9 family-friendly Christmas days out in South Wales

We’re lucky in South Wales to have so many festive activities to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a theatre show (see my round up here), light trail or Santa visit, our amazing local attractions are offering it all this Christmas. But there are some events which are special because you can make a day out of them, with lots to keep families entertained for several hours. Here are 9 Christmas days out taking place for the 2025 festive season.

Santa Claus and Scrooge

Tredegar House, Newport

Saturday 13, Sunday 14, Saturday 20-Tuesday 23 December, characters 1pm-7pm (see website for daily opening hours, usually 10.30am/11.30am)

Adults £14.30, children 5-17 £7/20, family (2+3) £35.80, family (1+3) £21.50, or free for National Trust members

Tredegar House will once again be beautifully decorated for Christmas (from Thursday 4-Tuesday 23 and Saturday 27-Wednesday 31 December, with more than 80 Christmas trees, thousands of twinkling lights and the rooms decorated to represent a different era of Tredegar House, from Tudor feasts to Victorian festivities and 1950s school days, celebrating 500 years of Christmas at Tredegar House.

Families may like to visit on Saturday 13-Sunday 14 and Saturday 20-Tuesday 23 December from 1pm-7pm when Santa Claus will be roaming the grounds, spreading Christmas cheer and sharing a touch of Christmas magic, and Scrooge will be inside the house, trying his best to avoid all that festive spirit.

As dusk settles, the grounds will be lit up with even more lights in trees than previous years including wrapping the beautiful 350 year old cedar tree in thousands of fairy lights.

Local choirs will also be singing festive tunes on Saturday 6 and Saturday 13 at 12pm and Sunday 14 at 12pm and 4pm.

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Pick and mix Christmas events

St Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff

Saturday 29 November-Tuesday 23 December (selected dates for some events)

Entry to the museum is free, parking £7 per day, some events incur an additional charge

St Fagans is a brilliant place to visit in the run up to Christmas, as not only will lots of the historic buildings be decorated for the festive season, but you can choose from a selection of Christmas experiences too.

Christmas Trail: Runaway Reindeer

Saturday 29 November-Tuesday 23 Dec, 10am-3pm, £1 per trail, age guidance 4+

The mischievous elves have left the stable door open, and now Father Christmas’ reindeer have scattered all across our museum grounds! With Christmas Eve fast approaching, we need your help to find them and bring them back to the North Pole in time for the most important night of the year.

Post your letter to Father Christmas (free)

Saturday 29 November, 10.30am-1pm and 2pm-3.30pm

If you have written your letter to Father Christmas and want to send it off in style, post it at Blaen-Waun, Wales’ smallest post office om Saturday 29 November.

Carols in the chapel

Saturdays and Sundays 6-7, 13-14, 20-21 December, £6 per person

A festive sing-a-long in the Museum’s 18th century Pen-rhiw Chapel, with traditional tunes and contemporary Christmas classics. Do book ASAP for this as it’s always really popular.

Christmas makers market

Saturdays and Sundays 29-30 November, 6-7 and 13-14 December, 10am-4pm

Handmade gifts and crafts from exceptional local Welsh crafting talent.

The Mari Lwyd and Hunting of the Wren (free)  

Saturdays and Sundays 6-7 and 13-14 December, 11am and 2pm Saturdays, 1pm and 3pm Sundays

Witness two of the most well-known Welsh customs during the Christmas season, The Mari Lwyd and Hunting of the Wren*, performed by Cwmni Dawns Werin Caerdydd These unusual ancient Welsh winter traditions include singing, dancing, and a horse’s skull! *No wrens will be harmed!

Decorate your own Christmas cookies

Saturdays and Sundays 6-7. 13-14, 20-21 December and Friday 2-Sunday 4 January

£10 per child

Preparing for Christmas at Llwyn-yr-Eos Farmhouse (free)

Saturday 13 December, 10.30am-1pm and 2pm-3.30pm

Visit Llwyn-yr-Eos Farmhouse to see how the mistress of the house prepares for Christmas. Find out more about Christmas preparations during the 1930s. See the festive decorations and find out about Christmas foods. 

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Christmas at Cantref

Cantref Adventure Farm, Brecon

Saturdays and Sundays 29-30 November, 6-7, 13-14 December,  Saturday 18-Wednesday 24 December

Adults £15.50, child 3+ £16.95, child 1-2 £13.95, baby 0-12 months £9

Christmas Nights Saturdays 6 and 12 December, from 5.30pm, £3 per person, pre booking essential

Meet Santa in his magical grotto and choose a gift. While you’re waiting, create your own reindeer food, sit in Santa’s sleigh, and slide down his chimney! Plus meet the adorable animals and play the snowball game.

Visitors can also enjoy festive shows including Mr Ev’s Christmas show, learn the secrets of elf life at Elf Academy, unleash your creativity with Mary Christmas’ gingerbread decorating, and join in the fun with energetic party games.

Book to see Santa and stay at the farm all day, with plenty of indoor and outdoor play, meet the animals and more.

Christmas nights includes live Christmas music from 7pm, festive drinks and fresh hand-stretched pizzas with festive toppings and specials, marshmallow toasting, roaming Christmas street enterainers, indoor play, festive photo opportunities and more.

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The Christmas Experience

Forage Farm Shop, Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan

29 November-23 December (selected day time and evening events)

Adults (14+) £15, children 3-13 £17.50, children 2 and under £6

There’s festive cheer for all the family as Forage returns with its popular Christmas experience. Meet Father Christmas and take home a gift, watch the magical musical Magic Mabel Elf Show, meet Mrs Claus, the Forage Red Nose Reindeer and the enchanting Penllyn Snow Queen, send a letter to Santa, roast marshmallows, create Christmas crafts and decorations, plus plenty of festive photo opportunities.

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Santa Express

Cefn Mably Farm Park

Saturdays and Sundays 29-30 November; 6-7, 13-14, 20-21 and Monday 22 December

Children £20, adults £4 (plus booking fee and usual farm park admission, £11 per person)

Climb aboard the Santa Express at Cefn Mably Farm Park. Meet Santa for a special one-to-one, enjoy a chat and photo opportunity and receive a wonderful gift. Take your own photos or purchase a professional photograph at reception. After visiting Santa, head over to the Crafty Corner, where little ones can make magical Christmas crafts to take home. Then, climb aboard the Santa Express train for a joyful ride around the farm park, with festive music and Christmas spirit. 

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Christmas Daytimes / Christmas Evenings

Fonmon Castle, Vale of Glamorgan

Daytimes: Saturdays and Sundays 6-7 and 13-14 Saturday 20-Tuesday 23 December, 10am-3pm

£15 per person, under 3s free

A day of festive adventures with live elf shows, character meet and greets, and plenty of Christmas cheer. Follow the festuive stamp trail and the Christmas trail, visit the Christmas Wizard in the Story Hut, meet the Rose Princess inside the castle, say hello to Bjorn the Polar Bear in the medieval Grange plus write your letter to Santa and more.

Evenings (Silver Experience): Saturdays and Sundays 22-23 and 29-30 November; Saturday 6, Sunday 7, Saturday 13-Tuesday 23 December, 5pm-9pm

£15 per person, under 3s free

Wander through twinkling Festive Gardens, follow the Christmas Story Trail and meet costumed characters along the way. Enjoy live character shows on the Castle Balcony and in the Dino Dome, and for those seeking a bit of adventure, try your hand at archery and axe throwing (additional charges and age restrictions)

The Christmas Evenings Gold Experience, which includes a meet and greet with Santa is sold out.

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Operation Save Christmas

The Meadows Wildlife Park, Caerphilly

Thursday 4-Wednesday 23 December

£25 per person, with a toy for children 3-11

Santa is missing and the North Pole needs your help in this festive family experience, which includes a Christmas trail that will allow them to find Santa, interact with Mrs Claus and Christmas elves, all while being surrounded by reindeer and more within the magical setting of the Meadows over Christmas. Tickets include an immersive walk through experience, search kit with clues, meet Christmas characters, access to Santa’s saloon entertainment and drinks area, access to cocoa creek food and sweet treats area, as well as additional activities such as pottery painting, wreath making, Christmas Caroloke and more. 

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Storytime with Santa

National Botanic Garden of Wales, Carmarthenshire

Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 November, 1pm and 3pm (Part of Oriel Food Festival Weekend)

Saturday 6, Saturday 13, Sunday 14, Saturday 20, Sunday 21 December, 1.15pm-2pm

£12.50 per child (includes gift), £12 per accompanying adult

Santa will share his favourite festive stories and each child will take home a special collectible gift in this heartwarming interactive 45 minute experience, which is available bilingually in Welsh and English or Welsh-only.

If you book to visit Santa, there’s no need to purchase garden admission too, with festive activities including letter-writing to Santa and an Elf on the Shelf Trail (from Saturday 6 December) in the world’s largest single-span Glasshouse.

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Christmas at the Farm

Greenmeadow Community Farm, Cwmbran

Tuesday 2-Wednesday 24 December

Children £25, adults £15 including Santa visit (regular farm admission is available if you don’t wish to see Santa)

The newly-reopened Greenmeadow Community Farm transforms into a sparkling winter wonderland filled with the sights, sounds, and scents of Christmas. Begin your journey in the enchanting grotto, where cheerful elves will help you craft your own special reindeer food to sprinkle on Christmas Eve. Then, step into Santa’s cozy hideaway for a magical meeting with the man himself, with a gift for every child. Across the rest of the farm, you’ll discover festive activities, joyful entertainment, and seasonal surprises, from twinkling lights and Christmas trees to warming treats in the Farmer’s Table restaurant.

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