Christmas will come early to Knebworth this year at a magical new event featuring shopping, food and drink, comedy and festive entertainment for all the family.
The three-day Knebworth Winter Festival arrives at Knebworth House for the first time from Friday, November 9 to Sunday, November 11.
The winter shopping experience will include a food and Christmas market hosting a collection of some of the best independent produce traders, pop-up shops selling festive gifts, and stalls with a focus on craft and design.
If you feel peckish, delicious delicacies will be served up by street food vendors from around the country in the food village.
Grown ups can also enjoy seasonal cocktails, spiced mulled wine, artisan ciders and local craft beers in the Apres Ski Lodge, where non-alcoholic beverages and a fully stocked bar will be available.
After all that eating and drinking, it’s time to get merry and have a good laugh at the festival’s evening stand-up comedy shows.
A festival spokesperson said: “We are very excited to announce the launch of Winter Festival this year at Knebworth House.
“Christmas is such a magical time for everyone and we wanted to bring together all the exciting elements of the festive period under one roof.
“We feel very fortunate to have the beautiful Knebworth as our backdrop for this festival extravaganza and we are really looking forward to showcasing some incredible shopping, food and entertainment in this idyllic location.”
For youngsters, there will be an enchanted Christmas Garden in the beautiful grounds of Knebworth House, leading to Santa’s Grotto.
The immersive enchanted garden and interactive Father Christmas experience requires an upgraded ticket.
To keep older visitors entertained, the Feature Stage will be sharing top shopping, entertaining and lifestyle tips, the latest gadget demos, and ideas on how to celebrate the winter season with interactive Christmas cooking demos from celebrity chefs, whisky tasting with expert Dave Broom, and expert panel discussions.
There will be a special appearance for the little ones from Bjorn the animatronic polar bear, too.
For those looking for a few festive laughs later in the day, the Knebworth Winter Comedy Festival line-up has been announced.
The comedy fest will feature performances over the weekend from the likes of Welsh comedian Rhod Gilbert, Taskmaster host Greg Davies, Britain’s Got Talent finalist Daliso Chaponda, the Improv Allstars, Angela Barnes, Jen Brister, and the aptly named Jarred Christmas.
“We are thrilled and delighted to welcome Rhod Gilbert and Greg Davies to perform at our first Winter Festival,” added the spokesperson.
“And with the amazing, original and entertaining activities for young people, we’re hoping everyone will leave the festival with a huge smile on their face and immersed in the festive spirit.”
The evening comedy shows require a separate ticket.
Tickets to the comedy festival will allow you access to the Winter Festival from 3pm, where you can browse the Christmas shopping emporium, sample epicurean street food delights in the food village, which will also be home to the Apres Ski Lodge, complete with its faux fur rugs and open log fires.
• For more on the Knebworth Winter Festival and to buy tickets, visit knebworthwinterfestival.com
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