An Enchanted Castle Christmas 2025
Welcome to An Enchanted Castle Christmas, presented to you by Bude Stratton Town Council.
This year, The Castle Heritage Centre is delighted to bring you something a little different! Instead of our much-loved annual Christmas Fayre, we are launching a brand-new festive venture – An Enchanted Castle Christmas.
For the very first time, we’re offering a whole weekend of seasonal activities, workshops, stalls, and entertainment for all the family to enjoy. From magical performances and creative crafts to festive shopping and live music, there will be something to delight everyone.
On Friday 5th December – GLOW Evening (4.30pm – 6pm)
Step into a sparkling wonderland as the Castle is lit up with enchanting lights and festive displays. Justine Lawton will be playing festive tunes upstairs, whilst kids can take part in a FREE ‘Willo the Wisp’ spotter trail with festive stickers on completion. Festive cakes & drinks can be purchased at Café Limelight. Come for the lights, stay for the magic!
On Saturday 6th December (11am – 4pm), visitors can browse commercial stalls in the Blanchminster Gallery and outside, enjoy face painting and children’s colouring tables in the Willoughby Gallery, or take part in festive tree workshops in the Storm Tower Room. Entertainment includes a magic performance by Adrian Ward, and a special visit from Santa, who will be handing out wooden tree decorations for children to personalise.
The festivities continue on Sunday 7th December (11am – 4pm) with more commercial stalls, live music from a choir, and harp performances in the Willoughby Gallery. You can book into a festive macramé workshop with Katie Marshall and enjoy live music performances again in the afternoon from ‘Betty Bluebird’, before Fionnuala Kirby, harpist, returns to close the weekend’s entertainment.
✨Bring the family, and step into the festive magic of An Enchanted Castle Christmas – a new tradition in the making!
Friday 5th December (Ticketed)
Glow at The Castle
Enjoy The Castle Like Never Before! Step into a magical evening at the castle and explore its rich history in a whole new light! Wander through the Heritage Centre and Art Galleries to see our enchanting festive lights. Café Limelight will be serving drinks and cakes. Doors close at 6pm.💷 Tickets: £4 per person (under 3s free). Please note: dogs are not allowed at this event.
Your ticket covers all activities inside the building. Here’s what’s in store for you…
Willo the Wisp Trail
Location: Throughout The Castle from 4.30pm until 6pm.
✨ Willo-the-Wisp Spotter Trail ✨
Kids can join in the festive fun by collecting a worksheet from Café Limelight on arrival. Search the twinkling displays to find hidden wisps around the exhibits—each holding a secret letter! There are seven to find! Solve the puzzle to reveal a festive word, then return your sheet to the café to claim a magical festive sticker.
Justine Lawton
Location: Cafe Limelight from 4.30pm until 6pm.
Justine Lawton is a classically trained guitarist and accomplished performer with a passion for the classical guitar. A graduate of Liverpool Hope University, she brings expressive musicality to every stage. Having established a strong online presence, she seamlessly blends digital performance platforms with live appearances, delivering captivating recitals that resonate with audiences.
The Great Glow Hunt
Location: Throughout The Castle from 4.30pm until 6pm.
✨ The Great Glow Hunt ✨
Step into a magical museum adventure at night! Children are invited to search for glowing Christmas treasures hidden throughout the galleries. Spot twinkling lights, festive objects, and charming icons, then tick them off your hunt sheet. Perfect for little explorers, this enchanting glow-filled quest promises fun, discovery, and holiday cheer for the whole family!
Saturday 6th December (Free Entry)
Christmas Trader
Tamzin’s Little Bookcase
Time: 11.00am – 4.00pm
Welcome to Tamzin’s Little Bookcase — your place to find the perfect Usborne book for every child. Come along and see me at the fayre for exclusive offers, discounts, and exciting new books — inspiring young readers everywhere.
Christmas Trader
Kerno 3D
Time: 11.00am – 4.00pm
Kerno 3D brings imagination to life through creative 3D printing. Specialising in fantasy and magic, we craft unique dragons, dragon eggs, figures, busts, and more — turning mythical inspiration into stunning collectible art.
Christmas Trader
Crackington Cider Company
Time: 11.00am – 4.00pm
Crackington Cider Company crafts award-winning still, sparkling, and mulled ciders on the north Cornish coast. Using Cornish and vintage West Country apples, they produce high-quality, clean-tasting artisan ciders.
Christmas Trader
Parsons Pottery
Time: 11.00am – 4.00pm
At their Widemouth Bay pottery studio, John and Phoebe craft unique marbled porcelain using Neriage and Nerikomi. Blending tradition with modern creativity, their vibrant pieces showcase passion, originality, and timeless artistry.
Christmas Trader
The Wooden Toy Lady
Time: 11.00am – 4.00pm
The Wooden Toy Lady offers beautifully crafted wooden toys for children, blending timeless charm with quality craftsmanship. Perfect for Christmas gifts, her toys inspire imagination, creativity, and hours of wholesome, hands-on play for little ones.
Christmas Trader
Perfect Cornish Pebbles
Time: 11.00am – 4.00pm
Beautifully handmade seaglass and pebble art inspired by North Cornwall’s stunning coastline. Each piece is original and bespoke, perfect as thoughtful gifts or unique décor, capturing the beauty of the sea and nature for your loved ones.
Children's Entertainment
Claire’s Face Painting (Free Entry – No Booking Required)
Time: 11.00am – 3.00pm
Claire Taylor, local face painter is with us all day for our Christmas event! She’ll bring festive cheer with glitter and fun designs, delighting children and creating magical memories for the whole family. Event the adults can join in!
Children's Entertainment
Naomi Jones – Story Time (Free Entry – No Booking Required)
Time: 11.00am – 12.00pm
Naomi Jones will join us to read her festive picture book The Great Christmas Tree Race, filled with colourful Christmas decorations, fun, and a heartwarming message about sharing the spotlight this holiday season. They may even be a little festive activity to do to!
Children's Entertainment
Miniature Festive Tree Workshop with Emma Banford
Time: 11.00am – 12.00pm
Get cosy and creative this festive season! 🌿 Make your own 15cm Christmas tree with real rosemary and foliage, decorated with mini tinsel and a star topper. All materials provided—fun and festive for everyone! 🎄
Children's Entertainment
Adrian Ward Magic Show (Free Entry – No Booking Required)
Time: 12.00pm – 12.45pm
Magician Adrian Ward brings his much-loved magic show to our Christmas event! Full of wonder, laughs, and festive surprises, his enchanting tricks delight all ages, creating magical memories for families to enjoy together this holiday season.
Children's Entertainment
Santa is Here! (Free Entry – No Booking Required)
Time: 12.00pm – 2.00pm
Santa Claus is visiting our Christmas event! Each child will receive a wooden decoration to decorate themselves, making festive keepsakes. Enjoy magical moments, meet Santa, and celebrate the season with creativity and holiday cheer.
Children's Entertainment
Miniature Festive Tree Workshop with Emma Banford
Time: 12.00pm – 1.00pm
Get cosy and creative this festive season! 🌿 Make your own 15cm Christmas tree with real rosemary and foliage, decorated with mini tinsel and a star topper. All materials provided—fun and festive for everyone! 🎄
Sunday 7th December (Free Entry)
Christmas Trader
Claire Meaker – Handmade Wooden Gifts
Time: 11.00am – 4.00pm
Handmade wooden Christmas decorations by Claire Meaker and her daughter, crafted from locally sourced wood. Featuring snowmen, reindeer, and tree ornaments—each piece is unique, rustic, and perfect for festive gifting.
Christmas Trader
PB Artist
Time: 11.00am – 4.00pm
PB Artist captures the spirit of wildlife and pets through bespoke artwork and prints. Whether portraits or creative scenes, their art offers unique, heartfelt décor or gifts for animal lovers everywhere.
Christmas Trader
Crackington Cider Company
Time: 11.00am – 4.00pm
Crackington Cider Company crafts award-winning still, sparkling, and mulled ciders on the north Cornish coast. Using Cornish and vintage West Country apples, they produce high-quality, clean-tasting artisan ciders.
Christmas Trader
Shore & Silver
Time: 11.00am – 4.00pm
Shore & Silver creates eco-conscious artisan jewellery inspired by the coast. Crafted in small batches using recycled sterling silver, seaglass, gemstones, and brass, each piece reflects sustainable beauty with a boho, handmade charm.
Christmas Trader
Pink House Glass
Time: 11.00am – 4.00pm
Pink House Glass, based on the rugged North Cornwall coast, creates stunning Cornish-inspired fused and kiln-formed glass. From bespoke commissions to decorative art pieces, each piece makes a beautiful, shimmering gift.
Christmas Trader
Parsons Pottery
Time: 11.00am – 4.00pm
At their Widemouth Bay pottery studio, John and Phoebe craft unique marbled porcelain using Neriage and Nerikomi. Blending tradition with modern creativity, their vibrant pieces showcase passion, originality, and timeless artistry.
Christmas Trader
Studio Thie
Time: 11.00am – 4.00pm
Studio THIE, a design led brand by Simon Thie, creates thoughtfully designed paper, glass, and felt decorations, including festive baubles, bringing joy and delight to everyday moments with conscious craftsmanship.
Christmas Trader
Sign O’ Times
Time: 11.00am – 4.00pm
Beautifully crafted wooden Christmas decorations, from festive trees to snowflakes and reindeer designs. Perfect for adding rustic charm to your home or gifting a loved one something unique and handmade this season.
Christmas Trader
North Devon RNLI
Time: 11.00am – 4.00pm
RNLI North Devon’s Face-to-Face team share vital water safety advice while raising essential funds. Friendly fundraisers engage the public with resources, stickers, and gifts, encouraging monthly support to help save lives at sea.
Live Music
More Harmony Woman’s Barbershop Chorus
Time: 11.00am – 12.00pm
More Harmony Women’s Barbershop Chorus is an a cappella group based in Wadebridge, North Cornwall, performing a wide variety of songs in four-part harmony. Our choir welcomes all women aged 16 and over, and we pride ourselves on being accessible and inclusive. Our diverse repertoire spans the decades, reflecting the variety of our membership.
Live Music
Fionnuala Kirby – Celtic Harpist
Time: 12pm to 1pm and 2.30pm – 3.30pm
We’re thrilled to welcome Fionnuala Kirby as harpist at our Christmas event! Her Celtic harp casts a shimmering backdrop of festive elegance, weaving gentle melodies and timeless carols throughout the day. With her expressive touch and musical warmth, she’ll transform our celebration into something truly magical. Don’t miss her graceful performances on Sunday 7th December.
Live Music
Betty Bluebird – Vintage Christmas
Time: 1.15pm – 2.15pm
We’re delighted to welcome Betty Bluebird to our event! With her vintage charm and sparkling stage presence, she’ll bring festive cheer through timeless Christmas classics and nostalgic melodies. Her enchanting voice and warm performance style create the perfect holiday atmosphere — a magical treat for all ages. Don’t miss Betty’s unforgettable Christmas appearance with us!
Creative Workshop
Festive Macrame Mini Wreath Workshop with Katie Marshall
Time: 1.00pm – 2.30pm
Join Katie for a fun, hands-on workshop and learn to create your very own mini festive macrame wreath – perfect for gifting or decorating your Christmas tree.
Food & Drink - Cafe Limelight
The team in Cafe Limelight will be serving a delicious selection of food and drinks throughout our Christmas event, from warming festive treats to refreshing beverages. Whether you’re looking for a cozy spot to relax, catch up with friends, or enjoy a tasty bite between activities, their menu has something for everyone, keeping the festive spirit alive all day.
You can find the Cafe on the first floor of The Castle with access to three rooms with spectacular views of some of Bude’s most beautiful landmarks. Opens from 10am.
We can’t wait to see you with us at our Enchanted Christmas Event. Don’t forget to pop the dates in your diary.
We welcome dogs inside with the exception of The Willoughby Gallery room, but they must be on a lead. We advise that you check out the weather before your arrival, but we generally still go ahead, even when it is raining but you may find that some of the outdoor traders will need to make a judgement on the morning of the event.
We are not expecting any road closures around the site on this day, but please do check ahead in case your are driving into Bude. There can be congestion on Stratton Road and Bencoolen Roundabout heading into town, so expect short delays for your journey. You can check ahead here.
The address for SAT Navs is Ergue-Gaberic Way, Bude, EX23 8LD and what3words location for the event is: lorry.informs.dolls.
Your nearest parking will be as follows:
1. Bude-Stratton Town Council car park at The Parkhouse Centre (around the back),
2. The Wharf.
3. The Crescent.
4. Summerleaze car park, but expect a short 5 minute walk across Nanny Moore’s bridge to get to us.
5. Crooklets Beach car park is a ten minute walk from us with a short cut across Nanny Moore’s bridge.
The nearest toilets are at The Castle, The Parkhouse Centre, The Tourist Information Centre at The Crescent and Summerleaze car park.
For all other enquiries, please email: thecastle@bude-stratton.gov.uk or call 01288 357302