Christmas in Lancaster and Morecambe Bay

The district truly comes alive during the festive season, offering a mix of historic charm and vibrant shopping experiences. Lancaster's Dalton Square transforms into a winter wonderland with Lancaster on Ice, complete with an ice rink, big wheel with views over the city, food stalls and a cosy tipi, creating a magical backdrop for Christmas shopping.

There are markets and fairs throughout the district, offering unique shopping and gifting opportunities, plus events for everyone: music and carols, theatre and pantomime, family fun and children's activities - there's lots to get you in the Christmas mood!

A Fun and Quirky Christmas

There are also plenty of unusual events, activities and gifts to be found...

Gift Experiences

Come along to Craft + Commonfor a relaxing afternoon's sipping, laughing, and creating! Pottery painting at Craft + Common is relaxed, fun, and totally beginner-friendly. So come on in, grab a drink, choose your pottery, and let the creativity flow - no experience needed. You'll come back a couple weeks later to pick up your finished masterpiece after glazing and firing, ready to keep or gift!
Buy a loved one (or yourself!) a gift to remember with Assembly Arts' new programme of classes, courses and workshops. Choose from Painting and Drawing, Glass, Life Drawing, Screen Printing, Ceramics or Photography.
Get to grips with clay at Lancaster Pottery Studio - learn to throw on a wheel or make incredible creations from clay. Find out more here: Classes and Workshops
Try linocutting and printmaking, etching and collagraph techniques with Iain Sloan and colleagues at Iron Press Printmaking studios in The Storey.
Or create a beautiful piece of jewellery with Rachel Hearne - courses range from introductions for beginners to specialist techniques in jewellery-making and gemmology. Contact Rachel for more information.

Festive Events

Don't forget to visit the Judges' Lodgings in Lancaster on 6 December for a very Victorian Christmas!
The Wizard of Oz turns Morecambe Winter Gardens into the Emerald City with their pantomime on the 13, 14, 20, 21 December.
Plus Lancaster Castle will be offering short shows of The Nutcracker for families on 20 and 21 December. Whilst these shows are currently sold out, you can join a waiting list here.
Plus... lots more events below...

Christmas in the City

Why not explore the city centre with Lancaster BID's Gingerbread trail - hunt down 12 beautiful gingerbread men, made by HMP Lancaster Farms and beautifully decorated by children from local primary schools before being hidden in the windows of city centre businesses. Find them all to have a chance to win a £50 voucher to spend in St Nic’s Arcade. Download your Trail Map and Entry Form HERE
Santa will be visiting the area too: make sure you don’t miss the fabulous Stagecoach Santa’s Grotto Bus which will be returning to Market Square next to the City Museum on Sundays 7th and 14th December. You’ll find him in Marketgate Shopping Centre on 6th, 13th and 20th December plus Unique Kidz and Co will bring Santa’s Sensory Grotto to the city centre from 3rd to 9th December – a sensory experience designed especially for children and young adults with disabilities but open to all.

Parking

Beyond the seasonal attractions, many local businesses offer unique gifts—from handmade jewellery and art prints to sustainable fashion and gourmet hampers. With free parking on selected days and a strong emphasis on supporting local traders, Lancaster makes holiday shopping both convenient and enchanting.

Shoppers and visitors to Lancaster and Morecambe can enjoy free parking at selected times, in all of Lancaster City Council’s town centre pay and display car parks, including the St Nicholas Arcades multi-storey, which is now open until 11pm.

· In Lancaster: enjoy free all-day Sunday parking from November 30 to December 21, again valid until 8am the next day.

· In Morecambe, parking will be free all day on Saturday December 20 and Sunday December 21.

· In Lancaster, parking will also be free after 3pm from Monday December 22 to Wednesday December 24, with the offer lasting until 8am the following morning.

Shopping in Lancaster

Assembly Rooms Emporium
The Assembly Rooms Emporium in King Street, Lancaster occupies a lovely 18th century Grade II listed heritage building and is a must for those looking for something a little different.

Countrystyle Meats Farm Shop
Our Butchery counter features a variety of top-quality meats including ready-meals, sausages, burgers, joints, steaks and more. We also make our own sweet & savoury pies, crumbles, quiches and ready meals.

Ethel and Em
Ethel and Em is a warm and friendly independent wool shop that sells a wide selection of yarn, needles, crochet hooks and assorted notions for knitting and crochet. Plus specially curated stationery and office supplies.

Expressions Of Lancaster
Expressions is based in Lancaster and Barrow, and specialises in jewellery, giftware, accessories and piercings.

Lancaster Brewery
Set in over 2 acres, this working brewery offers guided tours, special events in the bar and entertaining area, as well as brewing their delicious beer, lager and cider on site.

Lancaster Charter Market
Lancaster's bustling Charter Market can be found in Lancaster's historic Market Square every Wednesday and Saturday.

Marketgate Shopping Centre
Shopping in Lancaster has never been better with the Marketgate Shopping Centre! It's the perfect place to enjoy shopping and food in the heart of Lancaster.

Penny Street Collectables
A lovely eclectic mix of old and new items for your home. Find something a little bit different in this small independent shop.

Proper Lovely
Proper Lovely is dedicated to showcasing the creative talent thriving in the Lancaster and Morecambe Bay area.

St. Nics Arcades Shopping Centre
St. Nicholas Arcades – or St. Nic's as it’s known – has all you need under one roof including fashion, beauty, gifts, food and drink.

The Little Shop of Handmade Loveliness
Unique & quirky handmade gift shop set in the heart of Lancaster city. Featuring & supporting the work of 26 makers all local to the area.

The Old Sea Dog
Antique & unusual modern furniture, salvage and decorative items - everything you could need to decorate your home in an antique, traditional or quirky style.

Shopping in Morecambe

Bankmoor's Relaxation and Gift
We are a small gift shop that offers a range of gifts at great prices, from candles to magnets, bath bombs to photo frames.

Beach Bird
Beach Bird is a new independent shop offering a growing range of art by local artists, curios, cards, interiors, cards, gifts and eclectic clothing. Plus a secret magic shop!

The Festival Market
With more than 80 stalls selling an enormous selection of products, some that you would expect to find in a market, others unique to us, you are sure to find what you are looking for.

The Old Pier Bookshop
The Old Pier Bookshop is a family-run, independent, disorganised, second-hand bookshop, situated on Morecambe's sea front. Come and browse this Aladdin's cave of literary treats.

Shopping in Carnforth

3R Charity Shop
The 3R Foundation raises funds for local small charities, community groups and clubs in the Morecambe, Lancaster, North Lancashire and South Cumbria area.

Bay View Garden Centre
Bay View is a family run garden centre tucked away on the shores of Morecambe Bay.

Carnforth Book Shop
This bookshop was established in 1977 and is situated across three floors and many rooms, although there was a much earlier bookshop on the site during the Victorian period.

Junction Gallery
All our artists are local to the surrounding area and work includes landscape paintings, photography, ceramics, wood and metal work, animal art, textiles and much more.

Kitty Brown
We are an independent shop offering hand curated collections of clothing, accessories, footwear and lifestyle.

Shop Kitty Brown Autumn 2024 Low Res Web Quality 5

Shopping in Glasson Dock

Port of Lancaster Smokehouse
The Lancaster Smokehouse is a family owned business using traditional methods to smoke foods. It is based on the Lune Estuary in the small village of Glasson Dock, where the canal, river and sea meet.

Istock 1176032603 Letters To Santa Father Christmas

Carols by Candlelight at the Ashton Memorial

The Snow Queen

Snow White – The Fairest Panto in All the Land!

King Street Arts Annual Art Fair

Music & Performing Arts

Cycling

Museums & Heritage Centres

Independent & Niche Retailers

Chinese

Indian

Italian

Thai

Things To Do

Inspiration & Itineraries

Places

What's On

Christmas in Lancaster and Morecambe Bay

A Fun and Quirky Christmas

Gift Experiences

Festive Events

Christmas in the City

Pantomimes and Theatre Shows

Musical Events

Markets and Fairs

More festive events

Parking

Shopping in Lancaster

Shopping in Morecambe

Shopping in Carnforth

Shopping in Glasson Dock

Stay in touch

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Carols by Candlelight at the Ashton Memorial

The Snow Queen

Snow White – The Fairest Panto in All the Land!

King Street Arts Annual Art Fair

Music & Performing Arts

Cycling

Museums & Heritage Centres

Independent & Niche Retailers

Chinese

Indian

Italian

Thai

Things To Do

Inspiration & Itineraries

Places

What's On

Christmas in Lancaster and Morecambe Bay

A Fun and Quirky Christmas

Gift Experiences

Festive Events

Christmas in the City

Pantomimes and Theatre Shows

Musical Events

Markets and Fairs

More festive events

Parking

Shopping in Lancaster

Shopping in Morecambe

Shopping in Carnforth

Shopping in Glasson Dock

Stay in touch