Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year in Chorley with so much to check out that you'll never want the celebrations and Christmas cheer to end. There's everything from festive market stalls to traditional lights switch on events, lots of independent shops for unique Christmas presents and not forgetting opportunities to meet the main man himself - Father Christmas!
Winter Wonderland featuring real ice rink
Get your skates on this Christmas and glide, pirouette and whirl across the popular Real Ice Rink in the town centre for the festive season as part of Chorley's Winter Wonderland:
Saturday 9 December 2023 until Sunday 7 January 2024 (except Christmas Day).
There's also a Ferris wheel, Alpine fun house, children's rides and festive tipis.
For information on ice rink session times and prices, plus opening hours for the Festive Tipis please see link below.
On Saturday 23 December, 10am - 2pm, why not bring the children for a festive sing song with the Christmas Elves in Market Walk, or say hello as they greet shoppers. In Market Walk you'll also find a range of fantastic retailers, great places for food and drink and outstanding entertainment venues
Christmas at Astley Hall
Step into Christmas at Astley Hall, with the Friends of Astley Hall Christmas Fair on Sunday 26 November, and experience the 12 days of Christmas in the Hall with beautiful decorations in place from 25 November - 23 December on selected opening dates. Visit astleypark.co.uk/hall for more information
Christmas Shopping in Chorley
With a fantastic range of independent traders, high street favourites and markets, offering quality fresh produce, clothes and accessories, gifts and much more, why go anywhere else when it's right here in Chorley.
Christmas is just around the corner which means that children will be writing their Christmas letters out to Santa in time for Christmas Eve.
To make sure their letter gets to Santa in time before he rides into the sky on his sleigh, why not bring your children to the Christmas post box in Market Walk to post their letters
The Christmas Express
This event has now passed.
Why not take a ride through the beautiful Astley Park this festive season on the Christmas Express land train which will be running on Saturdays and Sundays from Saturday 25 November until Sunday 17 December.
Times/Pick up /Drop off points
Weekends of 9/10 and 16/17 December:
The Christmas Express will operate from the Winter Wonderland (across from the Town Hall on Market Street) to Astley Coach House. This will operate throughout the day from 9:30am (from Winter Wonderland) with the last land train departing from the Astley Coach House at 3:45pm back to Winter Wonderland.
The journey time is approximately 10 mins (each way).
Prices
The cost of the land train is £2 per person each way. Cash only, on the day. The Christmas Express cannot be pre-booked.
Please note that the land train is separate from Santa's Grotto at Astley Hall and is not included in the Santa's Grotto ticket.
Please note photographs and video may be taken at this event.
Santa's Grotto at Astley Hall
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We're very excited to announce that Santa will be visiting Astley Hall this Christmas!
Santa can't wait to meet you and hear about the lovely things you have been up to this year.
Before you get to meet the big man himself at his grotto in the Great Hall, you'll be able to take part in some festive activities and storytelling.
Access to Santa's Grotto is by pre-booked tickets only and the grotto will be open on Fridays (relaxed sessions designed for pre-school and SEN audiences), Saturdays and Sundays from 1 - 17 December 2023.
£5 (plus booking fee) per child
Pantomime - Cinderella
This event has now passed
**You may have heard about some issues with the Lancastrian Suite at Chorley Town Hall (read more here). We now have an alternative venue for the Pantomime - Albany Academy, Bolton Road, Chorley.
Ticket holders have been sent an email with information. If you have tickets and do not receive this email, please contact us by emailing events@chorley.gov.uk**
Cinderella will go to the ball as this year's Pantomime performed by M&M Theatrical Productions.
This year we are bringing you two action packed performances of Cinderella at 11am and 2pm on Sunday 17 December 2023.
Fun for all the family!
Christmas Lights Switch On & Totally Locally Christmas Market
Sunday 19 November 2023
Chorley's Christmas Lights Switch On, hosted by Central Radio breakfast host Danny Matthews, will get underway in style, with a brilliant festive and party atmosphere in the town centre, plus the Totally Locally Chorley Christmas Market will return for another year, taking place on the same day with lots of independent traders, entertainment and more.
Special guest, Challenge Cup winning, Leigh Leopards Rugby league star Josh Charnley will be doing the honours of turning the lights on, plus there'll be a meet and greet with Josh with the Challenge Cup at the covered market, 2:30pm - 3:30pm.
There's also a fantastic line-up of performances on the Market Street stage - see the line-up and performance times below.
Parking on most town centre car parks is free on Sundays (with the exception of the Flat Iron car park), details of town centre car parks can be found at chorley.gov.uk/carparks
Market Street will be closed from 6:00am - 10:00pm on Sunday 19 November at the Junction from High Street down to the junction with St George's Street. Please do not park in this area overnight on Saturday 18 November.
Please note that photographs and video will be taken during this event.
Getting here
If you're visiting Chorley town centre, there are many ways to get here, plus plenty of low cost or free parking.
From 1 - 24 December 2023, the 1 hour free parking currently offered on town centre car parks (except Flat Iron) will be extended to 3 hours free parking (with the exception of the Flat Iron car park which will be 2 hours free parking), with a time of arrival ticket required.
