Holiday Season Experiences at Firstsite

From hands-on workshops to seasonal cinema screenings and special holiday activities, our festive events offer experiences for all ages.

Join us to experience creativity, imagination, and togetherness during this joyful time of year.

Festive Workshops
Our Festive Workshops offer hands-on seasonal making sessions for adults and Handmade Holidays for families.

Festive Origami will have you in a serene mood with workshops run by Lu Yu on folding a variety of stunning stars for your home display.

Kids can get creative with Lizzie Croucher’s Air Dry Clay Decorations for the tree (Sat 6 Dec) or bring your own gingerbread nutcracker to life with Millicent Glasgow’s decorating workshop (Sun 14 Dec), there is also an opportunity to see a screening of the Royal Ballet’s Christmas favourite Nutcracker following this workshop.

And in a special edition of the popular Mini-Movers sessions with Lisa Eureka (Thu 4 Dec) there will be a seasonal story, music and playful games followed up by toddler-friendly wreath-making.

For the adults Mariah Carey is back with a sing-a-long in your favourite festive tipple with Boozy Brushes – Mariah Carey (Fri 12 Dec) where you’ll be able to drink and paint the “Queen of Christmas” – whilst entertained by established Artist and Drag Performer Sirena Hart.


Festive Films
The silver screen is the place to be with a selection of theatrical experiences. Festive Films will take you on a journey through your most beloved Christmas stories on the big screen.

Two offerings from the Royal Ballet will be shown, first with Cinderella on Sun 30 Nov with choreography from founder Frederick Ashton (1904-1988), followed by everyone’s Christmas favourite The Nutcracker (Sun 14 Dec – Sat 27 Dec).

For one weekend only (Sat 6 Dec – Sun 7 Dec) there will also be the opportunity to see André Rieu’s 2025 Christmas Concert as the violin maestro makes his way through joyful carols, beautiful waltzes and plenty of surprises.

And especially for the kids will be the loud and colourful CBeebies Panto 2025: Cinderella (Sun 21 Dec and Wed 24 Dec)!

The latest hit releases will also be showing – another trip to Oz with Wicked: For Good, more murder mystery mazes with Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc in Wake Up Dead Man, a second case to crack for Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde in Zootopia 2, and a new film from Nicholas Hytner and Alan Bennett starring Ralph Fiennes as a Yorkshire singer in The Choral.

Festive Events
There’s also a final chance to find unique Christmas gifts at the Folk & Bespoke Artisan Craft Market on Sat 6 Dec, and the Colchester Record Fair continues to come to Firstsite on both Sat 29 Nov & Sat 20 Dec offering a perfect present for that music-loving family member.

Food and Shop
Our Berryfield Café’s brand-new menu will be offering rich flavours inspired by local cultural communities and signature dishes as well as seasonal specials and tempting treats, with all meals under £6 and kids meals just £2!

Don’t forget to also discover festive gifts, advent calendars and cards, and decorations inspired by art, design, and local heritage at the Firstsite Shop.


Firstsite always has something on and will be open throughout the season except 25 Dec, 26 Dec, 1 Jan and 2 Jan. Normal opening hours will resume on Sat 3 Jan.