A revamped Festive Trail featuring a Christmas Market, open-air ice rink and Alpine Lodge Bar in Bournemouth Town Centre.
The Bournemouth Festive Trail opens at Bournemouth Square on 12 November 2026 and runs through to 3 January 2027. It's one of the main parts of the Bournemouth Christmas Market, which the organisers describe as the area's largest-ever Christmas Market. The trail itself has been revamped this year, so it's worth a look even if you've done it before.
Beyond the trail, there's an open-air ice rink in the square and the Alpine Lodge bar, a cosy spot to warm up with a drink. The market stalls are spread around the centre, so you can wander through them at your own pace. If you're taking the kids, the whole thing is free to enter, which makes it an easy one to drop into without committing to a full day's budget.
That said, a few things do cost extra and can be booked in advance. Glow golf, ice skating, and booths in the Alpine Lodge all take bookings, so if you've got a specific day in mind, it's worth sorting those bits early rather than leaving them to chance on the day. The rest of the market is just there for you to browse.
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It runs from 12 November right through to 3 January, so there's plenty of time to fit it in whenever suits you best. Entry to Christmas in Bournemouth is free for the whole family, with the ice rink, glow golf, and Alpine Lodge booths available to book ahead.
