find out more.
Sunday 2nd December
The Montpellier Christmas Market is a traditional Christmas street fair featuring market stalls (with Christmas shopping opportunities galore), a fun fair, Thomas Trilby the children's entertainer, brass and silver bands, carol singing and the Rock Choir! Shops, bars and restaurants of Montpellier host this festive day in aid of Sue Ryder, Cheltenham, with charity staff selling raffle tickets to win Montpellier prizes on the day. From 11am - 5pm. Find out more.
The Cotswold Christmas Market supports local and small businesses this christmas at this annual festive event, with over 50 stalls including food, drinks and beautiful bespoke gifts. Entry cost £1 with free parking at the Pump Rooms, from 11am - 4pm. Find out more.
The Westcountry Made Christmas Market is a special one day event held at Cheltenham Regency Hotel, from 3pm - 8pm. Pop along for a festive afternoon with family friends while having a browse at the wonderful selection of bespoke gifts on offer - with free entry! Find out more.
Tuesday 4th December
Bishops Cleeve, Bumps, Babies & Beyond is hosting the December Mini Christmas Fair at Bishops Cleeve Library. With stalls from Avon, Giggly Crafts, The Baker’s Table, Neal’s Yard, Nom Nom Kids and Usbourne Books. From 10:15am - 12pm, entry is £1.50 adult and child, 50p per additional child. Find out more.
A little further afield but certainly worth the travel is the Winchcombe Christmas Festival. The annual event attracts crowds in droves to gaze at over 70 sparkling Christmas lights twinkling throughout the town’s historic streets. The late night shopping evening will see independent stores, galleries, restaurants and pubs opening their doors with a warm festive welcome to all between 5pm - 8pm. North Street and Abbey Terrace will be abuzz with over 50 market stalls selling a festive selection of hot food, drink and locally-made crafts and gifts. Father Christmas will make a special appearance, arriving in his brightly-lit sleigh through the town, before appearing with his elves in his Grotto at the Guide Hall. Stilt walker and balloon modeller Thomas Trilby will be on hand to entertain big and little kids alike, and there will be performances from 11 local groups at various times throughout the evening, with plenty of Christmas carols sung to get everyone into the Christmas spirit! Find out more.
Friday 7th December
The Charlton Kings Christmas Extravaganza takes place from 3pm - 6pm at Church Piece, Charlton Kings. Santa and his reindeer will be spreading Christmas cheer, as Charlton Kings school choirs and Charlton Kings Choral Society tunefully perform festive carols around the tree, with the Coady Crew entertaining the crowds! Charlton Kings Christmas lights will be switched on by Chase from Paw Patrol, then follows the opportunity to do some early Christmas shopping at the Stanton Room and to drop off those lists at the grotto! Find out more.
Benhall Christmas Fair provides a festive way to fundraise for Benhall Infant School. With seasonal stalls, a tombola, raffle prizes, cakes and teddies! Children will love Santa’s grotto and festive face painting too! From 3:30pm - 6pm, adults cost £1, children 50p. Find out more.
The Naunton Park PTA Christmas Fair offers something for the whole family to enjoy, with a variety of professional stalls selling festive gifts and crafts, as well as a raffle, bottle tombola, and entertaining children’s games. There’s a bar selling drinks and snacks, a quiet chill out area to kick back and relax, and Santa’s Grotto, which will no doubt be the most popular destination! From 6pm - 8pm, entry £1 with under 5’s free. Find out more.
Saturday 8th December
The Prestbury Library Christmas Fayre is a great opportunity to do your Christmas shopping whilst supporting local producers. There’s no need to book or register, just pop in to browse and buy. From 10am - 12pm, free entry. Find out more.
Jem’s Christmas Craft Fair offers an afternoon of shopping and tasty handmade cakes, with a variety of stalls selling beautiful crafted gifts. From 11:30am - 2pm at Brizen Young People’s Centre, free admission. Find out more.
Sunday 9th December
Running all weekend at the Bath Road Pop-up Shop is the Plastic Free Christmas Fayre; packed to the brim with stalls with an ethical, sustainable, plastic-free focus. Handmade gifts, decorations, clothing and wrapping, all made locally, gives you the chance to support small and local businesses, as well as reduce the amount of plastic acquired and given this Christmas. As well as lots of lovely items to buy, there will also be an ornament swap! Bring along any pre-loved Christmas decorations you no longer use, or drop them off at the pop-up and they may make their way onto someone else’s tree this year The event will be raising money for the important environmental charity, The Women’s Environmental Network. From 10am - 4pm today, free entry. Find out more.
Pick up some beautiful handmade and personalised Christmas crafts at the Christmas Market, held in Bishops Cleeve community centre from 12pm - 3pm. Find out more.
Friday 14 December
Create On The Square is hosting their family-friendly, festive event in Coronation Square, Christmas On The Square. From 4:30pm - 6pm, the square will be bustling with 14 market stalls belonging to local charities, organisations and businesses, all selling christmas gifts and tasty festive food! Local choirs from Rowanfield School, Hesters Way Primary School and the Community Choir will be carolling throughout the evening, before the ceremonious light switch on of the 14ft Christmas tree in the centre of the square at 6pm. Find out more.
Saturday 15th December
Saint Gregory's School Christmas Bazaar offers that festive feeling and some family fun, right here in town! With Santa’s grotto, rodeo reindeer, games and stalls, a chocolate tombola, Christmas cookies, mulled wine and unicorn hot chocolate - we're spoilt for choice! From 12pm - 2pm, entry is free for children and adults cost £1 which kindly includes a hot drink. Find out more.
Sunday 16th December
The BIG Christmas Party & Market is THE place to be this weekend! With over 50 stallholders, Santa's Grotto and a Disney princess, a festive disco, Stormtroopers, fairground rides and activities, live music, face painting, glitter tattoos and much more! Entry is just £1 per person and all profits from the event will be donated to the James Hopkins Trust. From 11am - 4pm at Shurdington Social Club. Find out more.
Monday 17th December
The Ridge Academy invites you to their Christmas Concert & Fair, watch and participate in singing traditional Christmas songs with the children, followed by the opportunity to shop from Christmas stalls in the classrooms. From 12:30pm - 2:30pm, free entry for all! Find out more.
Wednesday 19th December
Rowanfield Infant & Junior School Christmas Fair offers shoppers the chance to peruse the stalls at this special after school evening. With face painting fun and refreshments to please both little ones and grown ups! Find out more.
