Wicksteed Park offers festive magic this Christmas
Wicksteed Park, Northamptonshire, offers a host of festive fun and magical moments the whole family can enjoy in the run up to Christmas.
Bookings are now open for the incredibly popular Christmas at Wicksteed experience, which includes meeting Santa and boarding at the North Pole Station for a ride on the Wicksteed Railway.
You can also meet the animals at Wicky’s Farmyard, play a game of crazy golf at Pig ‘N Putt, and twirl on the Carousel, Cups and Saucers or the Heritage Toy Roundabout.
Head to the Learning Centre for Christmas crafts and to prepare reindeer food to leave out on Christmas Eve.
Leave your wish on the Wishing Tree and brand new for 2026, the Elf Training Trail will test if aspiring elves are fit enough to be one of Santa’s helpers.
Photo mementos from your meet and greet with Santa Claus will be available to purchase from Wicky’s Gift shop and festive food and refreshments will be available from the Northern Lights Café and Garden Café.
Tickets are £17 per adult and £22 per child, with an opening weekend deal making children’s tickets £20 and adult tickets £16.
Each child receives a golden ticket with their entry to collect a gift from the Elf’s Workshop after meeting Santa Claus.
If you and the family don’t want to meet Santa Claus or take part in festive activities, you can enjoy the rides and attractions only for £15 per person, or for £50 for a family of 4.
Rides will be open from 10am – 5pm (3pm on Christmas Eve) to be enjoyed at your leisure before or after your time slot with Santa Claus.
Dates available: Saturday 5th December, Sunday 6th December, Saturday 12th December, Sunday 13th December, Saturday 19th December, Sunday 20th December, Monday 21st December, Tuesday 22nd December, Wednesday 23rd December and Thursday 24th December.
Time slots to meet Santa Claus run from 9:20am to 4:20pm (3pm on Christmas Eve).
Attractions in the park’s Adventure Zone will also be open on December 27-30.
The third annual Santa Paws in the Park dog show is back at Wicksteed Park bigger and better than ever, from 11am to 2pm on November 28.
Show off your dog’s tail wagging or their best Christmas jumper in one of the Santa Paws categories:
Best Christmas Jumper
Prettiest Pooch
Most Handsome Hound
Best Six Legs with a Christmas Theme
Waggiest Tail
Best in Show
Entry is £3.50 per category when you book online, or £4 per category on the day*.
Entry includes one train ride for the dog and owner on the Woofsteed Railway – additional train tickets can be bought from the Gift Shop.
Businesses and charities can have stalls at the event too, with further details here:
Christmas Daytime Show and Lunch
Walk Like a Man is coming to Wicksteed Park Pavilion this Christmas, from 11am until 3:45pm on December 17. Relive the glory days of doo-wop music with a fantastic 90-minute Show brought to you by London’s West End Entertainers performing music from Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons.
Tickets are £65 per person.
The show will also be performed from 7pm until 10:15pm on December 11
Tickets are £32 per person (food not included).
Tickets for all show and include complimentary car parking.
Tickets are also now available for the park’s legendary festive party nights, being held this year on December 4, 5 and 18.
Celebrate the festive season in style with a carvery and party the night away with disco from Big Bopper Entertainment.
Doors open at 6:45pm, with tickets £55 per person with complimentary car parking included.
Wicksteed Park combines a 281-acre estate including 147 acres of beautiful parkland with more than 25 rides and attractions for all the family.
It was opened in 1921 by Charles Wicksteed, the creator of swings and slides as we know them today, who had a vision to inspire and encourage play as part of families' health and wellbeing.
The Wicksteed Charitable Trust was formed to ensure his work continued after his death and the park has become known as the home of children’s play.
The park has been praised for providing a highly enjoyable and memorable family day out in an assessment by national tourist board VisitEngland.
Awarding the Kettering park a score of 84%, VisitEngland said the attraction remains a well-established and much-loved visitor attraction, offering an excellent balance of traditional family entertainment, expansive green space, and historical significance.