Alvin M. Keeling 
Preparing for Christmas is always a special time for families, and there are a wide variety of activities to keep children entertained in the area this year. Here are 10.
Lighting the Felixstowe Christmas light
Felixstowe Christmas lights in 2020
– Credit: Charlotte Bond
Kicking off the holiday season with a flash, the turning on of Felixstowe’s Christmas light promises to be significant, with the mayor himself pulling the switch on November 27.
Merchants will sell a range of food and gifts, while a stage will be set up for performers, including local performers Kingjay, Felixstowe Harmonies and the Felixstowe Salvation Army Band.
When: Saturday November 27 from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Or: The triangle, 99 Crescent Road, Felixstowe IP11 7AH
Price: To free
Festive Long Melford
Morris Dancers entertain the crowd at a previous Christmas event in the village of Long Melford
– Credit: Archant
Festive Long Melford is back for 2021, offering families the chance to meet reindeer, do Christmas shopping, and enjoy a traditional Punch and Judy show.
The shops and cafes of the village, famous for its antiques, will once again be decorated with giant red door arches, as the event returns for the first time since 2019.
Visitors will be able to watch performances by a silver orchestra and Morris Dancers, then take a peek at some vintage steam engines, as well as get up close and personal with magnificent birds of prey.
When: Saturday November 27 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Or: Long Melford, Co10 9JR, Suffolk
Price: To free
Easton Farm Park Christmas
One of Santa’s elves at Easton Farm Park
– Credit: Eleanor Piggott
This year, Easton Farm Park offers a host of Christmas activities, including crafts on the giant wishing tree, a Mrs. Claus gingerbread decorating workshop, a Victorian carousel and the experience of manufacture of reindeer food.
There will also be plenty of opportunities to meet Santa Claus and choose a gift from the Elven Workshop.
Beware of the Grinch – rumors abound that he is around Easton with the aim of stealing Christmas.
When: December 4-24, 10 am-5pm
Or: Easton Farm Park, Easton, Woodbridge IP13 0EQ
Price: £ 10.95 for an adult or £ 17.95 for a child
Hockwold’s Christmas Fayre
Promising a day of festive fun for the whole family, the Hockwold Christmas Fayre on the Norfolk-Suffolk border will feature over 150 stalls from local businesses, selling everything from food and drink to gifts and crafts .
Visitors will be entertained with live music and woodworking craft demonstrations during the day.
Mulled wine will be offered as well as festive pastries and a free Santa Claus cave.
When: Sunday December 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Or: Hockwold Hall, Station Road, Hockwold and Wilton, Brandon IP26 4HZ
Price: £ 4 for visitors aged ten and over, while those under ten are free
Woodbridge Christmas Regatta
Santa will host the special Christmas regatta event in Woodbridge
– Credit: Richard Booter
Woodbridge is gearing up for a different Christmas event, as the very first Christmas regatta is scheduled.
A festive boat parade, featuring scalloped boats from the Woodbridge Sea Scouts and Sae Wylfing’s replica Sutton Hoo of the Woodbridge Riverside Trust, will depart from the Deben Sailing Club and head to the Whisstocks Shipyard.
There they will meet Santa Claus in his sleigh and musicians organized by the Spirit of Woodbridge.
When: Sunday December 5 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., with the parade of boats from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Or: Whisstocks Place, Tide Mill Way, Woodbridge IP12 1FP
Price: To free
Sudbury Christmas Tree Festival
Sudbury Christmas Tree Festival hosted by the Rotary Club of Sudbury
– Credit: Phil Morley
The Sudbury Christmas Tree Festival is scheduled to return to St Gregory’s Church in December.
Organized by the Rotary Club of Sudbury, the Tree Festival always brings the joy of Christmas to the market town with the power of dozens of wonderfully decorated trees.
Malcolm Offord, Rotary Club of Sudbury, said, “We would like to make this an even more memorable event than usual and look forward to many requests for trees.
You can request to have a tree at the festival by sending an email to ctf@sudburyrotaryclub.com.
When: Between December 7 and 11
Or: Saint-Grégoire Church, Gregory Street, Sudbury CO10 1BA
Price: Going to see the trees is free, but if you want to register a tree for the festival it costs £ 20 for an individual or £ 30
Beach Street Christmas Market
Beach Street, the container-built complex on Felixstowe’s waterfront, will also have a Christmas market this year.
Attended by craft vendors and food vendors, the event, now in its first year, will also have a Santa Claus cave.
When: Saturday December 11 10 am-4pm
Or: Micklegate Road, Felixstowe IP11 2GN
Price: To free
Santa Claus in Christchurch Mansion
Santa Claus will come to Christchurch Mansion in December
– Credit: Sarah Lucy Brown
St Nick will be coming to Christchurch Mansion in preparation for Christmas.
Hold a meeting for children in his cave, families will enjoy a group storytelling session before meeting Santa Claus and receiving a gift.
There will also be festive craft activities and a free Constable Trail.
When: From Saturday 11 December to Sunday 19 December.
Or: Christchurch Mansion, Soane Street, Ipswich IP4 2BE
Price: £ 8 per child, with accompanying adults for £ 1
The Ipswich Angels Trail
The Reverend Rachel Revely, the new priest in charge of St Thomas’ Church in Ipswich, with a mini angel to be featured in the ‘bombing of the angels’ this Christmas
– Credit: Charlotte Bond / Archant
Started by Reverend Rachel Revely, of St Thomas’s Church in Ipswich, the Ipswich Inspiring Angels Project hopes to bring joy to the streets of Ipswich by distributing angels across the city.
It will start with an activity called angel bombing, where starting December 1, you are encouraged to secrete little angels around town.
Then from December 11 to January 6, the ipswich angel trail will operate, with large angel wings mounted on some of the buildings in the town.
Reverend Rachel said: “The hope is that we will flood Ipswich with angels and they will bring the joy of Christmas.”
When: From December 1, the angel bombing will begin, then from December 11, the track will be in place
Or: On the other side of Ipswich the main thing is to find them
Price: To free
The Fab Felixstowe ice rink
Fab Felixstowe Ice Rink will return Fab Felixstowe Ice Rink will return to Great Eastern Square, near the Orwell Hotelbe returning to Great Eastern Square, near the Orwell Hotel
– Credit: Visit Felixstowe
Based in Great Eastern Square, this synthetic ice rink will bring gliding and sliding fun to Felixstowe from December 18-21.
The ice rink is hosted by Felixstowe Business Improvement District (BID) with support from Felixstowe City Council and the East of England Co-op.
Felixstowe BID manager Sheline Gledhill said she hopes locals and visitors alike will come and enjoy this favorite seasonal pastime.
When: From Saturday December 18 to Tuesday December 21 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Or: Great place of the East, Felixstowe, IP11 7DY
Price: Free, including skate rental
