5 Things To Do For a Festive Christmas In Devon
5 Things To Do For a Festive Christmas In Devon
Firstly, Christmas in Devon wouldn't be the same without a shopping trip to the cathedral city of Exeter. Each and every year the Christmas Gift Markets arrive in Exeter and spread the festive cheer far and wide. Combining the best of everything old and new, you'll find Christmas gifts of all shapes and sizes to suit every pocket. Avoid the hassle of Christmas traffic and stay over night. There's always lots of hotel special offers specifically aimed at Christmas shoppers. You can't visit Exeter at Christmas without a trip to the beautiful Cathedral. If you plan ahead, try to attend one of the many Carol singing events performed by Exeter Cathedral Choir. The choir is really quite breathtaking and it's definitely guaranteed to get you in the mood for Christmas.
Secondly, if shopping is still on your mind, Westpoint hosts a unique 'Christmas Shopping Fayre'. With literally hundreds of Christmas stalls all under one roof, food producers, wholesalers and suppliers, there's also ample free parking. It's billed as the South West's biggest festive shopping event so you won't be disappointed.
If it's snow you're after, you'll also be able to find it in Devon. Enjoy the snow, which appears every year at the Winter Wonderland event at the Model Village in Babbacombe. Just a stone throw away from the bustling harbour-side of Torquay, you can enjoy a white snow-scape and visit Santa's grotto at the same time. The 'Village' is transformed using highly specialised snow effects, as used in Harry Potter and other blockbuster Hollywood films. Enjoy the thousands of miniature lights as they sparkle and create a magical spectacle.
In Torquay, there's an open-air synthetic ice rink to have some fun on. Open-air ice rinks are becoming increasingly popular at Christmas time, however they use large amounts of energy and water which is not environmentally friendly. However, here's a synthetic rink, which requires no energy to power it and provides a surface that's easy for beginners to learn on, making it perfect for children. Surrounding the rink, located at Beacon Quay, are Christmas trees festooned and decorated with pretty low-energy fairy lights. With lots of shops, restaurants and the beautiful harbour-side to explore, Torquay is definitely worth an eco-friendly visit at Christmas.
Finally, keep the Christmas sparkle going and head towards Dartmouth. The Candlelit event, which takes place each Christmas, is a magical time for adults and children alike. The event runs throughout Dartmouth over the first weekend of December. You'll find lashings of festive food, lantern-lit processions, live music, late-night shopping and Santa's arrival. The amazing willow and paper lantern procession happens on the Friday. The food markets start around 4pm and procession follows on. The boat procession happens on Saturday, with the Christmas market held over both Saturday and Sunday. Dartmouth is the perfect setting for doing some late night shopping too think candlelit dinners in one of the fabulous restaurants to revive your senses after shopping. Have a festive drink or two and stay overnight? Visit Dartmouth for your festive shopping and expect beautiful surroundings and the opportunity to buy something different from all the independent shops and galleries that you'll find in the town centre.
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