Warwickshire &amp; West Midlands

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-theatre">THEATRE</h2>



The theatre is in full Christmas swing! Starting with Birmingham Royal Ballet’s classic&nbsp;<a href="https://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/brb-nutcracker-24/">The Nutcracker</a>, and if it’s not part of your family tradition yet, it should be! Catch it from&nbsp;22 Nov – 14 Dec. Not going to lie, me and my mum go every year and make a night of it with dinner beforehand –&nbsp;<a href="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/arts-culture-things-to-do/review-the-nutcracker-birmingham-royal-ballet/">here’s my review</a>. Over at The Belgrade they’re in full festive mode too with annual panto&nbsp;<a href="https://www.belgrade.co.uk/events/dick-whittington/">Dick Whittington</a>&nbsp;running until 6 Jan. There&#8217;s a stage adaptation of <a href="https://www.belgrade.co.uk/events/father-christmas/">Father Christmas</a> from 5-29 Dec. If one Dick (Whittington &#8211; what did you think I meant?) wasn&#8217;t enough then head to the <a href="https://www.artrixbromsgrove.co.uk/whats-on/all-shows/dick-whittington">Artrix</a> in Bromsgrove for their annual panto from 6-29 Dec. 



Over at the RSC playwright Nancy Harris brings Hans Christian Andersen’s dark fairy tale&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rsc.org.uk/the-red-shoes/">The Red Shoes</a>&nbsp;to the Swan Theatre stage until 19 Jan. It’s about a young woman whose red shoes take her to places she doesn’t want to go, and is the perfect dose of early Christmas magic.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-23-1000x667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-58592" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-23-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-23-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-23-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-23.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<a href="https://www.warwickartscentre.co.uk/whats-on/rfj-the-smeds-and-the-smoos-christmas-2024/">The Smeds and the Smoos</a>&nbsp;is on at Warwick Arts Centre until 29 Dec. It&#8217;s for children aged three and upwards, so you can take everyone from the littlest member of the family to the eldest – that’s the family festive day out box well and truly ticked. It’s filled with loveable characters, fun songs and laughs and is an adaptation by award-winning Tall Stories theatre company, who’s version of The Gruffalo last year was an absolute hit and got two thumbs up from Muddy!



All the stars are heading to Brum Hippodrome for Christmas. Alison Hammond heads up the cast of <a href="https://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/peter-pan-two/">Peter Pan</a> along with panto favourite Matt Slack and&nbsp;Strictlys’&nbsp;Danny Mac. My advice? Make a night of it and head to nearby French restaurant&nbsp;<a href="https://orelle.co.uk/">Orelle</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mowglistreetfood.com/restaurants/birmingham/">Mowgli&nbsp;</a>serving up Indian street food (including a festive feasting menu), Japanese joint&nbsp;<a href="https://www.takumi.uk/">Takumi</a>&nbsp;or vegan-friendly Chinese restaurant&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cafesoya.co.uk/">Cafe Soya</a>&nbsp;beforehand. 



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-67-1000x667.jpg" alt="Birmingham Hippodrome panto" class="wp-image-58670" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-67-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-67-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-67-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-67.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Elsewhere in Brum you can bag your tickets to <a href="https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-book-of-mormon/the-alexandra-theatre-birmingham/">Book of Mormon</a> from 3-28 Dec. It&#8217;s on at the Alexandra Theatre in Brum. It&#8217;s a hilarious West End musical from the brains behind South Park. If you&#8217;re easily offended maybe give it a swerve &#8211; but if not, expect plenty of belly laughs. There&#8217;s also <a href="https://www.bppulselive.co.uk/whats-on/elf-the-musical">Elf the Musical</a> at the BP Pulse Arena from 20 &#8211; 22 Dec.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shopping">SHOPPING</h2>



I&#8217;m going to take a punt and guess you probably have some shopping still to do, surely it&#8217;s not just me? Get ahead of the game by heading to one of the many markets on our patch, just brimming with beautiful goodies from local independents. <a href="https://www.warwickartscentre.co.uk/whats-on/riV-seasonal-makers-market/">Warwick Arts Centre</a> is holding its first shopping event in its foyer on 5 Dec, and there will be live music playing too. Elsewhere in Cov there&#8217;s FarGo Village&#8217;s <a href="https://www.fargovillage.co.uk/events/christmas-makers-market-volume-1-copy">Makers Market</a> on 7 &amp; 8 Dec, and 14 &amp; 15 Dec and if you take the kids and go on the Sundays there&#8217;s <a href="https://www.fargovillage.co.uk/events/story-time-with-santa">Storytime with Santa</a> too. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-109-1000x667.jpg" alt="Fargo village" class="wp-image-58760" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-109-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-109-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-109-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-109.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Over in Kenilworth at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EastChaseDistillers">East Chase Farm</a> there&#8217;s markets on 7 &amp; 8 Dec and 14 &amp; 15 Dec, even better you can grab some drinks from the distillery bar, and they&#8217;re selling British Christmas trees too. At <a href="https://www.theboat-catherinedebarnes.co.uk/events">The Boat</a> in Catherine-de-Barnes there&#8217;s a market on 14 Dec, make sure you leave time to grab some lunch afterwards &#8211; and you can take the pooch too. 



What&#8217;s better than Christmas shopping? Christmas shopping and DOGS! Dogs Trust Kenilworth is holding its <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DCO9BQ3Jiq3/?hl=en-gb">Christmas Fair</a> on 7 &amp; 8 Dec so you can take part in the tombola, raffles and meet the big man himself&#8230;. Santa Paws, who else!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-foodies">FOODIES</h2>



At stunning <a href="https://www.hagleyhall.com/events/cinder-killer-murder-mystery/">Hagley Hall</a> there&#8217;s a festive-themed murder mystery on 13 Dec. It&#8217;s ran by an acting company and you can enjoy a three-course meal while trying to guess whodunnit. 



Head to Muddy Award-winning <a href="https://www.sangiovanni.co.uk/comingsoon">San Giovanni</a> in North Warks for an afternoon of shopping, champagne, and treats on 8 Dec. Fancy making a night of it? Book in for dinner afterwards &#8211; you&#8217;re in good hands, Muddy readers voted it the best restaurant in Warks &amp; the West Mids.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-110-1000x667.jpg" alt="San Giovanni" class="wp-image-58763" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-110-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-110-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-110-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-110.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Be the hostess with the most-est by heading to the <a href="https://www.beckettsfarm.co.uk/christmas/christmas-tasting-event/">Christmas Tasting Event</a> at Becketts Farm on 5 Dec to sample heaps of lovely local fare to fill your table with.



Eight courses at a fancy Stratford restaurant sound like the perfect way to celebrate Christmas? Er, yes! 2 AA rosette <a href="https://thewoodsmanrestaurant.co.uk/">The Woodsman</a> is serving up eight courses cooked by eight different chefs with paired drinks. Chin chin!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-music">MUSIC</h2>



What&#8217;s more Christmassy than listening to carols by twinkling candlelight? I&#8217;ll tell ya &#8211; nada! <a href="https://www.belgrade.co.uk/events/christmas-music-by-candlelight-2/">Ex-Cathedra</a> are playing at Coventry Cathedral on 17 Dec. Sound a bit too relaxing to you? Then glow sticks at the ready and check out the <a href="https://www.fargovillage.co.uk/events/drft-rave">rave</a> at FarGo Village on 6 Dec, or the slightly more low-key <a href="https://www.hmvempire.com/raver-tots">Family Rave</a> at HMV Empire on 1 Dec. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-107-1000x667.jpg" alt="Ex Cathedra" class="wp-image-58749" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-107-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-107-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-107-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-107.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



In Brum at Utilita Arena there&#8217;s <a href="https://www.utilitaarenabham.co.uk/whats-on/sam-fender">Sam Fender</a> on 13 Dec and at BP Pulse Arena (formerly Resorts World Arena) there&#8217;s <a href="https://www.bppulselive.co.uk/whats-on/culture-club">Culture Club</a> on 14 Dec. Over at the Symphony Hall there&#8217;s <a href="https://bmusic.co.uk/events/home-alone-in-concert-2">Home Alone in Concert</a> on 9 Dec and <a href="https://bmusic.co.uk/events/disneys-the-muppet-christmas-carol-in-concert-live-to-film">The Muppets Christmas Carol</a> live in Concert to Film on 13 Dec. At the Town Hall you can check out the <a href="https://bmusic.co.uk/events/the-brand-new-heavies-brother-sister-30-tour">Brand New Heavies</a> on 20 Dec. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-exhibitions">EXHIBITIONS</h2>



There&#8217;s the ever-impressive <a href="https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/exhibitions/wildlife-photographer-of-the-year">Wildlife Photographer of the Year</a> exhibition at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery on throughout December. There&#8217;s some stunning entries from a whopping 117 countries, with all items on loan from the Natural History Museum. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-112-1000x667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-58767" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-112-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-112-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-112-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-112.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Looking for a way to keep the kids busy? Then check out <a href="https://www.theherbert.org/whats-on/1822/microworld-coventry">Microworld Coventry</a>, an interactive space filled with digital creatures which communicate with the audience. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-108-1000x667.jpg" alt="microworld coventry" class="wp-image-58754" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-108-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-108-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-108-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/11/Untitled-design-108.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-want-some-more-ideas-of-what-to-do-this-christmas-here-ya-go">Want some more ideas of what to do this Christmas? Here ya go!:</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/panto-christmas-show-warwickshire-west-midlands/">Your A-Z panto guide</a></li>



<li><a href="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/wreath-making-warwickshire-west-midlands/">Wreath making workshops</a></li>



<li><a href="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/home/local-christmas-trees-warwickshire-west-midlands/">Where to buy your Christmas tree locally</a></li>



<li><a href="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/christmas-winter-stratford-rsc/">What not to miss this winter in Stratford</a></li>



<li><a href="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/christmas-light-trails-warwickshire-west-midlands/">Lovely light trails</a></li>



<li><a href="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/panto-christmas-show-warwickshire-west-midlands/">Christmas shows and pantos to book now</a></li>
</ul>

Dazzling December! Everything you need to make this month magical

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