Original published date: 15th November
There’s a packed calendar of festive events and activities taking place in and near Chippenham as well as other exciting community happenings in the run up to Christmas. From Christmas markets, fayres and concerts to craft workshops and charity fundraisers, there’s something for everyone!
The festive fun kicks off on 16th November with the REME Museum’s Annual Christmas Fair, offering festive stalls, gifts, arts and crafts, food, and drink. That same day, the Derry Hill & Studley Christmas Fayre will feature fantastic stalls, a cafe, and a huge raffle.
For those interested in the arts, Rag and Bone Arts CIC is hosting a “Meet the Team” event where you can chat with the team about their offerings. Music lovers can enjoy the Kris Nock Big Band’s “Video Games in Concert” performance at The Neeld, bringing the iconic sounds of video games to life with a jazzed-up twist. The North Wiltshire Symphony Orchestra will also be performing their Autumn Concert at St Andrew’s Church featuring works by Tchaikovsky and Hummel.
The fun continues with the “Let There Be Swing“ Black Tie Event at The Constitutional club, offering an evening of swing music. Canadian folk singer-songwriter Allison Lupton and her trio will be in concert at The Cause on 17th November, and the Dire Streets tribute band will be bringing the classic sounds of Dire Straits to the Neeld stage on 22nd November.
Christmas markets and fayres are a highlight of the season, with Cousin Norman’s Indoor Christmas Market taking place on the 23rd November and 7th December, featuring festive food, music, and activities. The RISE Trust Christmas Fayre on Saturday 30th November and the annual Doorway Christmas Market on the 7th December. The Artisan Quarter Christmas Fayre, is a new event for this year now taking place, following Storm Bet on Sunday 15th December.
The Chippenham Sports Club Christmas Fayre and Santa’s Grotto on the 1st December is also a fun local event to attend. Finally on the 20th December the Fairways Retirement Village are holding their Christmas Fayre and everyone is welcome!
The official Chippenham Christmas Lights Switch-On on the 30th November is set to be a highlight, featuring a lineup of live entertainment, including singer Robbie Culley, 5-piece band Switch, the Wiltshire Police Band, and the local youth am-dram group CLOGS Musical Theatre CLOGettes. The festivities will conclude with the traditional abseiling Santa and the countdown to the switch-on.
Chippenham’s vibrant choral groups are an integral part of the community’s holiday celebrations. The Chippenham & Calne Good Afternoon Choir will be hosting their annual free Christmas Concert on 10th December, offering a warm welcome and plenty of opportunities for the audience to sing along. The Village Singers are performing Christmas Music in their Carols, Cake and a Cuppa event at St Andrew’s Church on the 21st December.
The Chippenham Male Voice Choir is also getting into the festive spirit, inviting the public to their Christmas Cracker Concert on 14th December. They’ll be joined by the Chippenham Town Band and mezzo-soprano Marie Elliott for an evening of holiday music. “A Christmas Sing” on 18th December will feature local choirs the Sparkly Singers and Cause Community Choir coming together in aid of Leukaemia, Breast Cancer & Prostate Cancer.
“It’s the most wine-derful time of the year” at Wine Monkey, 20 Borough Parade! Join their festive lineup: a seasonal Wine tasting Evening (19th November), weekly Fondue Nights (from 2Oth November), and “Corks & Carols” featuring classic carols performed by a live quartet and piano, accompanied by mulled wine (19th December, free entry).
Rivo Lounge is hosting a series of lively events to get everyone in the holiday spirit. Enjoy a special Christmas Quiz, running from 7-9pm on 19th December. Don’t miss the return of Christmas Drag Bingo on 22nd December featuring the fabulous Sheila Tackya. Bingo cards range from £1 to £5, with a £2 donation for a dabber, making it a fun night for a good cause. On 30th December, challenge yourself at the Quiz of the Year, a fun way to reflect on 2024 with friends, family, and fellow quiz enthusiasts. Entry is just £2 per person, with half of the pot supporting the Cafe Spero food bank and the other half awarded to the winning team (maximum team size of six).
Beyond the Christmas celebrations, the Chippenham area is also hosting a variety of other community events, including the Rhythm of Change: Melodies for Democracy evening of music and poetry on 23rd November, and the Classic Rock American Highway tribute show. The Rotary Jumble Sale on 14th December is another opportunity to support the community while finding great bargains.
To stay up-to-date on all the exciting happenings in Chippenham and the surrounding areas, check our event calendar. If you have an event you’d like to add, simply fill out the event submission form on our website.
Did you also know you can search by event type so if you are particularly keen to find out about Christmas events you can filter the events calendar to do that.
The full lineup of upcoming events includes that have been added to our website at time of writing this blog post include:
NOVEMBER
- The REME Museum’s Annual Christmas Fair (16th Nov) – Festive stalls, gifts, arts and crafts, food and drink.
- Derry Hill & Studley Christmas Fayre (16th Nov) – Fantastic stalls, cafe, and raffle.
- “Meet the Team” event by Rag and Bone Arts CIC (16th Nov) – Chatting with the team about their offerings.
- The Kris Nock Big Band performs “Video Games in Concert” (16th Nov) – Jazzed-up video game music.
- North Wiltshire Symphony Orchestra’s Autumn Concert (16th Nov) – Featuring works by Tchaikovsky and Hummel.
- “Let There Be Swing” Black Tie Event (16th Nov) – An evening of swing music.
- Allison Lupton and her trio in concert (17th Nov) – Canadian folk singer-songwriter.
- Lantern making workshops (18th & 23rd Nov) at the Chippenham Community Hub – ready for the Artisan Quarter Christmas Market.
- Wine Tasting Evening: It’s the most wine-derful time of the year! (19th Nov) at Wine Monkey
- Fondue Nights at Wine Monkey (20th Nov, 27th Nov, 11th Dec, 18th Dec)
- Dire Streets tribute band performing (22nd Nov) – Bringing Dire Straits classics to life.
- Cousin Norman’s Indoor Christmas Market (23rd Nov & 7th Dec) – Festive market with food, music, and activities.
- Pewsham WI Bazaar & Café with stalls and a cafe (23rd Nov)
- Christmas Découpage Card Making with Kandu Arts (23rd Nov)
- Stanton Social Committee Jumble Sale (23rd Nov)
- Rhythm of Change: Melodies for Democracy (23rd Nov) – An evening of music and poetry.
- The Classic Rock American Highway (23rd Nov) – Tribute show covering West Coast rock.
- Chippenham Christmas Lights Switch-On (30th Nov) – Featuring live entertainment.
- Family Creative Activities, Christmas Special at Chippenham Museum (30th Nov)
- Christmas Craft Market at the Yelde Hall (30th Nov & 1st Dec)
- Arts & Crafts Day 2024 at Sheldon Road Methodist Church (30th Nov)
- Rise Trust Christmas Fayre (30th Nov)
- Grounded Café Bar Christmas Market (30th Nov)
- Wessex Concert Orchestra Winter Concert – Celtic Connections (30th Nov)
DECEMBER
- Chippenham Sports Club Christmas Fayre & Santa’s Grotto (1st Dec)
- Billy and Louie Live at Cousin Norman’s (2nd Dec)
- Chippenham Flower Club Christmas Open Evening (2nd Dec)
- Little Robin Red Vest(3rd Dec) a lovely performance for 2-6 year olds at Chippenham Library.
- Trio Paradis Café Concert: A December Evening (3rd Dec)
- The Artisan Quarter Christmas Fayre [Edit 5.12.24 – this event has been postponed due to the weather warnings](6th-8th Dec) – Handmade gifts, food, and holiday cheer.
- Sound and Vision – A Tribute to David Bowie (6th Dec)
- Christmas Pub Choir (6th Dec) at Cousin Norman’s.
- Santa Scamper Fun Run (7th Dec) – A festive 5K event at Abbeyfield School
- Bulldog Bouncers Christmas Fair (7th Dec) – Crafts, cakes, and photos with Santa.
- Redland School Christmas Fayre (7th December)
- Yatton Keynell Village Hall Christmas Fair (7th December)
- Cepen Lodge Christmas Fayre (7th Dec)
- St Paul’s Church Christmas Fayre (7th Dec)
- Scrooge (A Christmas Carol) – Chippenham Film Club December feature (9th Dec)
- Chippenham & Calne Good Afternoon Choir Christmas Concert (10th Dec) – Free admission.
- Christmas Pottery Making Evening (10th Dec) – The Little Pottery Making Company are collaborating with The Garden Restaurant Chippenham for a magical Christmas Pottery Painting Evening.
- Christmas Crafternoon in aid of Mind (14th Dec) – Crafts and refreshments.
- Wiltshire Police Band Christmas Concert (14th Dec) – In aid of Chippenham Hospital Radio.
- Chippenham Male Voice Choir’s Christmas Cracker Concert (14th Dec) – With guest performers.
- The Artisan Christmas Market (15th Dec) – The rescheduled event takes place from 11am to 5pm.
- Christmas Quiz (16th Dec) – at the Old Road Tavern.
- Christmas Waverley Album Listening Club – a Christmas version of this new monthly music club at The Waverley.
- “A Christmas Sing” charity event (18th Dec) – Featuring local choirs – Sparkly Singers and Cause Community Choir in aid of Leukaemia, Breast Cancer & Prostate Cancer.
- Christmas Quiz (19th Dec) – Rivo Lounge’s quiz night – Christmas edition!
- Corks & Carols at Wine Monkey (19th Dec) – Enjoy classic carols and Christmas favourites with a live quartet and piano, all while sipping on Wine Monkey’s homemade mulled wine or other sustainable tipples.
- Christmas Fayre – The Fairways Retirement Village (20th Dec) – everyone welcome!
- Cars Galore Christmas Special (21st Dec) – Party fun for kids.
- Carols, Cake and a Cuppa (21st Dec) – The Village Singers are performing Christmas Music at St Andrew’s Church.
- “Whole Lotta Shakin’ – The Shakin’ Stevens Story” (21st Dec) – A tribute to the 1980s singer.
- Santa’s Christmas Cracker family show (22nd Dec) – Interactive festive fun.
- Christmas Drag Bingo (22nd Dec) with Sheila Tackya at Rivo Lounge
- Christmas day lunches for those who would otherwise be spending the day alone (25th Dec) – Christmas Day Meal at Sheldon Road Methodist Church and Company for Christmas at Corsham Scout Hall (transport provided). Pre-booking essential for both.
- Quiz of the Year (30th Nov) – Test your knowledge at the Rivo Lounge!
