Where to meet Santa in MK

Santa Claus is coming to town, and there are plenty of chances to enjoy an audience with the man in red…

Milton Keynes Museum will be rolling back the years for its traditional Victorian Christmas event, which is truly charming, and a great way to make some fabulous family memories.

Freshly roasted chestnuts and mulled wine (or non-alcoholic alternative) will warm you up, and when you’ve tuned up, step inside the parlour and let your voices out loud with a session of carol singing.

The Museum will be festively dressed, and when you reach the Street of Shops, make a little stop off at the Post Office, which will be selling old-fashioned sweeties.

The history hub will host seasonal craft fun for little folks, and of course the meeting with the man of the moment is the pièce de résistance.
Naturally he will have gifts for all the little ‘uns, who will leave his grotto with a goodie each.

Open: November 29, 30 and
December 1, 6,7, 8, 13, 14 & 15
Book in: miltonkeynesmuseum.org.uk

Santa will also be showing out at Willen Hospice, where he is setting his grotto up in the gardens.
These ‘meet and greet’ sessions with the busy man won’t just be for kids, but for kids of any age – because we’re all young at heart, right?
“We pride ourselves on being inclusive,” a spokesman said, “And everyone should be able to experience the magic that comes with the season of goodwill.”

Open: December 14 & 15, 21 & 22
Book in: willen-hospice.org.uk

The Grotto experience at centre:mk promising to be more enchanting than before, with visitors being welcomed into Santa’s reindeer stable where they will experience the story of Santa’s newest reindeer, Norbert, in a heartwarming immersive adventure.

Norbert is an adorable reindeer puppet, who communicates through his elf puppeteer, to interact with the children as his special story of Christmas magic unfolds.

As visitors move through the setting for their meeting with the man in red, they will make reindeer food in the craft workshop, before meeting Santa, snapping a photo with him and receiving a gift.

Those behind the Norbert story say it is, ‘one of courage, kindness and the joy of embracing differences.’
Inclusive Relaxed Sessions will be available for any families with special needs, with the sessions being adapted to deliver a more relaxed attitude to noise and lighting effects to make sure of an enjoyable visit. To find out more, email questions to tickets@eskimojoevents.co.uk

Open: November 15 – December 24
Book: centremk.com

On your marks, Santa, ho, ho, ho!
If you pop to Willen Lake this December, you might think that the festive spirits are lingering in the system a little bit too long after some seasonal merriment, but nope you’ll not be seeing double, or treble, or quadruple…

Willen Hospice will be hosting its annual Santa Dash on December 15, when 100s of charity supporters don the red suit and beard and run, walk or jog around the North Lake.

All ages are welcome to get involved and complete the circuit and, with this being a charity fundraiser, the hospice asks that each dasher tries to raise £50.

There’s no need to leave Rover at home either – perfectly behaved pooches can put their own festive coats on and get among the action.