Christmas in the Town Gardens

Christmas in the Town Gardens returns to The Town Gardens in Old Town this December, running across two weekends: 12, 13, 19 and 20 December. It's the second edition of the event, following its first run in 2025, and it's put on by South Swindon Parish Council as part of the wider 'Christmas in South Swindon' programme, in partnership with Visit Swindon, the Old Town Business Association and Total Swindon. The gardens themselves act as the hub, with two free weekends of family entertainment, live music in the Bandstand and food and drink stalls.

There's a new installation this year called Written in the Trees, a collaboration between author Kate Claxton, Swindon Culture Collective and Prime Theatre. It's an interactive sculpture trail and storytelling experience that looks at the folklore, diversity and culture of the gardens' trees. Alongside that, there's Mrs Claus' Checklist, an interactive family production at the Town Gardens Bowl where children are cast as part of the story and help save Christmas. It runs at 12:30pm and 2:30pm daily, and costs £2.00 per person.

The music comes from a varied local line-up: Swindon Hindu Temple, Rhythmix Goa, Swindon Brass and Wroughton Silver Band. Between the live music, the crafts and the fairground rides, there's plenty to drift through over the course of the two weekends.

Entry to the gardens is free, and the event runs from 12:00 to 16:00 on all four days. Free parking is provided at The Commonweal School, where voluntary donations to the school's PTA are encouraged.