Spalding, Long Sutton, Holbeach and south Lincolnshire area round up of Christmas events for 2024
There is plenty to see and do this festive season – including concerts, services, pantomime, theatre shows and gift markets.
Here is a round up of what to expect in south Lincolnshire so you can plan ahead for a festive day out or two ahead of the big day...
Returning for another year of fun, the Holbeach Christmas Fayre will offer a range of seasonal treats on Saturday (December 2) between 11am and 4pm along the High Street.
Families will get the chance to meet Santa in his grotto and get stuck into the free activities such as lantern making, creating wooden ornaments, Christmas card colouring and many more.
Two festive events will be held at a church to attend a craft workshop and a religious service – at St Norbert’s Church Hall in Spalding there will be a wreath making session on Saturday, (December 2) from midday.
The wreaths will be made for schools, South Holland District Council, the church and several charities.
A Lithuanian priest will be at the church to discuss the history of advent.
On Sunday (December 3) there is the opportunity to attend a Lithuanian mass.
Hot drinks, biscuits will be provided at these free events and charitable donations are welcomed.
Christmas at Crowland Abbey will welcome visitors to its festive season of church services as follows:
December 17 – Lessons and Carols – 6pm (Crowland Abbey), December 24 – Crib service – 4pm (Crowland Abbey), December 24 – Carols Under the Bridge – 5.30pm (Trinity Bridge, hosted by Churches Together), December 24 – Midnight Mass – 11.30pm (Crowland Abbey), December 25 – Christmas Day Service – 9.30am (Crowland Methodist Church)
A gift market will be taking place at a garden centre.
A Christmas event will be taking place at Birchgrove Garden Centre in Pinchbeck on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 December from 10am-2pm.
There will be festive crafts, homemade preserves, gifts and seasonal food, drinks and entertainment and lots more to see at The Spotted Frog store.
For children there will be Santa’s grotto, rides and pink unicorn face painting plus work by local traders such as Jennifer’s Dog Treats, Marshland Cider, The Village Bee, Mamas Chillies and glass art by Karen.
Trees, flowers and wreaths will also be on sale.
Lincolnshire Makers will be holding its Merry Makers Market at Springfields Event Centre on Saturday (December 2).
The Christmas market starts from 10am until 5pm where there will be artisan food producers, artists, independent designers and makers.
Organiser Jodie Mason said: “I am so excited to launch the Merry Makers Market at Springfields Events Centre this December.
“I believe the talented makers exhibiting are some of the best in the county.
“We have a huge diverse range of products on offer, something that caters for every budget, age range and taste. Come along to support local businesses and join us to kick start your Christmas shopping.”
The event centre will be the largest venue the group has hosted their events at so far, with more than 100 local makers showing their wares.
Visitors can expect a wealth of artisans including ceramics, candles, illustrators, artists, woodworkers, jewellers, homewares, decorations, accessories and more.
There is both free entry and parking on the day for those who want to get some festive shopping started.
Spalding Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society (SADOS) will be presenting A Christmas Tale on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 December.
After the success of the Christmas show last year – this is a musical that follows the story of a typical family on Christmas Day with a few twists, turns and surprises.
This is an original SADOS musical with feel-good, well-known Christmas songs. It's a show not to be missed – at St Margaret’s Hall, Quadring – doors open at 7pm and performance starts at 7.30pm.
It is nearly time for the pantomime to come to town – oh yes it is!
Polka Dot Pantomime Group is returning to the South Holland Centre and this year’s show is Beauty and the Beast, written for stage by Darren Maddison and Phil Norton and will see familiar as well as new faces taking part.
Polka Dot has six panto productions running across the country and Spalding’s show promises to be modern – but keeping the time-honoured tradition alive.
Company owner Darren Maddison, who hails from Spalding, said: “It is quite a modern panto and has grown in popularity – it is a really great story.
“It is about Belle and her madcap inventor father who gets trapped inside the Beast’s castle – they swap places and the love story unfolds – would Belle fall in love with the Beast – and it celebrates that it is what’s on the inside that counts.”
Featuring professional dancers, really good special effects, glittery costumes and modern music with the latest pop songs – the show promises to delight every generation.
Beauty and the Beast runs from Friday, December 8 – Saturday, December 30 at the South Holland Centre.
Visit https://www.southhollandcentre.co.uk/whats-on/view/beauty-and-the-beast-test for further information and to purchase tickets.
A festive concert performed by a singing group will be taking place at a village church.
The South Holland Singers will perform a Christmas concert on December 9 in St Mary Magdalene Church, Gedney at 7.30 pm.
It will be a celebration of Christmas music with a theme of lights and stars entitled It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.
Martina Huss said: “This is the first time in a while that we will sing at a venue outside Spalding, and we are delighted to be back at the beautiful church of St Mary Magdalene.”
Tickets cost £10 and free for students and children and are available from Bookmark in Spalding and Flower Basket in Holbeach.
A number of festive events including a light show and the chance to meet Father Christmas will be taking place in a town’s church.
St Mary’s Church in Long Sutton will be welcoming primary school pupils in a Christmas concert at 1.30pm on Monday December 11.
Families are welcome to attend a festive fair on Sunday, December 10 that will have stalls and a visit to Santa.
Father Jonathan Sibley said: “There will be some stalls in the church and in the church hall.
“When the school has its big carol service it is usually standing room only for the parents.
“The professional light show is organised by Andy Duncan Smith – known as Andy Popcorn – with moving lights outside and inside the church in a 50 minute show.
“There will be a big star in the archway to reflect all the names of those we’d like to thank.
The Christmas light show will start at 5pm until 9pm on Friday December 15 in the churchyard.
On Christmas Eve at 10.30am there will be an informal carol service and readings followed by a nativity in candlelight with a blessing at the crib at 3.30pm.
There will be a service with carols on Christmas Day at 10am.
For further information visit the church’s Facebook page.
A coffee morning has tripled in numbers since opening and has become a popular attraction at a church hall.
Friday Coffees is a weekly event in Long Sutton taking place in the church hall of St Mary’s which started with 30 people attending and now reaches up to 90.
On December 22 from 9.30am – midday there will be a Christmas raffle drawn with money raised going towards the upkeep of the church’s spire which has been damaged by deathwatch beetles and woodworm.
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