Visit Brighton
Enjoy A Glittering Getaway In Brighton This Christmas
Head to the city-by-the-sea this Christmas for ice skating, lantern parades, Christmas pudding races and freezing robins
Brighton brings some sparkle to its cosmopolitan streets this winter with a showcase of distinctive events that promise to make Christmas cultural, festive and fun.
The stunning Royal Pavilion Ice Rink is set to return. Complete with a pop-up, rink-side restaurant and bar, the attraction is set against the beautiful backdrop of the Pavilion Gardens.
One of the city's most enchanting events returns on 21 December. Visitors can join locals for the spectacular Burning the Clocks to mark the shortest day of the year. Fantastic paper and willow lantern creations are paraded to the beach for burning on a bonfire while onlookers enjoy a dazzling firework display.
New to Brighton is the intriguing Christmas Pudding Race. With fancy dress and live music to accompany the festive fun this promises to be an entertaining day out for the whole family.
Families can also enjoy a festive feast of puppets, live music, snowball fights and bird-watching with 'Robin and the Big Freeze' at the Brighton Dome this Christmas.
Shoppers can shun the crowded high street and wind their way through Brighton's quirky Lanes to pick up something unique for Christmas. With bespoke and handcrafted gifts at the independent boutiques as well as Brighton's unique Artists' Open Houses, Christmas shopping in Brighton is to be enjoyed rather than endured.
With over 350 independent shops and boutiques plus a fantastic range of accommodation to suit every budget, Brighton is the place to head for a stylish festive break.
For more information on what to see and do in Brighton, go to www.visitbrighton.co.uk
Brighton's Christmas events include:
The Royal Pavilion Ice Rink & Restaurant
The Royal Pavilion, Brighton, 12 November – 22 January
Returning to the city for its second season, the ice rink is ideal for families with its pre-school crèche, learners' area and penguin skating aids to help increase children's confidence on the ice. Afterwards skaters can satisfy their hunger pangs at the pop-up rink-side restaurant and bar. Tickets from £9.50 for adults and £6.50 for children. For more information please visit http://www.burningtheclocks.co.uk or www.VisitBrighton.co.uk.
Christmas Artists' Open Houses
Brighton & Hove, 26 – 27 November, 3 – 4 December and 10 – 11 December
This creative and inspiring festival provides a great opportunity for visitors to explore art work in artists' houses across the city. Not only will individuals get to talk to the artists about their work but they will be able to purchase the unique arts, crafts and designs whilst enjoying a glass of mulled wine and mince pie. For more information please visit http://www.aoh.org.uk/ or www.VisitBrighton.co.uk.
Christmas Pudding Race
New Road, Brighton, 3 December
Take part in teams of seven and attempt to balance a Christmas pudding on a tray whilst winding through an obstacle course. Teams will be awarded prizes for the best fancy dress and quickest team with all proceeds going to Cancer Research and the Martlets Hospice. The event will also be hosting bands to entertain the crowds in the day.
Entry is £5 per person. For more information please visit www.xmaspuddingrace.org.uk or www.VisitBrighton.co.uk.
Brighton Dome Tea Dance
Brighton Dome, 4 December
Take a break from Christmas shopping with a day spent recapturing the golden age of the 1920s. Dance in true tea-dance style as the 15-piece Footloose Dance Orchestra bring everyone's favourite dance styles from the jazz-age swing of the foxtrot to the Latin lilt of the tango and rumba. Visitors can then relax and catch up with an afternoon tea in the Concert Hall foyer.
Tickets £12.50, including tea and cake. For more information please visit www.brightondome.org or www.VisitBrighton.co.uk.
Carol Concert
The Royal Pavilion, 8 December
Join Brighton's choir at the Royal Pavilion this Christmas to enjoy a day of Christmas carol singing, mince pies and mulled wine.
For more information please visit www.brighton-hove-rpml.org.uk/RoyalPavilion or www.VisitBrighton.co.uk.
Robin and the Big Freeze
Brighton Dome, 8 – 10 December
This snowy, festive feast of puppets, live music and bird-watching is a heart-warming show. The show is suitable for the whole family to enjoy.
For more information please visit www.brightondome.org or www.VisitBrighton.co.uk.
Meze Experience
Royal Pavilion, 10 & 17 December, 6.30pm
A slightly different way to celebrate Christmas, indulge in a totally unique Christmas banquet, dining in the luxurious Moroccan surroundings of the Royal Pavilion. Visitors can enjoy a mouth-watering three-course meal provided by renowned Julia Robinson Catering after a festive welcome drink and unique tour of Brighton's most famous landmark.
Tickets £90 per person. Bookings required.
For more information please visit www.brighton-hove-rpml.org.uk/RoyalPavilion or www.VisitBrighton.co.uk.
Brighton Santa Dash
Hove Seafront, 10 December, 10.30am
Ho! Ho! Ho! Brighton will see a flurry of Santas dash through the streets again for the annual charity Santa dash. A 5km run along the chilly seafront, Santas will be trading in their boots for trainers to help raise money for 'Passing it on'. To make it a family event, children can take part in the 400m kids race at 10.20am just before, which is free to enter.
Entry fee £12, includes Santa suit and medal.
For more information please visit www.santadash.com/pages/brighton or www.VisitBrighton.co.uk.
Christmas Ball
Brighton Dome, 19 December
Enjoy the music, moonlight, love and romance at this year's seasonal ballroom celebration. The Berkeley Square Society Band invites visitors to dress up in their finest to dance the night away as Brighton recaptures the halcyon days of classic ballroom dance.
Tickets £12.50 per person, £22 for couples.
For more information please visit www.brightondome.org or www.VisitBrighton.co.uk.
Burning the Clocks
Winter Solstice Parade, 21 December
Thousands of the city's residents and visitors gather each year to make paper and willow lanterns to parade through the city and burn in a giant pyre on the beach, marking the end of the shortest day and making a wish for the coming year.
For more information please visit www.burningtheclocks.co.uk or http://www.visitbrighton.com.
Christmas Day Swim
Brighton Seafront, 25 December
Head to the sea on Christmas day and support the Brighton swimming club as they don fancy dress costumes and brave the chilly waters for their annual Christmas Day swim. For more information please go to www.VisitBrighton.co.uk.