Christmas Events in the Yorkshire Dales 2026
CHRISTMAS 2026!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year….
Christmas is coming and we are here to take the stress out of finding something to do with the family, with our BUMPER roundup of all the Christmas Events taking place in and around the Yorkshire Dales this year!
So, whether you’re wanting to see the man himself, head to a festive market, a light switch on or whether you just fancy an evening filled with Christmas sparkle, read on!
(October 2026 update: I’m working through the list and will keep updating up until December!)
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I set up the Reluctant Explorers and maintain the website and attached social media accounts in my spare time, around mum-life and two jobs. It was designed to provide access for parents to free resources to help get more families outside and exploring in nature. These walks have all been created by myself and the kids and we have walked each one ourselves (and re-walk them regularly to keep the information as up to date as we can).
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Where to See Father Christmas this year…
Here, you’ll find all the Christmas Events taking place in and around the Yorkshire Dales where you can go and see the big man, Santa Claus himself!
To help even more, I have assigned a traffic light system to let you know how much availability there is:
🧡 Amber: Some availability remains, but dates/ times are limited.
💚 Good availability.
Last updated October 2026 (work in progress!)
Bolton Abbey Event from 2024 (The first year of its re-imagining)
Father Christmas and the Wild Winter Wonderland at Bolton Abbey
📍 Near Skipton, Yorkshire Dales
📆 NOVEMBER DATE: 21 & 22, 28 & 29. DECEMBER: 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 23, 24 2026
🧡 Some peak and popular times have now sold out, but still some good availability (October 2026 Update)
🧒 All ages!
🎟 Pre-Booking required.
💰 From £25 per child (the closer to Christmas you get, the more expensive the tickets. £12.50 per Adult. £12.50 for an older sibling (Parking for the event is complimentary)
Father Christmas is returning to Bolton Abbey this Christmas!
The event takes place in the festive village which has been moved to the actual Bolton Abbey village. All children who participate will get the chance to take part in bushcraft activities including fire-lighting (in previous years, nature candles were made, as well as hot chocolate from scratch).
Each child receives a personalised memento and a gift from Santa.
Find the booking details on the Bolton Abbey Website.
Christmas at Mother Shipton’s Cave
📍 Knaresborough, North Yorkshire
📆 28th November 2026 - 24th December 2026.
🧡 Some weekend days are almost sold out but there is still plenty of availability.
🧒 All ages.
🎟 Pre-booked tickets only.
💰 Santa Experience tickets from £18 per child who wishes to see Santa. You must also purchase a car park admission ticket, which is £44 allowing up to 5 people to enter. Additional passengers at £18/ person.
Father Christmas is back at Mother Shipton’s for a magical Christmas experience! (2025 event pictured)
You will get the chance to meet Father Christmas and receive a gift, expect all kinds of Christmassy activities too!
Find out all the booking information for Mother Shipton’s Christmas here!
Stockeld Park Santa’s Grotto and Enchanted Forest
📍 Stockeld Park, near Wetherby, North Yorkshire
📆 21/11/2026- 24/12/2026 (Father Christmas - weekends only until 18th December) 22/11/2025 - 5/1/2025 (Winter Illuminations) 21/11/2026 - 21/2/2027 (Ice Skating)
💚 Plenty of availability on most dates (October 2026 update)
🎟 Pre-booking required.
💰 Packages range from £14 (ice skate only) up to £55 per child and £44/ adult (Gold Package including Santa’s Grotto) There are multiple options for add ons and extras such as the Playhive and ice skating. For ease, here is the link to that payment information on Stockeld Park Website but this is by far one of the priciest of the Christmas events.
🧒 All ages! Babies under 6 months are free.
What does a Christmas at Stockeld Park have in store?
The enchanted forest will be given its annual festive makeover and become a twinkling wonderland, packed with light installations alongside the usual playpark fun.
But not only that, you can see Santa in his Grotto (book with Gold/ Silver tickets only), see a festive show, go ice skating, experience the snowflake maze, and head to the Playhive!
Find out more about is on the Stockeld Park Website (Link above)
Pictured above, the 2024 Stockeld Event
Santa’s Grotto at Ingleborough Cave
📍 Clapham, Yorkshire Dales
📆 Weekend dates throughout December, then Tuesday 23rd December 2026.
💚 Good availability (October 2026 update)
🧒 All ages!
🎟 Pre-Booking required.
💰 Adults: £20.68 Child: £22.21 (inc gift) Infants: 0-18 months: £7.96 (inc gift) Senior Citizen: £18.02
We LOVE A CAVE!
And a cave with Santa in it? Well, what could be better?!
Quite frankly, the caves are stunning here. Be prepared to walk, as access to the Grotto and Cave is via the Estate Nature Trail (cost of entry is included in the ticket price) although for very young or elderly visitors, they have put on a mini-bus. Check out our Gaping Gill walk to find out more about what’s involved in the walk bit, you could even replicate the walk we did to make a full day of it!
Booking information for Santa’s Grotto at Ingleborough Cave is here!
Mother Christmas at The Dales Countryside Museum
📍 Hawes, Yorkshire Dales
📆 5th and 6th December 2026 10.30 - 3.30pm
💚 Green -Tickets are available from the Yorkshire Dales National Park website. (October 26 update)
🧒 All ages!
🎟 Pre-Booking required.
💰 £8/ child entry to the museum is included in the price.
This year you will have the chance to meet MOTHER CHRISTMAS at the Dales Countryside Museum. Included is a gift, the chance to write a letter to Father Christmas and to do some Christmas crafts!
Find out more by heading to the Yorkshire Dales website here!
Embsay and Bolton Abbey & Wensleydale Railways & Steam Train: The Polar Express
📍 Bolton Abbey Station, Yorkshire Dales & Wensleydale Railway, near Leeming Bar (Bedale)
📆 13/11/2026 - 24/12/2026 - On Selected Dates.
🧡 Some weekends are sold out, but there is still some limited availability.
🧒 All ages!
🎟 Pre-Booking required.
💰 £33.95 - £60.95. This is the official Polar Express train ride experience.
The Polar Express returns to Wensleydale and Embsay and Bolton Abbey railways.
You can expect a fully immersive experience with live actors recreating key scenes of the story, with a visit from Santa too! Premium ticket holders also get a goodie bag.
Check out the full details on the Embsay and Bolton Abbey railway website.
Photo from Polar Express ride at Wensleydale Railway 2022.
Thornton Hall Country Park Christmas Adventure
📍 Near Skipton
📆 Weekends from 22 November and 24 December 2026
🧡 Some weekend dates and peak times have sold out but there is still availability.
🧒 All ages!
🎟 Pre-Booking required.
💰 These depend on the date you are booking. Range is from £13.99 (for under 1’s) to £36.99/ person (Prices from 2026)
The event will take you on a journey to the Yuletide village meeting Mother Christmas, the elves, deer and then Father Christmas itself.
Pictured Thornton Hall Farm Event 2016. The event has transformed entirely since this picture was taken and has since won multiple awards! How time flies!
Santa’s Grotto at the Forbidden Corner
📍 Near Leyburn, Yorkshire Dales
📆 Weekends from the 21st November until 20th December.
🧒 All ages.
💚 Green (October 26 update)
🎟 Pre-Booking required, select Santa’s Grotto when making the booking.
💰 £10/ child on top of the usual admission prices. £12 to see Santa only. (Adult £17.60, Child £15.60) (2026 prices have not been announced - unsurprisingly, Halloween is a big deal at the Forbidden Corner it always takes priority!)
Santa’s Grotto is headed to the Forbidden Corner again! Amongst the usual crazy Forbidden Corner chaos you will find Father Christmas himself too!
Stump Cross Caverns Father Christmas
📍 Greenhow HIll near Grassington/ Pateley Bridge, Yorkshire Dales
📆 28 November 2026 weekends only until week running up to Christmas - 24 December 2026
💚 Green Availability - good availability still
🧒 All ages.
🎟 Pre-Booking required.
💰 Tickets range from £8 (Just the santa experience without caves) to £88 for a family (2 adults, 2 children)
There are several packages available this year, ranging from just seeing Santa to a full cave experience with Santa and a Christmas film.
Pictured Stump Cross Caverns.
Birchfield Ice Cream Farm Mother and Father Christmas
📍 Near Pateley Bridge, Nidderdale
📆 From the 28, 29 November 2026 4, 5, 6 - 10, 11, 12, 13 - 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 December 2026
🧡 Amber - some dates are sold out but still plenty of availability. This is always a popular event so book early to avoid disappointment!
🧒 All ages.
🎟 Pre-Booking required.
💰 From £26.95/ child £13/ adult
Mother Christmas will meet you before you head off on a sleigh ride with Buddy the elf to go and see Father Christmas himself and receive a gift. There is the opportunity to decorate your own gingerbread, write a letter to Santa, and make reindeer food. This year there are also s’mores!
Head to the Birchfield Ice Cream farm website to book.
Santa’s Grotto at Thorp Perrow
📍 Near Bedale, North Yorkshire
📆 Weekends from the 28 November 2026 - Then every day from 17 - 24 2026 December
💚 Good availability
🧒 All ages.
🎟 Pre-Booking required.
💰 £21 for a child. Tickets are required for the adults to enter the arboretum
Follow the twinkling lights through the woodland to Santa’s Grotto. You will be guided along the woodland trail by Santa’s elves, before having the chance to meet Father Christmas himself. Each ticket gives you the Santa experience, a gift and access to the arboretum for the day.
Head to the Thorp Perrow website to book.
Breakfast with Santa at Otley Garden Centre
📍 Otley, West Yorkshire
📆 12, 13 19, 20, 24 December 2026
💚 Good availability
🧒 All ages.
🎟 Pre-Booking required.
💰 from £20.95/ for child Adults £14.95
Breakfast includes a gift.
Christmas Illuminations and Light Trails
Fancy something a bit different from your standard meet and greet with Santa?
Here you’ll find a list of all the Christmas Illuminations and trails taking place in and around the Yorkshire Dales.
To help even more, I have assigned a traffic light system to let you know how much availability there is:
🧡 Amber: Some availability remains, but it is limited.
💚 Good availability.
Last updated October 2026
RHS Harlow Carr: Glow 2026
📍 Harrogate
📆 Selected dates throughout from 26 November to 30 December 2026
💚 Good availability. Still plenty of dates and times are available for booking but some times are fully booked)
🧒 All ages.
🎟 Pre-Booking required.
💰 Members: Peak Days £21.20 for Adults £11.25 for Children. Members secure a significant discount. Under 5’s free.
Bring all the family for a magical evening at RHS Harlow Carr. the Garden will be lit in breath-taking beauty as illuminations light the way on the Glow trail.
Check out the booking details on the RHS Harlow Carr website.
(pictured Harlow Carr 2024)
Bolton Abbey 12 Days of Christmas Trail
📍 Near Skipton, Yorkshire Dales
📆 28 November 2026 - 3 January 2027
💚 This will stay green! The trail is included in the admission price to Bolton Abbey.
🧒 All ages.
🎟 Pre-Booking not required but does secure a discount.
💰 £12.50/ car booked in advance. £15 if booked on the day.
You don’t have to go and see Father Christmas at Bolton Abbey, you can just head to the 12 Days of Christmas Trail that runs through Strid Wood. The trail is included in the price of the parking, and leads through the wood. There is usually a trail sheet to complete with clues found along the way, and the opportunity to enter a prize draw.
Fountains Abbey Christmas
📍 Outside Ripon, North Yorkshire
🧒 Suitable for all ages.
🎟 Some pre-booking required. Carol concerts are ticketed on a first come first serve basis on arrival.
💰 Standard Admissions apply: Adults: £23.10 inc. Gift Aid) Child: £11.60 inc. Gift Aid Family: £57.80 inc Gift Aid Family tickets are available - Free for National Trust Members.
What’s going on at Fountains Abbey this year?
📆 Music in the Abbey: 2pm every Saturday and Sunday between 28 November - 27 December 2025 (except 26 December) The abbey will be lit up in rainbow lights. There is live music playing between 2-3pm - closes at 5pm.
📆 A Christmas Carol at Fountains Hall - Saturday to Thursday 28 November - 3 January 2026 Bah Humbug! The hall will be transformed into the pages of the Dickens novel.
📅 Little Bird Christmas Artisan Market - 28 & 29 November 10-3pm
📆 Festive Trail - 28 November - 3 January 2026 - Free with normal admission.
Skipton’s Nutcracker Trail
📍 Skipton High Street
🧒 Suitable for all ages.
🎟 No pre-booking required.
💰 Free
📆 22 November 2025 - 4 January 2026 TBC for this year, but Skipton normally do a trail regardless of the theme!
Follow the nutcracker trail around Skipton Town Centre!
Luminescence a Winter Light Trail
📍 Swinton Hall Estate
🧒 Suitable for all ages.
🎟 Pre-booking required
💰 £19/ adult £7.50 per child. Under 5’s free
📆 31 October 2026 - 21 February 2027
This trail takes place in the Swinton Estate and takes you around the grounds.
Christmas Lights Switch On 2026
Want a list of the Christmas Light Switch ons in and around the Yorkshire Dales? HERE IT IS!
Ripon Light Switch on 14th November 2026 from 1pm
Ilkley Christmas Light Switch on a 21st November 2026 Lantern parage along The Grove 4.20pm onwards (market on all day)
Otley Christmas Light Switch on Monday November 23rd 2026 from 5.15pm, Fireworks and switch on at 7pm.
Knaresborough Light Switch on 27th November 2025 From 6pm
Grassington Christmas Light Switch on 27th November 2026 from 4pm
Settle Christmas Light Switch on 28th November 2025 from 12pm
Kirkby Stephen Light Switch on 28th November 2026 from 11am
Leyburn Light Switch on 28th November 2026 (details TBC)
Burley in Wharfedale Christmas Light Switch on 28th November 2026 from 2pm
Skipton Christmas Light Switch on: 29th November 2026 from 10am (Fireworks and lights on at 5pm)
Bedale Christmas Light Switch on 29th November 2026 from 4pm.
Kirkby Lonsdale Christmas Light Switch on 4th December 2026 from 5.30pm.
Hawes Christmas Light Switch on 5th December 2026 from 4pm
For all the details of events times, locations and exactly what’s on offer, head to our Christmas Light Switch On’s blog!
Christmas Fairs 2026
Fancy a festive fair with crafts, festive food and a whole lot of yuletide cheer!
Here’s a list of all the fairs taking place along with the dates they run for (in date order).
Hawes Christmas Craft Fair: 21 & 22 November 2026
Christmas in Ingleton: 21 November 2026
Christmas Makers Fair Ilkley Manor House: 21 & 22 November 2026
Kirkby Lonsdale Christmas Fair: 4-6th December 2026
Harrogate Little Bird (no larger Christmas market this year) 5 & 6 December 2026
Knaresborough Christmas Market: 5 & 6 December 2026
St Johns Christmas Tree festival: 5-21 December 2026, St John’s Church Knaresborough
Grassington Christmas Market: 28 November and 5 December 2026
Otley Victorian Fair & Christmas Market: 6 December 2026
Bedale Christmas Street Market 28 & 29 November 2026
Richmond Town Christmas Market: 29 November 2026
Skipton Traditional Markets: 6 & 14 December 2026
For more information about these markets, head to our Christmas Market blog.
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