13 November 2025
Pembrokeshire is a county known for its great outdoors, spectacular beaches and vibrant communities – but we have many more hidden gems to offer you in the wintertime...With welcoming market towns, a tiny glittering city, a coastal National Park with a treasure trove of dark sky and abundant natural wonder, plus a dazzling variety of exciting events, activities, and incredible places to eat, drink and stay – why would you go anywhere else?
From beautiful Christmas light displays to flamboyant pantomimes, Christmas markets and traditional choirs to creative workshops and adrenaline fuelled winter sporting events, let Pembrokeshire get you in the mood for a very merry Christmas this year…So, grab a glass of sweet, mulled wine and come with us to discover the very best of Pembrokeshire this holiday season!
Christmas Lights
For the best light shows and the finest twinkling fairy-lights the season of Christmas can offer, here is a run-down of what’s on display…
Set your sleigh’s satnav for Carew Castle to experience Glow’s Christmas illuminations. This enchanting light display creates the perfect magical welcome for all the family as you discover a castle dressed for Christmas. Children can take part in a snowman trail, hunting for clues hidden around the castle, and grown-ups can enjoy live music from local choirs each weekend.
Pembrokeshire’s villages and towns love to share the Christmas spirit with beautifully bedecked Christmas trees and sparkling festive lights. Here are a few of our favourites across the county for you to explore – Tenby, St Davids, Narberth, Fishguard, Haverfordwest and Saundersfoot, to name but a few.
If you love Christmas and you love tractors, or perhaps your little one does, then we have something extra special for you – each year Clarbeston Road AFC put on a spectacular Illuminated Tractor Run. Pembrokeshire is treated to the incredible sight of hundreds of tractors, each decorated in fun festive fairy lights, taking to the roads and travelling across the county. This remarkable display of festivity is held in aid of charity and brings crowds (no matter the weather) to follow its route from Clarbeston Road to Withybush in Haverfordwest.
Pantos
To truly indulge in that special Christmas feeling, grab tickets for you and the family to see a festive show – you can choose from Rapunzel at the Torch Theatre, Aladdin at the Boulevard Theatre or Peter Pan at the Merlin Theatre produced by Pembrokeshire College students.
Rapunzel at The Torch Theatre
The spirit of Christmas can be found within the walls of St Davids Cathedral, where history, culture and religion come together. Wonder at the incredible architecture and absorb the historical splendour – with a variety of cultural and musical festive events and concerts.
St Davids Cathedral
Get back in touch with nature at Castell Henllys at this darkest time of the year. The shortest day is a time to celebrate by trying some festive crafts and listening to stories by the fireside. As the day draws to an end, a bonfire will be lit (weather permitting) and there will be a chance to meet the mysterious Welsh character Mari Lwyd! This is a taste of real Welsh culture and history at Christmas time.
Quiet Hour at Castell Henllys
Wreath and Art workshops
The Art House St Davids are running a festive lino print workshop where you can learn the art of lino printing and create a unique design to make your own set of Christmas cards. Let artist Michelle lead you, as you discover your artistic side and make some beautifully festive artwork.
Twr y Felin will be hosting a Luxury Christmas Wreath Workshop with Karen from The Floral Goat on 13th December. The workshop will use locally foraged and sustainable materials and the experience includes tea, coffee, and their famous Blas mince pies.
Roch Castle will also be running the same workshop on 6th December. Hosted in the Sun Room at Roch Castle, overlooking St Brides Bay, this popular event is always a sell-out.
Wreath Workshop
Well-known Pembrokeshire artist Diana Brook will be hosting a Christmas card linocut printing workshop at Llys y Fran this December. It will be a festive and creative session where you can design, carve and print your very own Christmas cards. Under expert guidance, you’ll learn the art of lino printing using soft cut lino, quality tools and the finest Welsh ink. Take home a set of beautiful, hand-printed cards to share with friends and family this Christmas.
Festive Swims and Runs
Embrace your wild side, feel the chill and get active at Christmas this year in Pembrokeshire. One of the most popular outdoor events of the festive calendar is the Tenby Santa Run – where a crowd dressed in Santa outfits pound the pavements of Tenby in a fundraising event that is fun for all the family. This year the run will happen on 29th November.
Equally seasonal, light-hearted and charitable is the Broadhaven Christmas Pudding Run, where you can work off that extra helping of Christmas pud whilst wearing fancy dress and enjoying some sea air. There’s a children’s event too, and prizes for the best dressed! This year’s event will take place on the 28th December.
The infamous Tenby Boxing Day Swim is well-known as excellent festive fun. Get your goosebumps on for charity and take a dip along with hundreds of other swimmers – many of whom are in fancy dress, hoping to win the best-dressed prize. After the event there is a traditional beach bonfire and hot soup to help participants warm back up.
Along similar lines, but celebrating New Year’s Day instead, the Saundersfoot New Year’s Day Swim in another chance to embrace Pembrokeshire’s penchant for cold water swimming. With 1500+ swimmers in previous years, the swim raises an incredible amount for charity and gives swimmers and spectators alike a fabulous day out with live music, New Year’s good vibes and lots of fun.
On the last day of the year, Fishguard hosts a fun and memorable celebration of the year to come. A street party with local bands shuts down the main square so that locals and visitors alike can enjoy themselves from early evening through to the early hours. With the obligatory countdown and fireworks, the event is full of community heart and the proceeds from your ticket will go towards ensuring the event continues for years to come.
This year St Davids City Council Hall will see a huge celebration on the 31st December. Festival favourites Unearthed are, for the first time, presenting a New Year’s Eve party with live music, DJs, dancing, good vibes and beautiful energy to bring in the New Year and welcome 2026.
Christmas for Kids
We all know that Christmas is really for the kids, right? So if you have some under 18s with you in Pembrokeshire this winter, check out these excellent events to keep them happy over the holidays. From meeting Santa, to the full Kingdom of the Elves experience, we’ve got you covered…
Folly Farm have enough Christmas fun to fill many many stockings this year. They will thrill your children with festive experiences ranging from visiting Santa’s Grotto to meeting their Snow Princess and Ice Queen in the Folly Farm Snow Globe. They’re also offering a virtual reality ride called Santa’s Frosty Flyover and a fun Gingerbread trail.
Step into the magical world of the Kingdom of the Elves… Throughout the season at Bluestone, you can enjoy a magical mix of festive activities, themed entertainment, and delightful surprises. The Elves conjure up more festive activities than you can shake a candy cane at! Discover a sleigh-full of Christmas fun, including; Santa’s Lodge, the Elf School Journey, Rudolph’s Breakfast Barn, the Jack and the Christmas Beanstalk show, the Reindeer’s Light Show and all the usual Bluestone spaces and experiences decorated for the holidays.
Bluestone
Dr Beynon’s Bug Farm The Bug Farm is dedicating an entire weekend to Christmas celebrations this year with free entry and lots of festive activities. There will be a Christmas nature craft workshop, an opportunity to meet the bugs up close, and a festive trail and competition, plus their shop offers an excellent opportunity to do a little extra Christmas shopping.
As well as Glow, Carew Castle is also hosting a special Santa’s Grotto hidden within the castle walls. Bring your little darling/s to meet the big man in red and receive a gift from him, whilst experiencing all the majesty and history of exploring an ancient castle at this most magical time of year.
