Discover the magic of winter with our festive events!

This winter, Father Christmas is coming to Butser Ancient Farm!

Step into Father Christmas’s festive home among our ancient buildings, where stories, surprises and Christmas magic await. Explore the farm, warm yourself by the fire, get creative with festive crafts and meet Father Christmas for a special Christmas experience the whole family can enjoy.

And there’s more to discover throughout the winter. From family adventures and ancient winter traditions to music, storytelling and traditional crafts, our winter programme brings Butser to life in a whole new way.

Meet the majestic Deer Queen and Holly King on our much-loved Midwinter’s Quest, gather around the fire for festive storytelling, enjoy our special Winter Harp Concert, or learn new skills in our seasonal craft workshops.

Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Yule, or simply looking for something magical to do this time of year, come and experience the magic of the season at Butser. As the days grow shorter and the nights draw in, there are fires to gather around, stories to discover and plenty of winter magic waiting to be found.

Meet Father Christmas

12 - 13 & 19 - 22 December

Step into Father Christmas’ festive home at Butser, nestled among our ancient buildings and glowing with firelight. Meet Father Christmas in a unique setting inspired by the winter traditions of times gone by, and enjoy a magical Christmas experience filled with storytelling, festive crafts and seasonal wonder. A magical winter experience for the whole family.

Join Us This Christmas

Midwinter’s Quest

5th - 6th December

The Deer Queen and Holly King bring their magic back to Butser on a family adventure to discover the folklore of winter. Can you help deliver important festive messages and get them back in time?

Enjoy creative make-and-take activities in our cosy roundhouses, gather around the fire for festive storytelling and explore our ancient buildings brought to life by the magic of the season.

Join the QUEST
A cosy fire burning in a Celtic roundhouse decorated with festive fairylights.

Wintry Tales by the Fire

Tales of Winter Magic - 4 December | The Horns of Yule - 21 December

Seasonal storytelling, with something for everyone! Cosy up in our roundhouse for an evening of storytelling and performance. Join us for our family-friendly performance of Tales of Winter Magic, or settle in for an atmospheric evening of haunting seasonal stories with award-winning storyteller Jason Buck.

The Horns of yule
Tales of winter magic

A Winter Harp Concert

3rd December

Join us for an unforgettable evening of hauntingly beautiful music as winter descends upon the ancient grounds of Butser Ancient Farm.

Award-winning harpist Keziah Thomas returns with a spellbinding solo pedal harp concert celebrating the magic and mystery of Advent and Christmas through the ages.

book here

Festive Shopping

27th November

Enjoy a magical evening of Christmas shopping at Butser Ancient Farm. Browse a wonderful selection of unique gifts from local makers and artisan traders, soak up the festive atmosphere, and enjoy seasonal treats. Then wander down to our beautifully lit ancient house, where you can warm up by the fire with a festive drink and enjoy the cosy atmosphere. It’s a lovely way to find special Christmas gifts and settle into the spirit of the season. Tickets must be pre-booked.

More information

A natural Christmas or Yule wreath made from hedgerow materials, hanging on the wall of a Saxon hall. The doorway is open to reveal an interior lit by fairylights.

Handmade Gifts & Decorations

Escape the hubbub of Christmas shopping, and give something unique!

Learn a new skill and make your own gifts and decorations in our festive craft workshops. From corn dolly making and tree ornament crafting to traditional festive skills and more, there’s plenty to get creative with this Christmas. Need a digital gift? From vouchers and annual passes to exclusive history documentaries, we’ve got options for everyone!

Festive workshops
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festive winter events

Featured
Bronze Casting Workshops - October
Oct 10
Bronze Casting Workshops - October

Discover the metal that changed the world and craft your own bronze sword, axehead, knife, or torc. Running on the 7th, 13th, 21st.

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Dark Fairy Tales for the Season of Mists - Storytelling with Jason Buck
Oct 16
Dark Fairy Tales for the Season of Mists - Storytelling with Jason Buck

Experience the mystery of Samhain by the glowing hearth of Butser’s Great Roundhouse as Jason Buck brings spooky Halloween tales to life.

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Roman Reenactment Weekend
Oct 17
Roman Reenactment Weekend

Discover Roman living history and combat reenactments with the Butser IX Roman Legion. Find out what life would have been like in Roman Britain as you explore our open air site.

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Viking Weave Jewellery Workshop
Oct 17
Viking Weave Jewellery Workshop

Learn how to craft a matching set of Viking weave jewellery in our Saxon Hall. Guided by expert Holly Berkley, craft a necklace and beaten spiral pendant, a bracelet, matching earrings and a beaten spiral ring.

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Copper Decorations ~ Inspired by Nature
Oct 17
Copper Decorations ~ Inspired by Nature

Design and build you own copper table decoration. Begin with a small guided walk where you will forage for inspiring natural material. Nestled within the beauty of the South Downs National Park, you will then spend time translating your found inspiration and ideas into copper - resulting in a personal piece of art for your home.

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Dark Fairy Tales for the Season of Mists - Storytelling with Jason Buck
Oct 17
Dark Fairy Tales for the Season of Mists - Storytelling with Jason Buck

Experience the mystery of Samhain by the glowing hearth of Butser’s Great Roundhouse as Jason Buck brings spooky Halloween tales to life.

Read more →
Ancient Wire Work ~ 5 Ring Designs
Oct 18
Ancient Wire Work ~ 5 Ring Designs

Learn how to craft 5 ancient copper ring designs based on historic finds. Guided by expert Holly Berkley.

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Corn Dolly Workshop ~ Intermediate Weaves
Oct 25
Corn Dolly Workshop ~ Intermediate Weaves

Learn an endangered craft deeply rooted to rural life, from one of the last remaining tutors in the country. Connected to the rhythms of the earth, corn dollies were also known as harvest tokens. A soothing and relaxing activity, this workshop is for those with some previous experience.

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Time Traveller Holiday Club - activity days
Oct 26
Time Traveller Holiday Club - activity days

Time Traveller Holiday Club is a unique holiday activity club designed for 6 to 13-year-olds, set in the stunning Hampshire landscape and based around memorable hands-on historical activities.

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Bow Making Course
Oct 27
Bow Making Course

Learn how to craft your Bow using simple Bushcraft tools, discovering the knowledge and skills that have been passed on from one generation of Bowyers to another. Explore Bow design through the ages and find the right design for you.

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The Folklore of Plants
Oct 31
The Folklore of Plants

Join us fireside to travel through a year of nature as you hear old stories about familiar flowers. End with making scented Saxon Amulet Beads with ingredients you have heard about from the ancient tales.

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Roman Reenactment Weekend
Oct 31
Roman Reenactment Weekend

Discover Roman living history and combat reenactments with the Butser IX Roman Legion. Find out what life would have been like in Roman Britain as you explore our open air site.

Read more →
Bronze Casting Workshops - November
Nov 1
Bronze Casting Workshops - November

Discover the metal that changed the world and craft your own bronze sword, axehead, knife, or torc. Running on the 7th, 13th, 21st.

Read more →
The Butser Gathering
Nov 14
The Butser Gathering

THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING NEW

Imagine a place where a Roman can sit beside a Viking, an Iron Age warrior can chat with an Anglo-Saxon, and someone you've never met stops to ask how you made your costume.

Where people share their passions openly, celebrate each other's creativity and enthusiasm, and feel free to step into the world of the past.

Welcome to The Butser Gathering.

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Hedgerow Wreath Making Workshop
Nov 28
Hedgerow Wreath Making Workshop

Bring nature into your home and craft a gorgeous handmade hedgerow wreath! Immerse yourself in the timeless beauty of our Saxon meadhall in this calming escape from the bustle of modern Christmas.

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Harp Songs for a Winter’s Night with Keziah Thomas
Dec 3
Harp Songs for a Winter’s Night with Keziah Thomas

Celebrate winter and the enchanting sounds of the harp in the ancient setting of Butser’s Great Roundhouse, with renowned concert harpist Keziah Thomas.

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Bronze Casting Workshops - December
Dec 4
Bronze Casting Workshops - December

Discover the metal that changed the world and craft your own bronze sword, axehead, knife, or torc. Running on the 7th, 13th, 21st.

Read more →
Hedgerow Wreath Making Workshop
Dec 5
Hedgerow Wreath Making Workshop

Bring nature into your home and craft a gorgeous handmade hedgerow wreath! Immerse yourself in the timeless beauty of our Saxon meadhall in this calming escape from the bustle of modern Christmas.

Read more →
Tree Ornament Workshop
Dec 5
Tree Ornament Workshop

Plait straw to create a range of tree ornament corn dollies for Yule or Christmas. A soothing and relaxing activity, this workshop offers a calming escape from the bustle of modern Christmas, and is beginner friendly.

Read more →
Tree Ornament Workshop
Dec 8
Tree Ornament Workshop

Plait straw to create a range of tree ornament corn dollies for Yule or Christmas. A soothing and relaxing activity, this workshop offers a calming escape from the bustle of modern Christmas, and is beginner friendly.

Read more →
Deer Butchery & Saxon Cookery Workshop
Dec 12
Deer Butchery & Saxon Cookery Workshop

Learn the most ancient skill there is: how to prepare an animal for the table. Skin, butcher, and cook a deer using traditional tools, techniques, and recipes.

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Tree Ornament Workshop
Dec 12
Tree Ornament Workshop

Plait straw to create a range of tree ornament corn dollies for Yule or Christmas. A soothing and relaxing activity, this workshop offers a calming escape from the bustle of modern Christmas, and is beginner friendly.

Read more →
Saxon Cookery Workshop
Dec 13
Saxon Cookery Workshop

Learn to cook some of England’s oldest recipes like sweet Saxon bread, nettle and wild garlic soup, and meadowsweet mead, and feast in an authentic Saxon hall! Veggie and vegan-friendly options included.

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The Horns of Yule - A Winter Tale
Dec 18
The Horns of Yule - A Winter Tale

Join award-winning storyteller Jason Buck this Yuletide for an immersive evening of ancient folklore, haunting tales and winter spirits. Gather around the glowing hearth of Butser’s Iron Age Roundhouse as Jason brings a chilling story of a young boy, an eerie woodland and things best left sleeping through the winter months.

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Boudicca - Storytelling with Bernadette Russell
Feb 5
Boudicca - Storytelling with Bernadette Russell

Step into the world of Roman Britain for an atmospheric evening of storytelling around the fire. Join Bernadette Russell inside an Iron Age roundhouse as she brings the story of Boudicca to life through epic tales, song, poetry and magic.

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Drum Making Workshop
Apr 24
Drum Making Workshop

Discover the sound of our ancestors and craft an ancient instrument used in performance and ritual by Neolithic, Celtic, Viking, and modern peoples. Running each day this weekend.

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Drum Making Workshop
Aug 14
Drum Making Workshop

Discover the sound of our ancestors and craft an ancient instrument used in performance and ritual by Neolithic, Celtic, Viking, and modern peoples. Running each day this weekend.

Read more →
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