South Swindon Parish Council is pleased to announce the return of Christmas in the Town Gardens – two completely FREE weekends of festive family fun this December, right in the heart of Swindon’s Old Town – following the success of its inaugural year in 2025!
Free parking (voluntary donations towards The Commonweal School PTA are encouraged, but not required) is available from 11.45am – 4.15pm at The Commonweal School, SN1 4JE. Visitors are reminded not to park in the residential areas around the park and to use this free parking facility or other car parks in the area, such as Bath Road, Prospect Place or Britannia Place.
The Town Gardens will be brought to life with a range of free to access activities,* suitable for all ages, between 12pm and 4pm on 12, 13, 19 and 20 December. Stop by Santa’s Craft Corner near the Town Gardens Cafe where you and your little ones will be guided through exciting festive craft projects perfect for all the family. Discover the magic of the Town Gardens’ trees as you experience a brand-new installation for 2026 – Written in the Trees – a collaboration between local children’s author Kate Claxton, Swindon Culture Collective and Prime Theatre. Experience the diversity of Swindon’s live music offering on the iconic Town Gardens Bandstand, with performances from a range of local organisations from Swindon Hindu Temple and Rhythmix Goa, to Swindon Brass and Wroughton Silver Band (see a full schedule of performances below).
With visits from beloved Christmas characters each day, a selection of local craft market stallholders, as well as a fully-licensed bar, provided by fan-favourites, Fandangos, serving all your festive tipples, and a variety of food stalls to suit all tastes (see below for which traders will be visiting on each day), there is truly something for everyone at the Town Gardens this Christmas.
Want something extra special for the little ones this year? Why not book your free tickets to Mrs Claus’ Checklist! – a 60 minute interactive family production at the iconic Bowl! Performances at 12.30pm and 2.30pm each day. Tickets on sale soon!
Join Mrs Claus, a trusty Nutcracker, and a mischievous elf as they race against the clock to make sure everything is ready for Father Christmas on Christmas Eve. Unfortunately, things aren’t going entirely to plan. Letters haven’t all arrived, the cookies aren’t baked, the reindeer refuse to fly, and even the snow has decided to go on strike! Children become an important part of the story as they help save Christmas through a series of interactive festive activities. Packed with music, laughter, festive fun and plenty of audience participation, Mrs Claus’ Checklist! is sure to be the highlight of your festive season.
We’re pleased to announce that Mobiloo will be bringing a fully accessible mobile toilet unit, complete with a hoist and an adult changing bench, to each event date. For more information visit their website at www.mobiloo.org.uk
So, get your family and friends together and join us to celebrate the festive season at Christmas in the Town Gardens this year.
Saturday 12 December
12.00 – 12.45: Swindon Ukrainian Choir
13.00 – 13.45: Phoebe Maddison
14.00 – 14.45: Apollo Performance Academy
15.00 – 16:00: Rhythmix Goa
Traders available on 12 December include: Town Gardens Cafe (hot drinks and sandwiches), Fandangos! (bar and soft drinks), Mr Roast Potato, Hungry ‘n’ Thirsty, Zapiekjanki
Sunday 13 December
12.00 – 13:45: Wroughton Silver Band
14:15 – 16:00: Swindon Choral Society
Traders available on 13 December include: Town Gardens Cafe (hot drinks and sandwiches), Fandangos! (bar and soft drinks), Mr Roast Potato, Sour Dough Bro, Zapiekjanki
Saturday 19 December
12.00 – 12.45: Emily’s Dacnce Academy
13.00 – 13.45: Emma Doupe
14.00 – 14.45: Swindon Hindu Temple
15.00 – 16:00: JG Music
Traders available on 19 December include: Town Gardens Cafe (hot drinks and sandwiches), Fandangos! (bar and soft drinks), Mr Roast Potato, Hungry ‘n’ Thirsty
Sunday 20 December
12.00 – 13.45: SALOS
14:15 – 16:00: Swindon Brass
Traders available on 20 December include: Town Gardens Cafe (hot drinks and sandwiches), Fandangos! (bar and soft drinks)
These performances will be supplemented by drop in workshops and roaming performances at various times throughout the day by Stilt Walkers UK, Swindon Circus and Outdoor Arts Project, The Bubble Master and many more!
Keep up to date on our Facebook and Instagram pages, @SouthSwindonParish
*To purchase food and drink or to use the funfair rides on site, there will be an additional charge.