winter bite.Santa At Almond ValleyDecember 3–24Look out for the rotund fellow in red nestled away in the woods at Almond Valley Heritage Centre who will be dishing out Christmas presents to children both naughty and nice. Families can also enjoy Christmas

competition to see The Gruffalo Live on tour.12 Days Of ChristmasDecember 3-4, 10-11, 17-24For a very merry festive day out this Christmas, Nickelodeon Land in Blackpool is a veritable feast of seasonal activity. Children receive a special gift from Father

The Festive Gift FairNovember 17–20De-stress your Christmas shopping expedition this year and turn it into a fun, family day out at the NEC Birmingham. The hundreds of sellers in attendance at this four day shopping spectacular will be offering

there will be lantern parades, festive choirs, brass bands and the grand opening of Oxford Christmas Market.Festive Family Race DaysDecember 2, 3Families who fancy a flutter should trot down to Sandown Park racecourse inEsher for the Tingle Creek Festival. Dress up

to Christmas is being played out on a colossal scale at Tower Bridge this year with a giant Victorian advent calendar. On arrival children will be asked to select a candy cane from a giant Christmas tree, one of which on each day will allow the lucky recipient

Pig-ScotJune 23Children and adults alike should dig out their race day finery and head along to Cantref Aventure Farm for Wales’ premier porcine racing event! Cheer on the farm’s resident pigs as they trot around a specially built racing track

on astounding feats of human agility and endurance. Mini OlympicsJuly 5On your marks, get set and go to Brintons Park in Kidderminster for this exciting day out. Children under five and their families can take part in art and craft activities, face painting

salty seafaring activities abound including cannon firing sessions, storytelling on board HMS Gannet and puppetry with Pirate Pam.Day Out With ThomasJuly 21–24Children will have the chance to meet cheeky blue engine Thomas and his portly superior, Sir

, discover regal etiquette and take their place on a grand throne. Georgian OlympicsSundays from July 22–2If you thought life was tough for athletes in the present day Olympic games, wait until you discover the ways the Georgian classes amused themselves

and folk dance performances. Every Bear That Ever There WasJune 30Children should bring their bravest teddy along to this hair-raising bear themed event at Blantyre’s David Livingstone Centre. Once each furry friend has been kitted out with their own name