Beamish Museum announces Christmas Evenings dates with tickets on sale next week

For many, the Christmas Evening events at Beamish Museum have become a festive tradition and this Thursday's announcement of their December return dates no doubt will have lots of families eagerly digging out their diaries.

The evenings offer a rare opportunity to visit the County Durham visitor favourite after-hours and at a time it is looking its most magical, being decked out with decorations, lights and Christmas trees and filled with music and song - and Santa and his reindeer make an appearance too. Other highlights include festive food, stalls and crafts around The 1900s Town' Pit Village; Pockerley Manor and 1950s welfare hall.

And with The 1950s Town recently expanded with new attractions including a cinema and toy shop, there are set to be plenty new experiences to enjoy this season. Beamish has now confirmed that the dates of its Christmas Evenings this year will be December 5-6, 12-13 and 19-20 when the museum will open from 5pm until 9.30pm.

• Read More: Inside Beamish Museum's new 1950 attractions

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Tickets for the evenings will go on sale at 10am on Thursday, September 12. The cost will be £21 for adults and £13.50 for children aged two to 16 years.

Father Christmas in his Grotto at Rowley Station Goods Yard is an extra attraction, needing separate tickets which also need to be booked online in advance, alongside the evening admission tickets. The cost for the Grotto is £8 for those aged up to 16 years.

None of the Christmas events are included with Beamish Unlimited Passes so always require separate tickets. But there also will be a chance to enjoy the Beamish decorations and also meet Father Christmas during daytime visits to the museum between November 23 and Christmas Eve and ticket details for these Grotto visits are due to be announced soon.

For the Christmas Evenings and evening Grotto tickets, going on sale on September 12, keep an eye out here.