What’s on in Wiltshire this December

What’s on in Wiltshire in December 2020? The national lockdown is due to come to an end on 2 December, and there is lots planned for afterwards here in December. Live music, exhibitions, markets and virtual events – plus plenty of festive fun. That’s right, you can get into the spirit for Christmas with festive light trails, Christmas shopping, and visits from Santa this December in Wiltshire. Please be aware that event details may be changed last-minute in response to government advice, and remember to know before you go and book your tickets in advance.

Virtual Events

2020 has been the year of virtual events - and that's set to continue into December, with some exciting online events planned here in Wiltshire. Mark the shortest day of the year with the Stonehenge Winter Solstice Virtual Livestream. Watch the sun rise over the ancient standing stones at this iconic location on the morning of the 21 December. You will be in good company - as the Summer Solstice this year was watched live online by over three million people! Meanwhile, Salisbury Cathedral's virtual exhibition Spirit and Endeavour continues, with the chance to see the Cathedral enhanced by incredible pieces of contemporary artwork by the likes of Antony Gormley, Shirazeh Houshiary, Henry Moore, Grayson Perry, Conrad Shawcross, Stanza and Mark Wallinger. There are also some fun virtual cookery classes taking place with the Farm Cookery School - their Virtual Christmas Dinner Masterclass on 7 December will help you perfect all the traditional festive sides like cauliflower cheese, Yorkshire puddings, and gravy.

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Exhibitions

Chippenham Museum's special exhibition The New Normal – Collecting Covid is due to reopen when the museum does on 3 December. The exhibition brings together objects, images and artworks donated by local people to explore how all aspects of our lives have been affected by the Covid crisis. In Salisbury, you can take a look around Tudor LEGO® Brick Models Exhibition at Salisbury Museum after the museum reopens. There will be eight highly detailed LEGO® brick models bringing to life the fascinating Tudor era.

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Live Music and Performances

Pianist Cordelia Williams will perform live at Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford on Avon on 9 December, with a beautifully crafted programme that celebrates music's ability to explore moments of despair yet also to bring us great comfort and hope. Featuring Mozart, Liszt, Schubert, Tomkins and Evans, the performance will also be available to livestream from home - but you will need to book tickets in advance. In Salisbury, there are a number of festive performances planned at Salisbury Playhouse including A Christmas Carol starring Olivier-Award-winning Guy Masterson from 15 until 19 December and family-favourite Little Robin Redbreast throughout the month.

Christmas Shopping

Now is the time to get on with your Christmas shopping! Fisherton Mill's annual Christmas Exhibition runs until Christmas Eve, featuring exciting and original gift ideas. Seasonal Treasures includes a huge range of handmade artwork from sculpture to paintings and unique jewellery to vibrant hand-stitched wall hangings. There are also three Sunday Festive Markets planned in Salisbury this month, filling the Market Place and Guildhall Square with an eclectic mix of artisans, crafters, independent retailers and street food vendors on the 6, 13 and 20 December. Salisbury Arts Scene is also returning on 3 and 10 December with over 30 exhibitors displaying their unique art and crafts in the Market Place, while live music is provided by talented local musicians. If you prefer to give presents that you’ve made yourself, why not go along to the festive wreath-making workshop at Milford Hall on 8 December and learn how to make a beautiful Christmas wreath. And if none of these shopping events take your fancy, there are plenty of other local independent shopping destinations in Wiltshire that need our support after a difficult year – find more options on our shopping pages.  

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Family Fun

With Christmas just around the corner, there are lots of family-friendly events with a festive twist planned in Wiltshire throughout December, with plenty to keep the kids happy. Christmas at Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm will include a Santa Sleigh Trail, reindeer-making craft sessions and appearances from Father Christmas himself. And the big man in red will also be making an appearance at the Hawk Conservancy Trust just over the Wiltshire border on 21 and 22 December this year. Father Christmas' Flying Visit will be a joyous family event featuring a magical owl flying display and festive story-telling. Salisbury will be illuminated by a trail of brightly-lit Christmas trees this year, with twelve wonderfully decorated Christmas trees creating a magical trail around Salisbury City Centre until 4 January 2021. Finally, there are some wonderful festive light-trails taking place all around the county this year, brining some of your favourite locations to life with magical light displays. Longleat’s Land of Light runs from 3 December to 10 January and will include thousands of spectacular light sources illuminating seven themed areas across the Wiltshire estate. Christmas at Stourhead invites visitors to enter a world festooned with seasonal cheer as you wander beneath tree canopies drenched in Christmas colour. And Westonbirt Enchanted Christmas - Journey To the West Pole will illuminate the trees of the arboretum in a whole new light with all sorts of stunning spectacles and mesmerising light displays.

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We hope we’ve given you plenty of ideas for things to do this December here in Wiltshire. But if you need more inspiration, take a look at our what’s on for Christmas pages where there are even more festive events listed.