Proper Brighton Christmas Family Activities For This Week

The kids break up today and if you’re lucky enough to be off work, there are still some proper Brighton Christmas family activities you can still do together before the big day! Here are our faves from this week.

Regency Christmas Photos at the Pavilion

Take a family photo in the music room at The Royal Pavilion. Every year, the Pavilion is transformed into a glamours Christmas palace fit for a King (and Queen) with decor in keeping with the Regency and Victorian period. This year, they have a sleigh in the grand music room, where you can sit and take a photo. This is a great opportunity and photography isn’t permitted anywhere else at any other time of the year. The Pavilion is open until 2.30pm 24th December, so still plenty of time to take a look around and get a proper Brighton Christmas experience for the family album.

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Burning the Clocks

This Thursday is one of our favourite and best Brighton community traditions; Burning the Clocks. To celebrate Winter Solstice, lantern holders take the city streets for a parade. This year’s theme is the East and we can’t wait to see what creations lantern-makers have come up with. Plus local artist Graham Carter supported the event with a limited edition print which was offered to those donating to the Crowdfunder (helping to smash the target). Expect parade music from the best-loved city marching samba bands, vendors selling mulled wine and other seasonal delights. Watch the parade along the route (not in New Road where it starts). Check the event for more details.

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Hanover Advent Street Calendars

Just like a traditional advent calendar, homes in Hanover reveal special festive displays in their front windows every day during Advent. I believe it started with Cobden Street’s residents but now it’s expanded to the whole neighbourhood, with entire streets revealing their window on the nominated day. So take a trek up the hill or catch the bus to wander through these charming ‘rainbow house’ streets to see what imaginative displays this notoriously creative neighbourhood have on show. Why not work a coffee and cake stop at the Flour Pot on Elm Grove into your schedule? Or visit one of the many child-friendly pubs in the area, we love Village. Here’s the route map.

North Laine Hidden LEGO Mini Figure Hunt

There’s still time to enter this competition to win a bumper 1000 piece box of LEGO with Brighton Bricks. Hunt down the LEGO mini-figures hiding in the window displays of 16 shops in North Laine area. And even if you don’t win, you’ll have had a different kind of fun, supporting local business in the process. Visit their web page to download an entry form and fingers crossed. Despite what it says on the web page the closing date is now 23rd December. Good luck!