Get Festive at The Forum

It's all happening at The Forum for the festive season. Whether you're catching a show at the theatre, coming into the city to shop, or running errands, don't forget to stop off at The Forum!

If you need one place to get your charity Christmas cards, browse and buy stunning locally made products, grab a coffee, and...ahem... use the facilities, you know The Forum is the place.

So what's on, and when?

Markets

From the first weekend in November, you'll find makers' markets and Christmas stalls at The Forum every weekend (and selected weekdays) all the way up to Wednesday 23 December!

For the Cards for Good Causes shop, you'll need to head to The Gallery, off The Forum's Atrium. There, from Wednesday 4 November, you'll find all the Christmas essentials, including calendars, wrapping paper, stationery items and, of course, a wide range of charity Christmas cards supporting over 200 national and local charities.

If you're looking for unique and handmade items, and to potentially meet the maker behind the products, we've got you. We will have a huge amount of artistic and creative talent under one roof over November and December, with 16 Christmas Markets & Fairs taking place. From the more recent additions to The Forum's programme of events, like the Norwich Ceramics Market on Sunday 15 November, to returning faves like Norwich Vegans Christmas Market on Sunday 22 November, there's plenty of choice!

The Festive Fair - one of the highest-attended events of the whole year - is back Thursday 26 to Sunday 29 November. It brings 4 days of festive cheer, with music and performances, warming food and drink, and up to 100 stalls on selected days! With such a huge range of stalls, there's something for everyone and lots of holiday spirit to soak up during your visit. Check the listing for daily timings and more info!

The city's official Christmas Light Switch-On is set for Thursday 19 December, so if you're heading into the city for the celebrations, don't forget to stop by to see us and the Jabbawockycrafts Village for tasty food stalls, gifts, and family-friendly fun (including owl encounters!), on until 8pm.

If you're sworn not to start celebrating the season before the month of December - that's okay by us, because we've got plenty in December too. Plus, it's when The Forum's Christmas Tree arrives!

Kicking off the month is a long-time favourite: the Global Village Christmas Market is here from Thursday 3 until Saturday 5 December. This three-day event is the perfect place to shop for beautifully crafted, presents with a story. Visitors can enjoy global street food, festive music and a relaxed market atmosphere.

Norfolk Creations, Jabbwockycrafts, and UNIK Design all have markets and shops here for a number of days in both November and December, so there's plenty of opportunity to catch them - but you won't want to miss them; they might just have the unique gift you're looking for for that special person, or... yourself!

Are you a 'shopping the final Saturday before Christmas' kinda person? Not to worry, the Local Makers Market is here 10am-4pm on Saturday 19 December.

Family Fun and Festive Favourites

Kids-go-free film screenings are back, because you love them and so do we! The Forum are thrilled at how popular these are, so this year we have 4 screenings of 3 different films to pick from that all the family should enjoy. Places are limited (especially for our Relaxed Screening of Paddington on Saturday 19 December at 1.30pm) and last year booked out, so get your tickets while you can. They're just £3 each and, as the title suggests, kids go FREE*! We're also showing the classic Home Alone on Sunday 20 December and much-loved Elf on Wednesday 23 December.

*up to 3 accompanying children per paying adult.

TOASTies, the silly, giggly poetry event specially designed for kids (best for ages 5-11) is back for games and performing poems about festivities on Saturday 12 December, from 2pm in our Auditorium. Brought to you by TOAST, local poetry producers, they bring the coolest, kookiest poets to Norwich for shows full of fun and rule-breaking for families. Booking will open soon and tickets are 'Pay What You Can' at £2.50, £5, £10.

Guaranteed to get you in the spirit and give you that warm and fuzzy feeling are the Christmassy music performances we'll have happening on selected dates in the building with the Norfolk & Suffolk Music Hub in December. Schools, community groups, and local artists will join us to fill the space with musical delights and provide some wholesome watching for visitors. Confirmed dates so far are Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 December, 10am-2.30pm.

As dogs are part of the family too and deserve to celebrate the festive season just as much, Santa Woof Woof will return for the very silly (but important) Forum tradition: Santa's Grotto for Dogs on Sunday 13 December. Hosted by our local RSPCA Norwich branch, the team will be on hand with plenty of treats and goodies to help you capture your own family photo with Santa Woof Woof. The event is completely free of charge, but donations are encouraged, and all money raised goes to helping animals in need across Norfolk and Suffolk. Lots of fun for you, and your pawsome companion!

And finally, we know what you all really want to know is when 'The Gallopers' are back... Well, just in time for the school holidays, we expect them to be racing around the amphitheatre from Saturday 19 December. You may also call it the "Christmas Carousel", but The Gallopers were built by Frederick Savage of Kings Lynn in the late 19th century. Each horse is individually hand-painted and named.

For the first time in 2025, we also had The Big Wheel, which created an incredible atmosphere and joyful viewing. Not to mention the wonderful views of the city at this sparkly time of year. It WILL be back again alongside The Gallopers for 2026 - hooray! Both attractions are £3.50 per person, per ride. Weather-dependent and closed on Christmas Day; otherwise open every day, all day until Sun 3 Jan.

For however you choose to celebrate, we hope this festive season brings you all lots of joy and good memories. We'll see you at The Forum soon!