Festive feasts, gifts, choirs, elf workshops and an incredible indoor forest
Visitors can experience a magical Christmas at Lakeland Arts venues this winter.
Windermere Jetty Museum of Boats, Steam and Stories celebrates its first Christmas with fabulous food and festive family activities.
There are daily festive feasts in the museum’s lakeshore café and bookable Christmas lunches and evening dining events.
Windermere Jetty Head Chef Mark Crowe and his team are cooking up delicious daily alternatives to the traditional seasonal offerings including turkey escalope with cranberry and parsley dressing and vegetarian portobello mushroom stuffed with a chestnut and walnut crumb.
After all that delicious food, children can meet Santa’s elves then decorate and make toy boats in time for the big day. Santa’s boat-building workshops begin on 30 November and run through to Christmas Eve.
The Museum also hosts a three-day Christmas shopping extravaganza Friday 29 November – Sunday 1 December. Cumbrian crafters and makers will be showing off their wares and produce – giving people the chance to buy perfect Christmas gifts.
A brand new exhibition opens at Windermere Jetty: Nature’s Winter. This exciting and immersive installation exploring nature and weather through a sensory experience of light, sound and story, is perfect for families. It is designed to encourage people to slow down and enjoy the details in the world around us.
Details about all of Windermere Jetty’s Christmas events at www.windermerejetty.org/christmas
Walk in a winter wonderland at Blackwell, The Arts & Crafts House. Once upon a woodland is the creation of artist Hannah Fox and is a striking paper installation in the dining room at Blackwell.
Blackwell will also welcome the harmonies of four talented local choirs. They will awaken the festive side of the Holt family home during four special recitals: 4 December at 2pm, 8 December at midday, 13 December at 2pm, 14 December at midday. Enjoy the sounds of a traditional festive choir free with house admission.
Christmas lunches begin at Blackwell, the Arts & Crafts House from 3 December. Delicious two and three-course lunches can be booked in advance: [email protected] with your preferred date and time.
There are also daily festive specials in the Blackwell Tea Room. Look out for Parsnip & ginger cream soup, Turkey & cranberry tarts, Seasonal winter stews, mulled wine and minced pies. No need to book – just turn up and find a table.
Learn more about Blackwel’s Christmas events at www.blackwell.org.uk/magical-christmas-experience/
The shops at Blackwell and Windermere Jetty are open each day and both fully stocked with unique gifts for that special someone and beautiful pieces to decorate your homes this Christmas.
Two Christmas shopping events take place over the coming weeks at both venues:
Blackwell’s Autumn Craft Fair is on 16 and 17 November (10am-4pm). This event is free with reduced house admission over the weekend of £5. This popular annual event is a great chance to peruse bespoke Christmas gifts and hand-crafted items as well as the opportunity to meet real makers.
Windermere Jetty’s Christmas Shopping Weekend runs over three days – Friday 30 November through to Sunday 1 December. Besides our own fully stocked shop, we are opening up stalls to local retailers and producers. This is free entry to visitors.
Or take a breather from shopping and admire the genius of the Scottish Colourists over at Abbot Hall Art Gallery – Colour and Light: The Art and Influence of the Scottish Colourists is open now.
Centred on masterpieces from the renowned Fleming Collection, the finest collection of Scottish art outside public museums and institutions this exhibition explores not only the ground-breaking artistic achievements of the Scottish Colourists, but for the first time we are also addressing their influence on subsequent generations of Scottish artists and lasting impact on modern British art.
Joint tickets are available for Abbot Hall Art Gallery and the nearby Museum of Lakeland Life & Industry where you can see the museum decked out for the festive season as it would have been in Victorian times. The Museum shop is ideal for picking up local craft gifts and children’s stocking fillers. Joint tickets to see the Victorian Christmas and Scottish Colourists £9.90.
