Christmas in Chorley

Enjoy a magical Christmas in Chorley

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year in Chorley with so much to check out that you'll never want the celebrations and Christmas cheer to end. There's everything from festive market stalls to a traditional lights switch on event, lots of independent shops for unique Christmas presents and not forgetting opportunities to meet the main man himself - Father Christmas! 

14 December 2024 - 5 January 2025 (except Christmas Day)

Chorley’s Winter Wonderland is back in the town centre, 14 December – 5 January (except Christmas Day), with the popular real ice rink, festive tipis, children’s rides, Alpine Fun House and more.

Find out more

From Saturday 23 November - Sunday 22 December Astley Hall will be beautifully decorated for Christmas, this year themed around Pantomimes and the fairy tales that inspired them. Usual admission fee into Astley Hall applies. See astleypark.co.uk/hall for opening hours and more details.

Whether you’ve got ticket to see Santa in his Grotto at Astley Hall or just enjoying time in the park, why not follow the Reindeer Trail in Astley Park from Saturday 30 November.

Count how many of Rudolph’s red noses you can spot on your way through the park and see if you can spot Santa and his sleigh in the Coach House window!

Tell a member of the team at one of the following venues how many of Rudolph’s noses there are and get a reindeer sticker:
Astley Hall Gift Shop, Café Ambio,  Barrica in the Park, Grandad Jim’s Traditional Sweet Shoppe, Reed’s Refillery and Reel Cinema.

Supported by funding from the UK Government 

**SOLD OUT**

Saturdays and Sundays - 30th November - 22nd December

We're very excited to announce that Santa will be visiting Astley Hall this Christmas!

Access to Santa's Grotto is by pre-booked tickets only and the grotto will be open on Saturdays and Sundays, 30 November - 22 December, 10am – 4pm.
Santa can't wait to meet you at his grotto in the Astley Hall Morning Room and hear about the lovely things you have been up to this year.

In addition, 9am – 10am, of each Saturday will be a relaxed session in the Great Hall which will be quieter with reduced noise and increased lighting.

TICKET INFO - SOLD OUT

*UPDATE* We have been informed by Land Train Hire Nationwide that unfortunately, due to ill health, they will be unable to run their Christmas land train this weekend (Friday 20, Saturday 21, Sunday 22 and Monday 23 December).

While this may be disappointing, there is still lots to enjoy in Chorley which you can read more about on this page.

Whilst we weren't able to include the land train in our plans for Christmas this year, Land Train Hire Nationwide are now bringing their Christmas land train to Chorley for two special weekends in December.

The train will run from outside Winter Wonderland (opposite the Town Hall) to the Astley Coach House, on:

Saturday 14 & Sunday 15 December
Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 December
10:00am- 4:00pm each day

Weather permitting, the train will also run on Friday 13, Friday 20 and Monday 23 December.

Adults: £5 return, Children (up to 12): £4 return, Under 2 (on a lap): Free. Pay on the day.

Please note that if you have tickets for Santa's Grotto at Astley Hall, the land train is not included in the price.

Get in the festive mood with live music at Chorley’s covered market (1498 area).

• Saturday 7 December – 2- 4pm - Bryony Nolan (organised by The Bob Inn)
   
• Saturday 14 December – 10.30am  - 3.30pm
  10.30am - 12noon -Clear water Music School, 1pm - 2pm - Nick Spencer, 2.30pm - 3.30pm - Kathy Sings
   
• Saturday 21 December – 12 noon – 3.30pm
  12noon - 1pm - Pink Vintage, 1pm - 2pm Age Gap, 2.30pm - 3.30pm Nick Medway

Follow Chorley Markets on Facebook.

Christmas is just around the corner which means that children will be writing their Christmas letters to Santa in time for Christmas Eve.

To make sure their letter gets to Santa in time before he rides into the sky on his sleigh, why not bring your children to the Christmas post box in Market Walk to post their letters

With a fantastic range of independent traders, high street favourites and markets, offering quality fresh produce, clothes and accessories, gifts and much more, plus entertainment venues and great places for food and drink, why go anywhere else when it's right here in Chorley?

Find Christmas opening hours for Chorley Markets and Market Walk Chorley

Visit our Getting Here page for information on getting to Chorley and parking.

Extended FREE parking this Christmas:

From Wednesday 11 December to Tuesday 24 December (inc.), the 1 hour free parking currently offered on our town centre car parks (except Flat Iron) will be extended to 3 hours free parking (with the exception of the Flat Iron car park which will be 2 hours free parking).

A time of arrival ticket is required, and maximum stay periods still apply.

Information on town centre car parks can be found at: chorley.gov.uk/carparks

Past events...

Sunday 8 December 2024

Snow White will be visiting Chorley Town Hall as this year's Pantomime performed by M&M Theatrical Productions.

This year we are bringing you three action packed performances of Snow White, at 10:30am, 12 noon and 2pm on Sunday 8 December. Fun for all the family!

Sunday 17 November 2024

Christmas in Chorley will get underway in style with the Christmas Lights Switch On sponsored by Chorley Eats. With special guests, a fantastic line up of entertainment there’ll be a brilliant festive atmosphere in the town centre, plus, the Totally Locally Chorley Christmas Market will return for another year, taking place on the same day with lots of independent traders, entertainment including children's rides and more.

SPECIAL GUESTS: Shane Lynch (of Boyzone), Keith Duffy and Brian McFadden (Boyzlife) will be doing the honours of turning Chorley's Christmas Lights On accompanied on stage by players and representatives from Chorley FC to join in the festivities (5pm, Market Street stage).

There's also a fantastic line-up of performances on the Market Street stage hosted by BBC Radio Lancashire’s Graham Liver.

FULL DETAILS HERE