Rye Christmas Festival

What makes you feel Christmassy? 

For us – Christmas shopping should be delightful and jolly, everything you imagine it should be – preferably a really cold day, maybe snow, a perfectly gorgeous old fashioned high street with twinkling lights and enticing shop windows. Independent shops offering unusual gift ideas, maybe some Christmas music to add to the atmosphere and definitely the opportunity to eat some mince pies / gingerbread / Christmas cookies (delete as applicable) and drink some mulled wine. Well guess what? We can offer you all of that right here in Rye! Ok – maybe we can’t guarantee snow, but everything else is on the cards for the weekend of the 2nd and 3rd December.

Christmas in Rye is our spirited festive weekend which we locals champion but we also love to share with visitors who can’t resist a bit of olde worlde charm combined with gorgeous shops and an artistic vibe.

While shopping online might be convenient on many levels, it doesn’t support the many small and wonderful businesses we have here in the UK. We’re very lucky to still have a thriving high street here in Rye and want to show our love for it whenever we can! 

So if you’re planning to stay with us on that weekend here’s what you can expect.  Friday 2nd December will be late night shopping, with free parking in the town and live music at The Buttermarket until 8pm.   On Saturday 3rd December a full day of festivities for all the family are planned – again with free parking.  Santa will be in residence in his grotto on Strand Quay for all visiting children, there will be four stages around the town featuring a programme of music and entertainment throughout the day, and Rye’s traditional Christmas Pudding Race will take place during the afternoon on the high street. Many of the cafes. restaurants and bars will have stalls out front selling Christmas treats too. 

Sure, many big towns around the country have visiting Christmas Markets – but how about you experience something small and unique. That’s us in Rye and we’re proud of it!  Come and join us for what promises to be a really fun and festive weekend.  You can learn more and book your grotto visit here.