Christmas Fairytale 2023
02 December to 24 December
About Christmas Fairytale 2023
Tickets are now on sale for the Christmas Fairytale event 2023 at Fairytale Farm, which runs on Saturdays and Sundays from 02 to 10 December, then daily from 11 December to Christmas Eve.
This year’s event will be significantly expanded compared to previous years, with a whole new area featuring a range of new festive experiences.
All the best elements from previous years will remain, such as the cosy and atmospheric Grotto, the Castle walk-through and our spectacular Christmas illuminations.
In this magical and immersive event, you will:
- Check in with Santa’s helper elves and start your journey through the Gingerbread house entrance.
- Pose for a festive photo opportunity.
- Prepare your Santa wish list.
- Pick n mix some reindeer food ready for Christmas Eve.
- Help decorate Santa’s Christmas tree.
- Experience Mother Goose and friends in the Christmas spirit.
- Test your snowball throwing skills while trying to feed Frosty and his snowpals.
- View a special festive version of Mouse Town.
From here, you’ll be elf-scorted into a beautiful Fairytale Castle and start your journey from the South Pole to the North Pole. You will meet some interactive dancing penguins, visit the Toymaker in his cosy log cabin and see Santa’s sleigh ready to launch into a clear night sky of twinkling stars. Then, you will walk through the Secret Forest to meet Father Christmas himself in his charming Grotto, which evokes an atmosphere of Christmas past.
The aim is to provide a relaxed and personal visit to the Grotto, with time for your entire family to meet and greet Santa, take your own photographs with him, and watch your children’s faces light up as Santa gives each of them a wrapped present. Santa is just how you would expect him to be – magical, very friendly and wanting to spend time chatting with your little ones, asking them what they would like for Christmas and if they have been good this year!
Adventure trail activities:
- Join in the search for Santa’s favourite Christmas Eve snacks and receive an ‘I’ve been Elfed’ treat.
- Have festive fun amongst the fairy lights in our Fairy Dell play area.
- Search for fossils in our claw-some illuminated Dino Dig.
- Pan for gold under the festoon of lights on the ridge of Dino Valley.
- Meet Jolly the Elf at our International Elf Post Sorting Station. Jolly will ensure your wish list gets to the right place and take you through some Elf Etiquette Training! You can discover your secret elf name, learn the ‘Elf Code’ and take the ‘Elf Oath’ to become a certified Trainee Santa Elf! Jolly will also award you with your ‘I’ve been Elfed’ treat.
- Pose for a festive photo shoot in a sleigh like Santa’s.
- Pet and learn some adorable animal facts. And if you wish, leave them a festive treat in their stockings!
Other festive treats include mulled wine and mince pies for the parents, as well as a chance to experience our beautiful Christmas light trail, which is bigger and better for 2023, with spectacular new features.
Tickets
Tickets are available online only.
We recommend booking well in advance as this event normally sells out.
Please see important booking information below.
Please see important information regarding booking SEND sessions below.
Booking information
Prices:
£9.50 for Adult/Older Children tickets and Senior Tickets (i.e. those not receiving a present from Santa);
£16.99 for Child Christmas Fairytale tickets (i.e. those receiving a gift from Santa);
£7.49 for Under 2’s Christmas Fairytale tickets (includes the full experience and a gift from Santa).
Please note that the venue now operates an all-in price for the Christmas Fairytale event, which covers admission to Fairytale Farm, the magical Fairytale Castle walk-through, Grotto visit and all activities.
Date & times:
The Christmas Fairytale event 2023 runs on Saturdays and Sundays from 02 to 10 December, then daily from 11 December to Christmas Eve. The Grotto is open until 5.00pm, except on Saturday/Sunday 09, 10, 16, 17 and daily 21 to 24 December, when it remains open until 7.00pm.
Good to know:
- The slot you book is your Grotto visit time. You are welcome to arrive at the farm at any time on the day of your Santa visit and stay all day, but please arrive at least 15 minutes before your slot.
- If you have a slot late in the day, we strongly advise arriving in time so you can visit other areas of the farm before you visit the Grotto.
- Please note that the animal area is not fully lit after dusk, and many animals will be in their houses, so we strongly recommend arriving before 4.00pm if you’d like to see all the animals.
- We also recommend you visit the International Elf Post Sorting Station before visiting Father Christmas if visiting in the evening, as this closes at 6.00pm on the late night opening days.
Christmas Fairytale 2023 SEND sessions
There will be a Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) Day on Friday, 08 December, and two SEND evenings, from 5.00pm to 6.00pm on Tuesday, 12 and Wednesday, 13 December, where families with children who have special needs can experience the Christmas Fairytale in a more relaxed atmosphere.
On the SEND Day, visits to the Grotto will start at 10.00am and run through to 5.00pm. On the SEND Evenings, visits will be from 5.00pm to 6.00pm.
For the evening sessions, the entire farm will be closed to other visitors, and the Christmas Fairytale will be a relaxing experience, and can be tailored to your own child’s individual needs.
On the SEND Day, although the farm will be open to visitors, it is expected to be very quiet, and the Christmas Fairytale event will only be available to SEND visitors, so again, it will be a relaxing experience.
