Festive things to do
10 unique festive things to do this Christmas
Just another Christmas? Not in Chesterfield!
We’re mixing it up with 10 memorable things to do before 25th December – as demonstrated by our very own Josh Marsh on TikTok.
For a twist on tradition, discover our local flavours from beer and gin to cruffins. Challenge friends to a game of exploding kittens and Santa’s Final Checklist. Or take a festive walk with an alpaca!
For those who want more, experience all our playful events. Do the Christmas bop at the Winding Wheel Theatre. Try out a medieval or Victorian Christmas. Find over a hundred Christmas trees in our traditional Crooked Spire. Or marvel at stunning light shows that illuminate our special, historic places.
Plus, if you have little ones, find unusual ways to meet Santa including Canal Cruises, on a train or over breakfast.
We love seeing you enjoy yourselves. So, remember to tag us when you post on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram or X. Grab your family and friends and tick off all 10 festive things to do.
Thank you to Chesterfield Champions for helping to pull together this list. To get involved with our promotional activities, contact Tara.
Tick off all 10 on our Festive Bucket List
1. Try a fruity, local liqueur
Make a delicious festive cocktail with Hogg Norton liqueurs – made by Mike and team.
First, add a few berries. Then your liqueur of choice. Finally, top it off with bubbles.
These bright bottles bring big smiles to your face. Pick them up from Matt at Street Spirit at Vicar Lane Shopping Centre and Chris and John from Brampton Brewery on Chatsworth Road. On a night out, enjoy them at Michelin-listed gastropub The Bulls Head in Holymoorside.
Did you know, that Chesterfield-based Hogg Norton has won a dozen Great Taste Awards between 2019 and 2024?
See Josh try a Hogg Norton liqueur on TikTok.
Find more places to eat and drink.
2. Challenge friends to a game
Christmas calls for a bit of family competition. But instead of traditional charades, create laughter and mayhem with Exploding Kittens or feel the tension with Pandemic Legacy.
Find these games and many more at Geeks Headquarters on Soresby Street where you can play in-store and even participate in gaming tournaments. Ask Alberto and the team for advice on games, collectables and comics or marvel at their bespoke 3D-printed gifts.
Next door head to Chesterfield Escape Rooms to take on the new Christmas challenge, Santa’s Final Checklist. Can you save Christmas with only one hour before Santa sets off?
See which games Josh chose for Christmas via TikTok.
Experience our playful Christmas events.
Find more games and activities.
3. Find unique gifts without the hassle
Our shop owners offer a refreshing experience to put a twist on your festive shopping. So, you can skip the hustle of large shopping centres and the stress of delayed deliveries.
Lisa (pictured) from Shop Indie at Vicar Lane is just one of our many friendly boutique owners. She makes suggestions without pressure to buy. Lisa helps you hunt via online messaging if you need to collect quickly. She delivers locally too.
Laura Jo from Adorn Jewellers in The Shambles puts you at ease with her friendly approach and knowledge about her pieces. She also provides an online shopping experience through her weekly live videos on Facebook.
Explore our historic Market Hall to meet several new shop owners like Neil from Fearless Sports, who sells active clothes and equipment.
Alongside these hidden gems, you’ll find well-loved high street names and an array of festive market events – from artisan crafts to a toy fair sure to delight kids and the young at heart.
Join us on TikTok to see how Lisa from Shop Indie helped Josh find a gift for his dad (coming soon).
Find 50 independent retailers to speed up your Christmas shopping.
4. Taste a showstopper cheese
How can you add a wow factor to your Christmas buffet?
Josh enjoyed a good natter with Simon at Cheese Factor, who introduced him to sticky toffee cheese. Haven’t tried it before? Feed your curiosity with this unusual blend of sweet and savoury.
Sticky toffee is one of over 130 cheeses to tempt you in our Market Hall-based shop!
See Josh tasting Sticky Toffee Cheese at Cheese Factor via TikTok.
Discover more of our local flavours with our 50 food and drink places to visit.
5. Treat yourself to a festive cruffin
When it comes to Christmas nothing beats a sweet treat in a cosy cafe.
But we’re not talking about regular mince pies or Christmas pud. Behold the cruffin!
This unique dessert combines a croissant with a muffin. Devour it in Cawa next to Chesterfield’s Market Square.
Follow us on TikTok to find out which flavour cruffin Josh chose from Cawa.
Discover more of our local flavours with our 50 food and drink places to visit.
6. Find unique, local tea and coffee
Imagine – you arrive home after a chilly walk around our beautiful Queen’s Park. Then, you settle down in your comfiest clothes and slippers with a relaxing cup of Christmas cookie tea from James and the team at Northern Tea Merchants.
Or perhaps you prefer the aroma of coffee? Choose your beans and hear them being ground for the freshest Christmas day latte.
See Josh exploring the newly refurbished Northern Tea Merchants by keeping an eye on our TikTok channel.
Read about the new menu at The Cafe at Northern Tea Merchants.
7. Experience our festive cocktails
Meet friends for cocktails to bring sparkle and fizz to your festive nights out.
Skip the mulled wine and instead savour the unique flavours of Junction Bar‘s signature Christmas cocktail. Festive touches to The Nutcracker tipple include Baileys, Disaronno and hazelnut. Find Junction at the end of Chatsworth Road, just ten minutes by foot from Chesterfield’s Market Square.
In the heart of the town centre, try Bavarian Bierhaus, Einstein’s. A fruity cocktail menu at Bottle and Thyme. Or ice cream specials at Chandlers, one of the longest-standing cocktail bars in our town.
Afterwards, head to Chesterfield Theatres for a show to remember. Take on a festive challenge at Chesterfield Escape Rooms. Or party the night away at Real Time Live.
See Josh getting into the Christmas spirit at Junction Bar – on TikTok.
50 of our food and drink gems to visit.
Discover more evening events happening this Christmas.
Find more inspiration for festive nights out.
8. Sup a local Christmas ale on the Brampton Mile
Nothing beats a cosy pub on a winter’s night. Particularly since each pub along Chatsworth Road showcases our town’s uniqueness.
But skip the mass-produced ales.
Our Josh nipped to Rose and Crown on Chatsworth Road for a proper ale on tap. Brewed by Chris and John at our own Brampton Brewery, the special Christmas ale, Winter Bock boasts generous helpings of roast and flaked barley and leaves a sweet finish. ‘A cracking winter warmer,’ says our Josh.
Join Josh as he samples Brampton Brewery’s festive ale on TikTok.
Discover more evening events happening this Christmas.
Find more inspiration for festive nights out.
50 of our food and drink gems to visit.
9. Take an alpaca for a festive walk
Perhaps the most memorable of the Festive Bucket List?!
This Christmas, take an alpaca for a walk at Matlock Farm Park for a unique festive experience. The trail organised by Lotty and team passes by many other animals in the park. Including meerkats and highland cows. This one brings a smile to your face no matter your age.
Check out TikTok to see whether Josh and his alpaca were both well-behaved!
More places to visit this Christmas and beyond.
10. Look after your four-legged friend
Of course, your furry friends deserve a treat as well as you! So, complete their Christmas with a festive dinner that includes all the trimmings!
Our Josh visited Barkworthy Dog Emporium with two furry friends. They certainly gave the wag of approval!
Did you know that Barkworth Dog Emporium opened in 2021 after owners, Anthony and Carole moved from Manchester. The shop offers portraits, natural treats and remedies, handmade collars, personalised dog-themed gifts, toys and more.
Follow us on TikTok to see Laura Jo and her two pooches visiting Barkworthy Dog Emporium with our Josh.
Find more independent retailers to speed up your Christmas shopping.
Spread the word
We love sharing our ideas of festive things to do in Chesterfield.
What’s even better though? Seeing photos and videos of you enjoying Christmas in Chesterfield.
Please remember to tag in Destination Chesterfield or use #LoveChesterfield to help spread the word about Christmas in Chesterfield! Find us on Tik Tok, Facebook, Instagram and X.
