Christmas Entertainment

In the 12th year of A Victorian Festival of Christmas this magical event gave to me… 

Glorious Festive Food
Join Susie Carter, Hampshire Life recipe columnist and 2008 winner of ITV’s Britain’s Best Dish, at our cookery demonstration theatre as she prepares traditional Victorian Christmas recipes featuring locally grown ingredients. Susie will be joined by some fantastic local chefs over the course of the Festival so you can get inspiration for your own Christmas lunch and pick up tips from the experts on everything from trussing festive poultry and delighting vegetarian guests, to picking the perfect seasonal tipple and creating desserts with wow factor.

There will be plenty of opportunity to stock up on tasty treats and gourmet gifts for your festive season and we are pleased to welcome the return of a Hampshire Fare market this year alongside HMS Victory, where you can sample the glorious delights of jams and chutneys, honey, biltong, fudge and freshly baked bread, cakes and pastries.

A unique Christmas Shopping experience
Browse a glorious bazaar of arts, crafts, food and drink at the largest Christmas market on the south coast! Discover unique and unusual gifts for your loved ones at over 140 gift stalls, Hampshire Fare market, the Historic Dockyard retailers and this year we also welcome a Boutique market.

An enchanting encounter with Father Christmas and his lovable baby Reindeer!
Meet Mother Christmas and help her to look after her four-legged helpers, Bubble and Squeak as they prepare for their busiest night of the year, Christmas Eve. Our Victorian Father Christmas, dressed in green, will be giving gifts to all good children from within his grotto and you may even have your picture taken aboard his sleigh!

A taste of days gone by…
There will be snow in the air and underfoot as you take a stroll along our Dickensian-style street amongst chimney sweeps, wenches, gentry and "Victorian Strollers" and keep your eyes peeled for Fagin and his gang of pickpockets and Penny Farthings whizzing by!

Join us in a spot of Victorian dancing, make a Victorian Christmas puppet or decoration and join Professor Mervyn Heard from the century before cinema for a genuine Dickensian Christmas picture show featuring vintage mechanical moving slides.

A huge variety of colourful characters and entertainment
From the moment you arrive you will be greeted by the music of Jazz Magic, Festival Brass and Rose & Thistle Pipe Band, the firing and drumming of the Fort Cumberland Guard, sketches by the Wavy Navy group and marching and military displays by The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment Re-enactment Society.

You will find deliciously extraordinary fun including Jeff and Wayne - illuminated angels with neon halos and silly trumpets, Scrooge and Mr Cratchit in their musical carriage wishing you a bah humbug Christmas and giant walking candy canes!

Pull up a chair in the beautifully ornate Fagin's Tavern and join in our programme of toe-tapping entertainment including the Eidelweiss Bavarian Showband and comedy sketches by Festival Players and end what will be a fantastic, memorable day with a traditional carol concert in support of The Rowans Hospice led by the Royal British Legion Victory Brass Band and A Choired Taste (Fri & Sun) and Kings Court School choir (Saturday).

Amazing World-Class Attractions
Your ticket includes entry to the attractions of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. See National Museum of the Royal Navy in its Centenary year, HMS Warrior 1860 celebrating the 150th anniversary of her launch plus HMS Victory, Mary Rose Museum, Action Stations and boat trips of Portsmouth Harbour (weather permitting).


This year we are proud to be supporting The Rowans Hospice, a local charity which aims to achieve optimal quality of life for patients and families affected by cancer and other life limiting illnesses. Each year they need to raise over £4 million to provide all their services, which are delivered free of charge. This is done largely through voluntary donations and gift in wills. Thank you for supporting The Rowans Hospice at A Victorian Festival of Christmas. 

 
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