From stunning light installations to great festive shows and sporting events, The English Riviera has a lot to offer guests on pre Christmas and Christmas breaks. And whether you are coming to visit friends or family or for a Christmas break by the sea, it's worth making your plans now.
The Bay of Lights Festival is getting bigger and bigger.
Last year's Torquay Light Trail returns and is expanded and now runs from Torre Abbey to Torquay harbour. The Trail of Lights is on from 1st December to 2nd January and includes the spectacular 12 meter high tree.. A number of the leading attractions are adding in Christmas Light shows of their own.
Paignton Zoo is ending its centenary year with its Glo Wild Event. This runs from 17th November to 2nd January.
The Dartmouth Steam Railway also brings back its Christmas Train of Lights and is promising a bigger event with even more surprises. The Christmas train steams along the tracks from 24th November to 30th December.
For guests on pre Christmas breaks there are a couple of concerts that might just get them in the Christmas mood. On 1st December at the Palace Theatre in Paignton, the Concert band of the Dartmouth Royal Naval College are performing their Christmas Radio Hits concert.
A few days later on 3rd December it is the turn of The Royal Marines at The Princess Theatre in Torquay and their ever popular Royal Marines Christmas Spectacular.
The English Riviera also has traditional Christmas entertainment in the form of Pantomimes. The Palace Theatre has a production of Aladdin running from 16th December to 1st January. The Princess Theatre in Torquay has a panto version of Beauty and The Beast which is on from 9th December to 31st December.
Torquay's Little Theatre has a comedy drama production Cranford at Christmas running from 11th to 16th December. A few weeks before that they have a thriller Who Killed Santa Clause? This is from 13th November to 18th November.
Many of of the key English Riviera attractions have special Christmas events. Kents Cavern have their Carols in the Caves from 28th November through to 14th December. Visitors get to experience choirs performing by candlelight with the unique acoustics of the caves.
At The Babbacombe Model Village there is A very Miniature Christmas with a whole lot of new illuminations for 2023. This opens on select dates between 2nd December and 31st December.
English Riviera National Trust Properties open up for the Christmas Period. Agatha Christie's holiday home, Greenway is open for select dates between 25th November and 31st December. These dates are also when Coleton Fishacre is open too.
Totnes Street Market is a long established and busy event which really gets you in the mood for the Christmas period. It takes place every Tuesday evening from 5th December to 19th December.
The English Riviera and South Devon has a whole host of fixtures and events. For fans of football, Torquay United has Christmas fixtures on 23rd December as well as on Boxing Day 26th December. For fans of rugby there are fixtures at Sandy park for the Exeter Chiefs on 17th December and 23rd December.
Exeter Racecourse meanwhile, has a full programme of festive racing starting on 8th December and including 21st December and 1st January.
And for the brave, there is of course the Boxing Day Swim event. These now take place in Torquay as well as Paignton and Teignmouth,.