Yahoo News Find a Leicestershire Santa's Grotto near you
With the first blanket of snow hitting Leicestershire this week, dare we say it is starting to feel somewhat ‘Christmassy’. To help people really get into the spirit, from now and until the big day there are a number of Santa’s Grottos across the county for families to enjoy.
There are inclusive grottos for families who have special requirements, and even ‘Santa Paws’ experiences for your four legged friends. To help you decide where you want to see Santa, we have put together a list of some of the grottos in Leicestershire this Christmas.
If we have missed your Santa’s Grotto, please email us at newsdesk@leicestermercury.co.uk with details of where the event is, when it will be happening and how much it will cost.
READ MORE: When Christmas lights across Leicestershire will be switched on for 2024
Amy’s House
Amy’s House in Burbage will be offering a special needs and disabilities (SEND) Santa’s Grotto on Saturday, December 21. A slot will cost £10 on booking, however it will act as a donation back into Amy’s House and will get you some food or drink after seeing Santa. This includes a mince pie and cookies.
Buttercups Tearoom
Buttercups Tearoom in Billesdon is bringing “the North Pole to Leicestershire.” Every weekend from Sunday, December 8, to Monday, December 23, between 9:15am and 4:15pm, Santa and his “jolly elves will be waiting to make your Christmas unforgettable.”
Christchurch Clarendon Park
A Santa’s Grotto will be held at Christchurch in Clarendon Park as part of a Christmas fair to raise money for the Air Ambulance Service. The event is set to take place on Saturday, December 14, from 10am to 3pm. The grotto will cost £3 and includes a present.
Dobbies Garden Centre
Dobbies is introducing its ‘Santa Paws’ experience to its Leicestershire store, near Mountsorrel this Christmas, where residents can bring their furry companions on a “magical journey” to Santa's Grotto for a tail-wagging good time. Santa Paws is available at the county store on Friday, December 13, and Friday, December 20.
The experience costs £9.99 per dog and the professional photograph add-on can be pre-booked for a discount. To make it an experience for the whole family, guests can also book the Santa's Grotto for children at £12.99 per child, including a toy.
Friends of St Joseph’s
The charity, Friends of St Joseph’s, are set to hold a Santa’s Grotto at St Joseph’s School in Armadale Drive in Netherhall, Leicester. The event will take place on Saturday, December 7, from 11.30am to 1.30pm. The grotto will cost £5 per child and within that a gift will be included.
Gorse Hill City Farm
Santa’s Grotto at the farm, just off Anstey Lane in Leicester, will run every Saturday from 10am-3:30pm beginning on Saturday, November 30. Santa will also come to visit on Sunday, December 22, Monday, December 23 and Tuesday, December 24.
Santa’s Grotto will cost £3 per person, tickets will not provide entry into the rest of the farm. The farm advised that booking is not required, but that is recommended.
Haymarket
The Haymarket in Kildare Street, Leicester, will be hosting their annual Santa Saturday on Saturday, December 7. Families can meet Santa for free and pass on present requests.
The entertainment will include “Santa’s sleigh pulled by a pair of cheeky elves”, the “Wish Fairies” will appear and there will be seasonal live music from “fabulous vintage singer Jayne Darling”, Haymarket said. Entry is free with slots available from 12pm.
Highcross in Leicester is inviting shoppers to step into a free “Scandinavian-style” Santa's Grotto experience, featuring “festive meet-and-greet and photo opportunities”, with voluntary donations supporting the Shaw Trust charity. Shoppers can find Santa in his grotto every weekend of December up until Monday, December 23, while additional activities include: a Christmas stamp trail with prizes, "surprise giveaways by Santa’s elves" and a partnership with Toys on the Table to support local families in need during the holiday season.
Children can visit Santa in his Grotto outside Jasper's on Castle Street on Friday November 22. There will be a £5 charge, cash only to visit Santa, with money raised to go to Against Breast Cancer.
The event will run alongside the Hinckley Christmas lights switch on in Market Place. The festivities will begin from 4pm and will include a Christmas tree, street entertainment, live music, a hog roast, mulled wine, roast chestnuts and much more.
The annual Kegworth Christmas Market in Market Place will take place again this year on Sunday, December 1. It will run from 12pm to 4.30pm with live music, food stalls, and carol singing all expected. There will also be a Santa's Grotto.
During the town’s Christmas lights switch on event, starting from 4pm on Friday, November 29, there will also be a Santa’s Grotto to visit. The Market Place will host a “wide range of stalls, food and drink stands and fairground rides”, alongside “a host of talented performers”.
Lutterworth Golf Club
A Christmas market is to be held at the Lutterworth Golf Club on Thursday, November 21, from 5pm to 9pm. You’ll be able to meet Santa and his elves in his grotto. There will be live Christmas music and more than 30 stalls at the market.
Lutterworth light switch on
There will be a Santa's Grotto at Lutterworth's Christmas lights switch on Friday, November 29, from 6pm to 8pm.
Melton Christmas Market
The Melton Mowbray Christmas Market will be held in the town centre over the weekend from Friday, December 6. until Sunday, December 8. There will be a Santa's Grotto, live music, local produce and hand-crafted goods.
Santa's Inclusive Grotto
Inspired by his five-year-old son, Hudson, business owner Callum McKeefery has spent the past six months transforming an old retail shop in Leicester city centre into an “enchanted grotto”, designed specifically for people with special needs or a disability. The grotto takes visitors on a “magical festive journey, complete with a nutcracker, snowman, polar bear family, a resident penguin mascot called Percy, toy reindeer, helpful elves and of course, Father Christmas himself.”
The free-of-charge grotto in Freeschool Lane will open on Saturday, December 1, and will run right up until Monday, December 23. You will have to book an appointment on the grotto’s website, which can be found by searching ‘Santa’s Inclusive Grotto’.
Sharnford PTA
Sharnwood PTA are holding a Santa’s Grotto and Christmas crafts event at Sharnford Youth Club near Hinckley on Sunday, December 8. The event will run from 10am until 1pm. For £7.50, a visit to see Santa, a gift, and a morning of crafts are included.
The Birch Tree
The Birch Tree pub in Bardon Road, Coalville, is planning to hold a Christmas fayre on Sunday, December 15, from 5pm to 8pm. As part of the fayre there will be a Santa’s Grotto and stalls for families to enjoy.
The Old Crown Inn
The pub in Snarestone is hosting a ‘Santa Sunday’ event on Sunday, December 22. Santa will be visiting at 2pm and 4pm. The pub said booking is needed to meet him.
You can meet Santa for free by booking in for Sunday lunch or meet him for £5 per child, without booking lunch. The pub said each child gets a present.
The Royal Oak
The Royal Oak pub in Kirby Muxloe is offering a Santa’s Grotto as part of its Christmas market on Monday, December 9. The event will run from 5pm to 9pm and includes street food alongside a range of stalls.
The Tithe Barn
The Tithe Barn in Main Street, Cosby, is running breakfast and lunch events with Santa from Saturday, December 1. For £15 per child, breakfast or lunch, a visit to see Santa in his grotto, a souvenir photo, a gift and a £5 voucher to be used in the new year, is included.
It will also offer a Santa Paws event on Saturday, November 30. £10 per dog will get you a meeting with Santa, a souvenir photo and a “pawsome gift”.
Thurlaston Garden Centre & Tearoom
You can book into Santa’s Grotto at the Thurlaston Garden Centre & Tearoom from now until the big day. Its website is advertising that the next available day to see Santa is Friday, November 29.
Slots are available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until Sunday, December 22. For further information on times, head to the centre’s website.
Families will be able to see Santa in his grotto at Twinlakes near Melton on weekends throughout December. The amusement park promised that families would be in for a “whimsical journey.” It said you will also receive a “special golden ticket” and get the option of choosing your own gift.
Utilita
Energy supplier, Utilita is providing Christmas grottos across the UK this year. Staff from its energy hub in Leicester will be hosting an event at Cancer Research UK’s charity shop in Horsefair Street on Saturday, December 7, from 11:30am to 3pm.
Attending children will be given a gift free of charge and there will also be a festive family photo opportunity. In the spirit of giving, Utilita is asking every family to bring a non-perishable food item with them if they can. These will be distributed to local food banks across the UK.
Wad House Farm:
Wad House Farm, close to Old Dalby, near Melton, is welcoming back its Santa’s Grotto for a fifth year. Opening on Saturday, November 30, for three weeks, visitors are asked to book their place for the grotto.
Every child who visits the farm’s grotto will be able to choose a gift from its ‘toy shop’.
Wellie Deli
The Wellie Deli in Newbold Coleorton will host a Christmas market over Saturday, November 23, and Sunday, November 24. A Santa’s Grotto will be open throughout the weekend, starting at 10am on each day.
South Wigston Christmas light switch on
The event in Blaby Road, taking place from 1pm to 6pm on Saturday, December 7, will offer a Santa's Grotto. Crafts, food, entertainment and late night shopping is also promised.
Woodside Animal Centre
The RSPCA’s Woodside Animal Centre in Scudamore Road is welcoming St. Nick himself to its Christmas market on Saturday, November 23. and Sunday. November 24. Kids will receive a gift from Santa and will have the option to have their photo taken with him.
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