With Christmas just around the corner, now is the perfect time to start celebrating! There are so many Christmas events happening in Cardiff this year, so we’ve put together the perfect list of Christmassy events that will sure to get you in the spirit! Whether you love to shop, go out in the night, or having a relaxing evening sipping on mulled wine, there’s something for everyone in these Christmas events in Cardiff for 2023!
1. Christmas Market
Cardiff Christmas Markets has always been one of the most popular Christmas events within the city, and every year it only seems to get better! The market has been open since the 9th of November, and will close its doors on the 23rd of December, giving you plenty of time to visit. The stalls are open from 10am to 6pm from Monday to Saturday, and 10am to 5pm on Sundays. There’s also 70 of them to browse through, selling everything from Christmas decorations, art, jewellery, alcohol, fudge, and so much more!
2. Winter Wonderland
If you love classic carnival games, ice-skating, and rides like Dodgems, then Winter Wonderland is the perfect event for you! Here’s the place to go if you fancy showing off your skills at a ring toss game to win an amazingly oversized bear, or the place to go if you want to impress someone by ice-skating without holding onto the side. Winter Wonderland is completely free to enter, but you will have to pay food, drinks, ice-skating, and any tokens to go on the rides.
You will most likely have to pre-book the ice-skating, as it is one of the most popular attractions, and it’s also worth knowing that the ice-rink is in Cardiff Castle, whilst the other attractions are in City Hall Lawns. You should definitely visit if you can – it doesn’t get more Christmassy than this!
3. Christmas at Bute Park
Christmas light trails are becoming more and more popular, so much so that they sell out most evenings! The Christmas light trail in Bute Park is an extremely popular night trail, as many people travel to Cardiff just to go see it! Throughout the light trail, you walk along a designated path, full of light spectacles and attractions for you to see! However, tickets are around £20, but if it’s something you’re dying to see, then head over to their website and book your slot!
4. Heofon Light Maze
If you’re looking for something quick and fun to do outdoors this Christmas, then the Heofon light maze is the perfect activity for you! This maze is so colourful and picturesque, so obviously it looks amazing at night time, which is perfect for some pictures! The maze is open from 9am-9pm everyday of the week, so if you have nothing else to do and don’t want to spend ages doing something, then head over to the Heofon light maze in St John’s Garden!
5. Cardiff Christmas Festival
The Cardiff Christmas festival is a huge festival being held in Sofia Gardens! This year, there are 5 acts you can book to see in the Christmas festival, which are a circus act, a Christmas musical, a comedy show, an Abba tribute concert, and a night of Christmas music! Tickets range depending on what you’re booking to see and what seats you want, however most of the tickets will cost above £20. These are selling out extremely fast, so if you want to go, hurry and book before it’s all sold out!
6. Bingo Lingo
If you’re looking for a more boozy Christmas activity, then you might want to check out Bingo Lingo! All of their events are filled with fun, and what’s even better is the chance to win some prizes! This year, Bingo Lingo are hosting 10 events before Christmas, so there’s loads of opportunities for you to go! All of these are held in Depot in Cardiff, and tickets cost around £20. There are so many dates available, so head over to their website to find out when you can go!
Definitely book these events instead of showing up on the night, since they will most likely sell out! If you love the event side of Christmas but never know what to actually get people, then read our article on last-minute Christmas present ideas for students!
Once you’ve planned your Christmas, it’s time to start thinking about New Year’s Eve. Don’t be late in making plans as things tend to book up quickly. Here’s our list of the best New Year’s Eve events in Cardiff to help you out.
Last Updated on March 16, 2024
Published on March 21, 2021
