Exciting Christmas Events in Birmingham This Year
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Christmas is coming! An exciting time for us all, no matter where we live. Whether you are religious and follow traditional Christmas routines or you just love the festive period for the decorations and the cheer that is found all round, there is something for everyone throughout December.
If you are a student in Birmingham there’s loads of fun activities to take part in all-year round, but at this time of year the Christmas events in Birmingham, including the large Christmas markets are a sight to behold. We’ve put together a list of some of the best things to do in Birmingham this Christmas.
Christmas in Birmingham
Birmingham is well known as the most ‘Christmassy city in the UK’. The Christmas markets are known as some of the best German-style Christmas markets outside of Germany, and there’s also ice skating, festive light trails, panto and theatre to get excited about this time of year.
Christmas Markets
The Frankfurt Christmas Market on Victoria Square and New Street is one of the most anticipated events of the entire year. It is widely acknowledged as one of the best in the country, and you’ll find visitors from all around the UK and Europe during December each year.
The market is the sign that Christmas is well and truly alive in the city each year, with stalls offering a range of crafts and Christmas gifts, and delicious food and drink. You’ll find pretzels, bratwurst, schnitzels, Weissbier, gluhwein, hot chocolate and roasted almonds. It truly is a hit on the culinary senses, a fantastic way to spend some festive time and cheer with your mates around Christmas time.
St. Phillip’s Cathedral, Cathedral Square
The Christmas market magic continues in the grounds of Birmingham Cathedral, with a whole host of local producers that are on site selling food, drink, festive gifts and crafts.
There’s a helter-skelter, and the Pigeon in the Park Pub providing refreshments. Christmas Markets around a cathedral look fantastic, a great setting for some festive cheer.
The Big Wheel and Festive Ice Skating
Another regular feature as part of the festive period in Birmingham is the Big Wheel and Ice Skate on Centenary Square. Running from the 1st November 2024 through to 5th January 2025, it has been voted one of the best ice-skating rinks in the UK, a feast of fun for all ages.
Are you a daredevil on the skates or like to hold on to the sides?! Whatever your level of experience, you can partake in 45-minutes of ice skating under the festive lights, and it is undercover, so you don’t need to worry about bad weather! The big wheel adds to the entire landscape of the Christmas markets, an Instagram-friendly shot for everyone, providing spectacular views of the city.
The Bullring Après Ski Bar
The Après Ski Bar at The Bullring is a festive chalet that transports you into a winter wonderland, right in the heart of the bustling city on the balcony of the Bullring. It’s a cosy retreat where you least expect it. It is a chance to stop and grab a winter warmer with your mates before heading on for a full day of shopping, or as a treat at the end of your shopping spree!
There are Christmas trees, fairy lights, mulled wine, hot chocolate and German beer to make you feel, for that short moment, that you are away in the Alps on a Christmas retreat!
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Christmas shopping in Birmingham
The shopping in Birmingham is outstanding every day of the year, but it truly comes alive at Christmas. There are over 200 shops to explore at the Bullring and Grand Central, a massive Primark, Selfridges and M&S.
Away from the big brand shopping, Birmingham Rag Market is home to over 350 stalls selling fabrics and general goods, there are tonnes of independent and quirky shops around the Digbeth area, in the Great Western Arcade and in the Jewellery Quarter.
Christmas Theatre in Birmingham
Are you into some festive theatre? Birmingham always has a good choice of seasonal plays and the traditional British panto. We’ve picked out two for you to choose from.
Dick Whittington
The Belgrade Theatre plays host to the legendary panto once more, showcasing the tale of fame and fortune with plenty of laughs to be had, festive magic and cheer throughout.
Follow Dick and his cat on a quest to the promised-land of London, where his cat must fight off the King Rat of the capital whilst Dick searches for love. The panto runs from November 20th 2024 until January 4th 2025.
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A Christmas Carol
The classic Dickens winter ghost story as retold by the ever-wonderful Mark Gatiss is playing at Birmingham Rep this Christmas.
It is the oldest building-based theatre company in the whole of the country, and the history can be felt throughout the building and the shows. It is the perfect location for this classic tale of mean-spirited Ebenezer Scrooge being shown the error of his ways by the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future.
The play runs from 27th November 2024 until 5th January 2025.
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See the Christmas lights
The Winter Light Trail at the Botanical Gardens is always a show worth seeing, a spectacular way to spend an evening with friends, an enchanting and captivating journey through the already stunning grounds of the Botanical Gardens.
The trail is a mile long, taking between an hour and 90 minutes, and is perfect for all ages. Stunning lights and artistic light play illuminate your way around this festive spectacular. The Light Trail is open between the 29th November 2024 and 1st January 2025, from 4.30pm to 8pm every night.
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What are you looking forward to most out of the Christmas events Birmingham has to offer? Do you prefer the foodie events, a wander round the Christmas markets or maybe you’re more inclined to go to the theatre with your friends before the winter break.
University can be a tough schedule from the start of the year up until the break around Christmas and New Year. Whether it’s your first year living in a new city or you’ve already made a home and want to explore your favourites, Christmas time with all the festive events and markets is a great time to unwind with your friends and to celebrate the year so far.
Birmingham is a fantastic city to live in as s student and is one of the best in the UK for Christmas-specific events and things to do. Make the most of Christmas in Birmingham in 2024!
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