Get into the Christmas Spirit in Devon and Cornwall
Are you looking for something to get you in the Christmas spirit? Here are some suggestions.
You’ve just about got time to go along to Exeter Cathedral for their Carols in the Cathedral event on 11th and 12th December. Tickets are still available so enjoy an evening with the Exeter Philharmonic Choir.
Also this week, on 12th and 13th, the Palace Theatre in Paignton is going full-on glamour with its Puttin’ on the Ritz in celebration of the golden age of Hollywood. With songs such as White Christmas and Silver Bells you’re bound to come away in a festive mood.
The Donkey Sanctuary will be hosting Carols by Candlelight on 14th December. See the sanctuary lit by thousands of candles from 3pm onwards and the carol service will be in New Barn at 5pm.
Powderham Castle’s Music in the Castle’s offering for Christmas is Handel’s Messiah on 13th and 14th December at 7.30.
The music theme continues with the Dartmoor’s Folk Choir’s Stormy Weather Concert at Ashburton Arts Centre on 22nd December. The choir will be singing winter songs from across the ages and around the world, from medieval to blues, from folk to gospel.
Scorrier House near Redruth will be hosting The Three Harps of Christmas with Ruth Wall playing traditional carols in the grand hall.
Plenty of the region’s hotels are offering festive afternoon teas. Some of the best will be found at Glazebrook Hotel, Bovey Castle, Boringdon Hall, Sidmouth Harbour Hotel, Fowey Hall and Pentillie Castle.
It’s still not too late to catch one of the Christmas markets in the region. Exeter’s Market on the Cathedral Green is on until Sunday 16th December, as is Plymouth’s market. Totnes Night Market is open on 11th and 18th December. The Big Sheep near Bideford is host to two more markets on 15th and 22nd. Healeys Cider Farm at Penhallow is running Christmas markets at weekends in the run-up to Christmas.
The Eden Project’s winter wonderland ice skating rink is back of course and will be open until February next year.
As always, many National Trust properties are putting on wonderful Christmas displays. Saltram House in Plymouth is having a fairy-tale Christmas; Cotehele will be home to the Christmas garland as always; see how the Victorians spent Christmas at Lanhydrock; and Killerton House is transformed in to the world of the Snow Queen.
