Celebrate the festive season in historic Bury St Edmunds, the jewel in Suffolk’s crown. The town takes on a magical quality in the lead up to Christmas with festive markets and shops offering gifts, plus fun events, a FREE ice skating rink and cosy places to eat and stay.
Back by popular demand and bigger than last year, Bury St Edmunds free to use synthetic ice Christmas skating rink will be open daily in the town centre Charter Square from 23rd December until 5th January apart from Christmas Day.
The Christmas lights event coincides with St Edmund’s Day on 20th November. The original Patron Saint of England’s shrine at the Abbey of St Edmund was one of England’s most wealthy pilgrimage sites. Christmas trees will twinkle and festive stalls will be open to browse and buy plus free street entertainment.
Great days out
New this year will be the Eden Crafts Christmas Fair at The arc shopping centre, an additional Sunday market on 23rd November and a Festive Friday Evening Market on 28th November, the same date as the Cathedral Christmas Market offering a great day out for Christmas shopping and to enjoy the many eateries in Suffolk’s foodie capital.
Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds is staging several performances during the festive season beginning with the much loved classic, A Christmas Carol by Ballet Theatre UK. This year’s panto will be an adaptation of Rapunzel, which runs until 18th January.
Also new is a light trail through Kentwell Hall’s stunning gardens on selected evenings between 13th November and 8th December. The routes takes in shimmering lights reflected in the moat, dramatic silhouettes created by the trees, topiary and yew castle and a walk down the white birch avenue.
Blackthorpe Barn’s Country Christmas Shop opens every day from 20th October until 23rd December, while their Arts & Crafts Fair will run for five consecutive weekends from 15th November offering some of the best artisan crafts from across the country. Each designer-maker is carefully selected to ensure quality and to provide an eclectic mix of pieces with the mix changing each weekend.
For more information about festive events in and around Bury St Edmunds, where to stay and other things to see and do, visit Christmas at Bury St. Edmunds.
