Christmas Celebrations Begin in Hammersmith

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Your guide to all the festive events happening in the weeks ahead

Christmas markets will be held in Lyric Square

Christmas celebrations are officially underway in Hammersmith, with tree lights switched on in Lyric Square and the Lyric’s famous pantomime opening this weekend.

This is the start of a host of fun festive events, including visits from Santa, Christmas markets, celebrity charity shows, circus, classic movies and more.

Here’s what's on offer over the next few weeks.

This year’s pantomime at the Lyric Hammersmith is Jack and the Beanstalk. Jack’s ‘climb of a lifetime’ starts tomorrow, Saturday 19 November with the annual free opening show for local people, and runs until 7 January, 2023.

The Lyric says to expect beanstalk climbing, giant defeating, golden egg laying, extreme skateboarding, milk explosions, singing cows and some absolutely outrageous outfits.

Jack and the Beanstalk is this year's panto at the Lyric

While the panto is suitable for everyone aged six and up, the Lyric is also welcoming back Raymond Briggs’ much loved Father Christmas, which is suitable for smaller children, opening on 23 November and running till 31 December.

The Lyric’s festive offerings continue on December 5 with Christmas Comedy, featuring five top comics performing live in the Lyric Bar, as a finale to a week of fundraising for the theatre’s More Lyric campaign.

Then from December 12 to 19, Joe Stilgoe takes to the stage, hosting his hugely popular Christmas party with special guests, gospel choirs and ridiculous singalongs.

Joe Stilgoe

Find out more about all these events here.

At the Eventim Apollo, Michael McIntyre is the star of a special Charity Christmas Show on 7 December in aid of food bank charity the Trussell Trust, with guests including Romesh Ranganathan, Judi Love, Tom Allen and Adam Hills.

The venue is also hosting special screenings of some favourite festive films, with their musical scores performed by a live orchestra. The films are The Holiday and La La Land on 3 December, The Muppet Christmas Carol on 4 December and Love Actually on 10 December.

Then from 15 December till 1 January, with start times throughout the day and evening, the acclaimed Circus 1903 makes its new home at the Apollo, offering all the thrills and daredevil entertainment of a turn-of-the-century circus including strong men, contortionists, acrobats and elephants!

Find out more about all these events here.

Barons Court Theatre in Comeragh Road is also getting into the Christmas spirit as it presents a haunting adaptation of the most famous festive ghost story ever written - Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, running from 7 December until Christmas Eve. Find out more and book tickets.

At Riverside Studios, Jonny Feathers the Rock and Roll Pigeon, running from December 7 to 8 January, is aimed at little rebels aged four to eight, but promises laughs and live music to entertain the whole family. Find out more and book tickets.

At Olympia, The Ideal Home Show Christmas is back for its 11th year, alongside the Eat and Drink Festival Christmas. Together they promise a world of seasonal delights, including the opportunity to shop till you drop and get ideas from experts on everything from decorations and handcrafted gifts, to Christmas puddings and festive fizz.

The Ideal Home Show Christmas

Find out more and book tickets.

Shoppers on a tighter budget are invited to a pre-loved gift exchange at Livat on King Street on Saturday, 26 November. Visitors can bring up to six toys, games or non-perishable (non-food) items to exchange, with a professional gift-wrapper on hand to turn pre-loved items into beautifully wrapped gifts.

Blogger Becky Goddard-Hill, will also be on hand to offer a wealth of ideas on enjoying a magical and cost-effective Christmas. Any surplus gifts will be donated to Hammersmith’s British Heart Foundation charity shop.

Livat’s seasonal events continue next month, with a chance to meet Santa and receive a gift from his sleigh in the free Swedish Grotto each weekend (December 3 and 4, 10 and 11, 17 and 18) plus Monday 19 to Wednesday 21, and to celebrate the Swedish festive tradition of Santa Lucia, with a traditional choir parade and a glass of Glogg (a Swedish fruity festive punch) on 11 December.

From 22 to 24 December , talented local gospel choir Gold will be on hand to entertain last-minute late-night shoppers. Find out more about these events.

The traffic free Christmas Market has become an annual festive highlight in Hammersmith, with over 100 stalls lined up along King Street selling crafts, jewellery, home accessories, boutique fashion and more, plus food stalls offering favourite dishes and seasonal treats, street entertainment and live music.

This year’s market, taking place on 3 December from 11 am till 6pm will include a pop-up Art Market and feature a performance by Hammersmith’s own Abba tribute band, Abba Stars.

On Sunday 11 December, a Community Boot sale is being held at the Masbro Centre in Masbro Road, with stalls offering good deals and preloved items, face painting, coffee and cheap eats and a chance to learn how to tackle climate change through community action.

Entry is free and you can find out more here.

Stores, pubs, restaurants and gyms around Hammersmith have a wide range of discounts and special seasonal deals on offer for holders of the free Privilege Card. You can now sign up online and a digital card will be instantly available to download online.

Further afield, you can take to the ice in Westfield’s Winter Village, with its rink open from today, November 18 until January 8. Santa is also on his way to the Shepherd’s Bush shopping centre, and children can visit his woodland lodge and meet the big man himself from 10 till 24 December . Find out the details here.

And if you can’t make the Hammersmith Christmas Market, there is another in Fulham’s North End Road on Saturday 16 December, with 150+ stalls, food from around the world and live music and entertainment.

Find out more about what’s on offer at our Christmas markets.

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November 18, 2022