Festive and Fun Ways to Spend December in the Run-Up to Christmas

WINTER EXPERIENCE
FROM 18TH NOVEMBER
The Auckland Project
aucklandproject.org
The Auckland Project’s Winter Experience offers a whole host of events to help you get into the festive spirit. The Throne Room of Auckland Castle will be adorned with an impressive, hand-crafted 50ft-long dried flower garland, and you’ll see a monumental 11ft-tall and 15ft-wide Neapolitan Nativity scene in the Faith Gallery, before enjoying a festive feast or taking part in Christmas workshops. They’re keeping their top-secret event in Auckland Tower under wraps until 18th November – so watch this space.

FIND THE RABY REINDEER
26TH NOVEMBER–31ST DECEMBER
Raby, Staindrop
01833 660888
raby.co.uk
Enjoy a festive walk to High Force Waterfall this December. Collect the Christmas clues and see if you can find Rudolph and his friends along the way – but don’t forget to wrap up warm! Winter is when the waterfall is at its most powerful, so don’t forget to take some pics. Walk done, head to High Force Hotel and tuck into a hearty Teesdale lunch or a luxury hot chocolate.

NAUGHTY OR NICE? THE MISSING LISTS
THROUGHOUT DECEMBER
Seven Stories, Newcastle
0300 330 1095
sevenstories.org.uk
Bob the Elf has been given the very important job of Head List Checker by the big man himself, and his family are so proud. He’s going to have to guard those lists night and day because without them we wouldn’t get any presents! But as the end of his shift draws near on Christmas Eve, things start to go wrong… Don’t miss this special Seven Stories performance, suitable for all the family.

MATT DEIGHTON
3RD DECEMBER
The Common Room, Newcastle
thecommonroom.org.uk
You may recognise Matt from his time fronting acid jazz heroes Mother Earth or as Paul Weller’s guitarist in the late 90s. His discography is unmistakable. Don’t miss your chance to see him live in the beautiful building that is The Common Room.

ADULT WORKSHOP: WREATH MAKING WITH NATTRASS
3RD DECEMBER
Darlington Hippodrome
01325 405405 darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk
Get creative this December by making your own festive wreath to decorate your door. You’ll be guided by Flowers By Nattrass, and all workshop materials will be provided. All you need is a bit of creativity and lots of festive spirit. A mulled wine and a mince pie should help with that.

CERAMIC CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS
4TH DECEMBER
National Glass Centre, Sunderland
0191 515 5555
sunderlandculture.org.uk
Get crafty this Christmas and challenge yourself to make something new. Where better to do that than at the National Glass Centre? In this workshop you’ll create a set of ceramic decorations using stamps and cutters as well as a mug themed around the festive season, which you can decorate and take away to keep, or give as a gift this Christmas.

ELF ACADEMY
WEEKENDS THROUGHOUT DECEMBER
WWT Washington
0191 416 5454
wwt.org.uk
To help spread festive cheer, WWT Washington’s popular Elf Academy is returning and opening its doors to young recruits. Your children can enrol on one of their special workshops and learn everything they need to know to gain their all-important Elf Diploma, including special ‘elf and safety’ guidelines, the spirit of kindness, gift wrapping for beginners and craft skills. Head Elf and her assistants will guide elves-to-be to create their own personalised wooden crafts and magic reindeer food to sprinkle outside your home on Christmas Eve. Promising festive fun, this special Christmas event is perfect for elf recruits aged four and over (and their grown ups).