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Join us for Christmas at the Town Hall 2025
We’re excited to announce that we’re bringing Christmas back to the town hall once again this year for our annual Christmas at the Town Hall festive family event. This year’s free event will take place on Saturday 6 December, from 11am to 3pm, where Father Christmas and his little helpers will be waiting to welcome you to Barnsley's magical town hall.
Christmas at the Town Hall has become a regular in our events calendar, with last year’s event attracting over 2,000 visitors. This year’s event promises not to disappoint with popular festive activities, entertainment, crafts and treats for all the family.
One of the hugely anticipated attractions will be Father Christmas, who will be arriving at the town hall in his sleigh at 10.55am, ready to officially open the event. He will then head straight to his grotto to meet the children of Barnsley and hand out gifts to all those on his good list. To make sure he brings enough presents, tickets must be prebooked to meet Father Christmas. Don’t forget to include your child’s age to make sure they receive an age-appropriate gift.
The grotto is just one of many attractions throughout the day - here’s a festive flavour of the fun and treats in store:
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Get creative and have fun with a range of Christmas crafts and activities.
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Try your luck on our legendary festive tombola - with all money raised going to the Mayor’s Charities.
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Meet some mischievous guests from our local pantomime, then browse our craft, book and gift stalls.
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Enjoy some refreshments whilst enjoying festive music from the Barnsley Singers performing at 11am and 1pm on the town hall staircase.
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Meet the Mayor of Barnsley, Cllr David Leech, who will be offering children (and adults) the opportunity to dress up as him in the traditional mayoral robe.
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Meet our local councillors and take a seat in the Council Chambers where important decisions are made.
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Find out about our services and how we can help and support you and your family, with a number of our services showcased.
Speaking on behalf of the Organising Working Group, Cllr Sharon Howard, said: “We’re delighted to bring Christmas back to the town hall again this year, it really has become a firm family favourite and Christmas tradition for many families to return year on year.
“I’m so pleased that we're able to host an event that is free for families, giving everyone the opportunity to be a part of Christmas at Barnsley Town Hall and enjoy everything it has to offer without worrying about cost. It’s also a great way for us to showcase the wonderful services we provide for families and to share information that could go along way in supporting a family that did not know the support was available or how to access it.
“A lot of time and dedication go into the preparation of this event and I’d like to thank everyone for their time, donations and commitment to make it happen. I can’t wait to see the town hall full of families kickstarting their festive celebrations.”
Please remember that Christmas at the Town Hall is a free event, and everyone is welcome to attend at any time between 11am and 3pm. However, due to the popularity of Father Christmas and to avoid long waiting times, if you would like to meet him, booking will be essential. Children visiting Santa must be under 12 years of age.
Christmas at the Town Hall is just one highlight of festivities in the town centre, with the welcome return of Barnsley Bright Nights, Friday 21 November and Saturday 22 and Barnsley Christmas Market from 29 November to 21 December.
