FESTIVE films, live music and Christmas wreath-making are some of the events taking place at Leicester’s Guildhall this winter.
This weekend (Saturday 29 – Sunday 30 November), the city’s medieval Guildhall hosts its annual Christmas Craft Fair, offering visitors the chance to buy unique handmade gifts and locally-made arts and crafts from more than 35 artists and makers.
Delicious festive goodies – perfect for gifting or for adding to a Christmas hamper – will also be on sale, including handcrafted cheese truckles, flavour-packed sausage rolls and tasty pickles and crackers.
There will also be plenty of sweet treats to choose from, including homemade cakes, traybakes and muffins.
And when the shopping’s been done, visitors can buy a mince pie and a warm mulled wine and enjoy them in the cobbled courtyard, where a beautifully decorated Christmas tree will add to the festive atmosphere.
Admission to the Christmas Craft Fair is £1 (no charge for children under 16) and opening hours are 11am to 4.30pm on both Saturday and Sunday.
Anyone who’s ever wanted to make their own Christmas wreath has an opportunity to do so at the Guildhall, with workshops running on both Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 December. All materials will be provided and, at the end of the two-hour session, those attending will go home with a beautiful, traditional wreath. Tickets are priced at £40 and should be booked online in advance.
Sunday 14 December is movie day at the Guildhall, with the chance to see two classic Christmas films in the atmospheric setting of the medieval hall.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992, U) will be shown at 3pm (tickets £6), with It’s a Wonderful Life (1946, U) following at 5.30pm (tickets £7).
The Guildhall hosts a lantern-lit evening of spooky tales on three nights in December, with some Chilling Tales for Christmas. Three performances, featuring new ghost stories for 2025, take place on Friday 5, Friday 12 and Saturday 20 December. The show starts at 8pm and tickets are £10.
A choir with a reputation for their inspiring concerts is back at the Guildhall for three dates in December.
The Kingfisher Chorale will bring the spirit of Christmas alive with The Three Kings – their traditional Christmas concert – on Wednesday 17, Friday 19 and Tuesday 23 December. Doors open at 7.40pm and tickets are priced at £15 (concessions £13). Ticket price includes a glass of mulled wine.
Assistant city mayor for culture Cllr Vi Dempster said: “The Guildhall is the perfect venue for a festive fair or a Christmas concert, with its roaring fire and cosy ambience helping everyone to get into the Christmas spirit.
“Head to the museums’ website for full details of all these events, as well as information about the other events taking place at the Guildhall this Christmas.”
Details of all the events taking place at Leicester’s Guildhall this winter can be found at leicestermuseums.org/leicester-guildhall