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With Christmas getting closer every day, there’s an unbelievable number of options for festive fun. But there’s no need to be overwhelmed by choice, as SALT has picked out the best offerings this December
Sleigh Day Fever
Sat 6 Dec
HERE at Outernet, Charing Cross Rd, London WC2H 8LH
Forget thinking your Christmas clubbing days are behind you Sleigh Day Fever is bringing the festive magic back to the dancefloor, in central London’s brand new live events space.
Launched in 2024 by Vicky McClure and friends, Day Fever has become the UK’s biggest daytime clubbing experience. This December, they’re going full Christmas with parties across the country (all running 3–8pm), where you can dance, laugh, and sing along to festive classics without the late-night hangover.
Expect tinsel, Santa hats, disco, indie, and Christmas bangers, plus that house-party feel that’s made Day Fever a sensation. This festive season, the party’s just getting started.
Komedia Christmas Party at Komedia
Thu 4 – Sat 20 Dec
Komedia, Gardner St, Brighton BN1 1UN
www.komedia.co.uk/shows/komedia-christmas-party
Join in the festive fun with a month-long run of Christmas parties at much-loved, independent venue, Komedia, in the heart of Brighton’s North Laine, winner of a record-breaking 18 Chortle awards for Best Comedy Venue in the South.
“We were looking for something different for a Xmas meal out and had a superb night at the Komedia Christmas Party. The staff were very welcoming and explained the agenda for the evening. The compere was proper funny! Finished the night off with some dancing. Great night all round.” – Customer, David F.
Whether you’re with a large or small group of friends, colleagues or family, Komedia Christmas Party is the funniest festive event hosted at the Best Comedy Venue in the South & East (Chortle Awards 2025).
Tickets include a freshly-prepared, seasonal three-course meal, a festive edition of the weekly, multi-award-winning Komedia Comedy Club with two top stand-up comedians and an MC, and an after-party where you can boogie the night away to the biggest party anthems until late!
Already booked a Christmas dinner? Show Only tickets are also available, which include the comedy show and after-party and start from just £20pp.
Book your tickets now for the ultimate Brighton Christmas Party and tick ‘Christmas party planning’ off your to-do list!
“We all had a really great night. Good value for money and convenient not to have to move locations. Misti was our waitress for the night and did a fantastic job looking after us.” – Customer, Zoe G.
Christmas Carol Sing-A -Long
Sat 20 Dec
The Barbican Hall, Silk Street, London EC2
Christmas Eve wouldn’t be the same without a rousing sing-along. Join the much-loved Jonathan Cohen, West End star Louise Dearman, and the glorious voices of the London Concert Choir and the London Concert Orchestra for a magical afternoon brimming with festive favourites.
The Treason Show - That Was The Year That Was '25
Mon 29 - Tue 30 Dec
Ironworks Studios, 30 Cheapside, Brighton BN1 4GD
It’s been a big year for The Treason Show. Not only are they celebrating their 25th anniversary, but 2025 has offered up a bumper barrage of ludicrous celebrity stories, internet fails, and political misadventures to mercilessly mock. It’s like Spitting Image met Morecambe & Wise and The Fast Show in front of a live theatre audience.
The Christmas Special edition of this award-winning and long-running Brighton institution never fails to deliver. A much-loved fixture on the festive calendar, it features lavish helpings of their trademark slick and invariably irreverent satirical comedy sketches, songs, and hilarious parodies. Rounding off the year with a bang, TWTYTW25 gathers the very best from an entire year of Treason Show editions. These are all written by a crack team of over 30 writers, staged by a savagely funny collection of performers and held together by the show's founder, and Fringe Award winner, Mark Brailsford.
Christmas at Kew
Fri 14 Nov – Sun 4 Jan
Richmond, London
One of the capital’s signature festive spectacles sees the world-famous Kew Gardens transformed into a glowing wonderland, with large-scale light installations (some commissioned especially), a winding trail through illuminated trees, artistic displays, atmospheric soundscapes, themed garden zones, and street food to keep you warm. Visitors may also glimpse Father Christmas along the way.
A combination of nature, art, light and winter magic in a way that few events do. It’s less about gaudy excess and more about atmosphere. The scale is generous, with long trails, expansive gardens, but there’s still plenty of opportunity to pause, reflect, and enjoy rather than rush through.
Jack and the Beanstalk
Tue 23 – 30 Dec
Hilton Brighton Metropole, Kings Rd, Brighton BN1 2FU
Brighton Family Panto returns with a new production, promising to be bigger, brighter, and more magical than ever before! Transforming the stage at the Hilton’s DoubleTree, this festive adventure will be a treat for all the family. This spectacular is packed with everything you’d expect from a traditional panto. There are laugh-out-loud comedy routines, fabulous music, stunning costumes, and plenty of sparkle.
Join brave young Jack as he sets out on his thrilling adventure. Armed with his magic beans and plenty of courage, he must climb the towering beanstalk, face the evil Giant, and try to win the heart of the princess, all with a little help from some larger-than-life characters along the way.
The legendary David Hill returns as the ever-glamorous Dame Camilla Trott, while Co-Producer Sharon Starr reprises her enchanting role as Mother Nature. Expect outrageous costumes, witty one-liners, and all the classic “Oh no you’re not!” and “He’s behind you!” moments that make panto such a timeless tradition.
Dick Whittington & His Cat
Sat 29 Nov – Sun 31 Dec
Hazlitt Theatre, Maidstone
www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/hazlitt-theatre
It’s not a proper Christmas without a proper panto, so get ready for a fabulously fun-filled adventure wirth Dick Whittington and his feline friend! Our plucky hero, Dick, as journeying to London in search of fame and fortune. It’s a strange and slightly scary place, but luckily, he’s getting some help from both his furry pal and a magical fairy.
This is a production packed with hilarious mischief and family fun, alongside catchy songs and plenty of slapstick comedy. Will Dick find his fortune? Will the dastardly villain be thwarted? And can our hero really talk to his cat? There’s only one way to find out!
A Fairytale Christmas
Sun 7 Dec
Brighton Dome Concert Hall
Spanning the Kingdom of Sweets and the Sugar Plum Fairy, fairy tales and Christmas carols from Ukraine, Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra presents a mouthwatering confection of fairytales and magic, carols and Christmas treats.
It opens with Delius’ rarely performed tone poem Eventyr (Once Upon a Time), an irresistibly atmospheric evocation of Norway’s giants and hobgoblins, caves and dark forests. Folklore continues in Václav Trojan’s charming Fairy Tales concerto, performed by the prizewinning Latvian accordionist Alise Siliņa. Each movement narrates a Czech fairytale character, including The Bleary-Eyed Princess, The Tale of the Acrobat and The Naughty Roundabout. Colourful, sharply exuberant music designed for children of all ages…
The Ukrainian composer Thomas de Hartmann, who fled from the Nazis but found himself writing under occupation in Paris, is undergoing a serious revival. This afternoon presents the beautifully orchestrated Ukrainian Christmas Carols (1940), which exemplify his shimmering, effervescent voice. It provides the perfect arc to Tchaikovsky’s timeless Nutcracker Suite – the story of Clara, the Nutcracker Prince and their journey to The Kingdom of Sweets. Who could resist the Sugar Plum Fairy, dances from Russia, China, and Arabia, and the Waltz of the Flowers?
The Nutcracker
Sat 13 Dec – Sat 3 Jan
London Coliseum
The English National Ballet presents a perennial Christmas classic. With its rich ballet tradition and visually stunning set designs, this breathtaking production, backed by Tchaikovsky’s magical score, is a must-see for anyone looking for a touch of splendour during the holiday season.
This timeless story of Clara and her magical journey with a prince is set against a backdrop of twinkling snowflakes. It offers the epitome of festive theatre, with a combination of spectacular dance and holiday enchantment. It also serves as a gentle introduction for children to the beautiful world of ballet.
A Christmas Carol
Fri 21 Nov – Sat 17 Jan
The Old Vic, London
Adapted by Jack Thorne, The Old Vic’s production of the bona fide classic is one of the most highly anticipated shows of the festive season. A darkly atmospheric version of Dickens’ iconic tale, it follows the misguided Ebenezer Scrooge on his journey of redemption.
Innovative set design brings Victorian London to life, while a stellar cast and live music elevate this adaptation to new heights. Offering a fresh, modern twist on a much-loved story, this production doesn’t shed any of its emotional resonance, all presented in one of the capital’s finest venues.
Glow Wild
Thu 27 Nov - Sat 3 Jan
Wakehurst, Sussex
Transforming wild botanic landscape into a dazzling winter wonderland, The Wakehurst Christmas lights return for 2025 to showcase stunning, never-before-seen artwork and installations on an all-new magical light trail. Where seeds spark stories and the wild glows after dark, it invites you to walk on the wild side.
Visitors will encounter fantastical animals, walk among giants, and uncover the hidden secrets of our natural world. Be wowed by the giant mythical sea creature, join reimagined woodland wildlife on the banks of our biggest-ever installation, and enjoy a festive feast inside a classically dressed Christmas mansion. There’ll be bespoke installations by international artists, a revamped festive street food experience beneath the iconic Christmas tree, and a mesmerising soundscape journey through the grounds, all making Glow Wild Sussex's most unique and unmissable Christmas light trail.
Christmas Concerts
Tue 2 – Sat 6 Dec
Chichester Festival Theatre
The Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines Portsmouth and the uplifting voices of the Chichester Cathedral Choir return for the Festival Theatre’s traditional, much-loved Christmas Concerts.
These evenings are guaranteed to leave audiences feeling merry and bright. Brimming with yuletide cheer, the concerts offer a specially curated selection of cherished carols and classic Christmas melodies, alongside some enchanting new arrangements.
The Big Christmas Assembly Live
Fri 5 Dec
White Rock Theatre, Hastings
The nation’s favourite primary school teacher-turned-Glastonbury-sensation, James B Partridge, is planning a holiday season spectacular. From Jingle Bells to This Little Light of Mine; this is a perfect blend of holiday cheer, primary school memories, and a great night out with friends and family.
What began as a few playful social media videos of James performing iconic school songs for his students quickly turned into a nationwide sensation. These videos resonated deeply, tapping into nostalgic hearts across the UK and sparking the creation of Primary School Assembly Bangers. Since early 2023, James has brought this live school-assembly experience to stages nationwide and was one of the breakout stars at this year’s Glastonbury Festival, when they had to close the field for his performance.
SALT Staff Writer
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