Christmas Village

The Christmas Village returns to Old Eldon Square on Blackett Street from Saturday 21 November, the festive pop-up that's become a regular part of the city centre since it first appeared in 2024. It's run by EVNT Inspirations and brings together a fairground and a programme of family activities in one spot, sitting alongside the wider Christmas Market that the Council and NE1 run across Grey Street, Grainger Street, around the Monument and on Nelson Street. That market has grown into a proper draw, with the last edition pulling in an estimated 2.17 million visits and around £92.8 million in additional visitor spend.

The Village itself has expanded since those first family activities landed on Old Eldon Square, and the 2026 edition keeps the focus on local traders, with more than 86% of the businesses based within 20 miles of the city centre. The main draw this year is Santa Stories, which is pitched as an alternative to the traditional grotto: families step into a cosy Christmas Tipi where Father Christmas shares a fresh Lapland tale with festive props, children help him complete his official Nice List and get a personalised certificate, and professional photographers capture the moment. Beside that, there's gingerbread decorating at Mrs Claus' Bakery, the Rockin' Reindeer stage show, and Festive Flix, an outdoor cinema. For the fairground side of things, you've got a Ferris wheel, a carousel and Marshmallow Land.

Most of the activities run until Christmas Eve, though the carousel and Ferris wheel stay open until New Year's Eve, except for Christmas Day itself. On the pricing front, Santa Stories is from £10.50 per child and £6.50 per adult; Mrs Claus' Bakery starts from £5, and both Rockin' Reindeer and Festive Flix are from £7.50.