Hexham looks magical at Christmas. It’s perfect for a stay or a family day out. Enjoy Father Christmas in a medieval tower, Christmas theatre shows, festive movies, and a Christmas Windows trail.
Here are some of the key dates coming up for families in Hexham this Christmas:
Hexham Christmas Lights switch on: Friday 21st November
Want to bring your family along to Hexham’s Christmas Lights switch on? It’s always a lovely event with a great atmosphere. Here’s this year’s programme:
AT THE BANDSTAND IN THE PARK (OFF BEAUMONT STREET NE46 3LS)
4.30pm Live music from the QEHS and HMS Show Choir and the HMS Singer
*5pm Arrival of Father Christmas*
5.15pm Countdown to lights switch on followed by a parade to the Market Place
AT THE ABBEY FLAGS/MARKET PLACE
*5.30pm Switch on of Hexham’s huge Christmas tree*
Followed by:
– Mulled wine and festive treats under The Shambles
– Hexham Brass playing seasonal tunes
– Launch of Hexham Christmas Trail
– Late opening by selected shops
– Carols and hot chocolate in Hexham Abbey
Organised by Hexham Town Council with Hexham Community Partnership
Christmas tree kindly donated by Egger UK
Hexham Christmas Trail from 22nd Nov
It’s always great to get the kids wrapped up and out of the house in the lead up to Christmas. Hexham’s walking/rolling Christmas Windows Trail will be back this year and launched at the Christmas Lights event. It will then run until Saturday 20th December.
Entry will be free and will feature businesses around the town centre – such as the amazing Mr Wolf Toy Shop – where you can buy gifts or vouchers for Christmas. As always, there will be some amazing prizes to be won. We’ll post a link here with the full trail details as soon as we have them.
Organised by Hexham Community Partnership
Father Christmas at the Old Gaol from 6th Dec
Father Christmas came to Hexham last year and received rave reviews. In fact, the event is in the finals for Event of the Year in the prestigious Destination North East Tourism Awards!
The Old Gaol is a beautiful medieval tower that’s transformed for the season over two floors for festive fun. We’re running every weekend from Saturday 6th December and then have an extra two weekdays once the schools have broken up. Tickets are £17 with discounts of £17 for larger families. Each session is 45 minutes long and includes:
– Wish List creation room
– Festive photo selfie spaces
– North Pole post box
– Glass lift to whisk you up to Santa
– Fun and Christmas songs with Father Christmas
– Magical secrets from Santa’s secret book
– Individual and/or family photo ops with Father Christmas
– Choice of quality gifts from Santa
Organised by Hexham Community Partnership and sponsored by the Forum Cinema
Festive Family Films at the Forum
Do you know that Hexham has a beautiful Art Deco cinema called The Forum? It’s an indie that’s community owned and is an absolute gem with just one big screen and comfy seats.
The Forum’s Christmas 2025 programme is out. Tickets start at just £6 and you’ll find that – unlike lots of cinemas – prices in the café-bar are very reasonable. This season’s family films/performances are:
– A Paw Patrol Christmas (6th-7th Dec) Rating TBC
– How The Grinch Stole Christmas (7th Dec) Rating PG
– A Christmas Carol (7th Dec) 2020 release Rating PG
– RB&O: The Nutcracker (10th-14th Dec) Rating TBC
– Gremlins (13th Dec) Rating 12A
– Home Alone (20th Dec) Rating PG
– Polar Express Christmas Eve PJ Party Rating U
Christmas Shows at the Queen’s Hall from 6th Dec
Hexham’s elegant Queen’s Hall puts on family shows every Christmas. This can be a big annual expense for families, but the Queen’s Hall delivers great shows with ticket prices that could be a welcome surprise!
This year you can choose from two shows:
Age six and over
Red Riding Hood in the main theatre from 6th Dec-3rd Jan (tickets start at £13 per child)
Join Red Little on a howling adventure from Hexham through the woods of Northumberland this Christmas, with original music and puppetry.
For under 6s and their families
The Great Big Christmas Wrapping Disaster in the studio from 6th-31st Dec (tickets start at £9.50)
It’s Christmas Eve in the North Pole and Wish has got the most important job this year: wrapping presents! But disaster strikes!
We hope to see you in Hexham in the lead up to Christmas. Please take a look at our guides to food and drink, shopping and where to stay to help you to plan your trip. Something missing? Please drop us a line using the contact form.
