Christmas extravaganza to take place at STEAM this December
Festive magic will be returning to STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway following last year's sell-out Christmas at STEAM event.
Published: Friday, 10th November 2023
The Christmas extravaganza will be held this year on Saturday, 2 and Sunday, 3 December at the popular Swindon Borough Council-owned museum and promises to bring the sights and sounds of Christmas.
Visitors will have the chance to buy festive treats and discover unique gift ideas as they step into a wonderland of over 55 artisan market stalls set amidst STEAM’s fabulous story-telling displays and famous GWR locomotives.
This year, STEAM will also welcome many new traders, as well as those who are firm favourites with regular visitors. Hand-crafted items on offer range from textile gifts, greeting cards, jewellery, and cosmetics, to home furnishings, artworks, Christmas confectionery and decorations.
Festive admission prices for Christmas at STEAM are priced at £3.50 for adults and £1 for children (3-15 years). Under threes go free. Tickets include both entry to the event and the museum.
Santa will be making an appearance over the weekend with the return of his popular story-time sessions. Children can enjoy a Christmas story and wrapped gift in an atmospheric fire-place setting. Sessions cost £9 per child in addition to event admission. Up to two accompanying adults will be admitted free of charge, and do not need to purchase a Story Time ticket. Each session lasts approximately 20 minutes.
Councillor Marina Strinkovsky, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Heritage, Art and Culture, said: “Christmas at STEAM is a truly magical experience when you can imagine chasing Santa’s sleigh in one of our engines, Polar Express-style. No wonder it’s always so popular!
"The fabulous festive atmosphere created on this special weekend makes for the perfect background to a bit of gift shopping from the many artisan stalls on offer.
“Santa himself will be popping in to the museum to share his story-time sessions with the children, so there will be something for the whole family to enjoy.”
Seasonal atmospherics include special lighting, live music and performances on stage. Inside the spacious Great Western Hall there will be plenty of seating available and a Christmas Café to enable people to take a break to enjoy the live musical performances and get in the Christmas spirit!
The STEAM shop also has a great range of gifts for anyone looking for any Christmas presents, from GWR socks, books, stocking fillers and railway-themed souvenirs.
Visitors are encouraged to book tickets in advance online at: www.steam-museum.org.uk
Where possible, visitors are encouraged to use alternative methods of transport to get to STEAM. Further details about sustainable transport options are available on the Swindon Travel Choices website: www.swindontravelchoices.co.uk
For updates on the programme, people can follow STEAM on Facebook and Instagram (@SteamMuseum), or X (@Steam_Museum).