Christmas has well and truly arrived at KINGSWAY CENTRE in Newport, and there’s no shortage of festive cheer in the air! With jolly activities for all the family, free attractions, live music and delightful shopping opportunities to help you find every gift, there is so much to look forward to this holiday season, with big events and our independent craft market running every weekend through to 22nd December.
If you’re short on ideas to entertain your little ones in the run-up to the big day, the team have you covered. Unforgettable memories will be made visiting Mr and Mrs Claus at the grotto, open from 10 am to 4 pm each Saturday and Sunday until Christmas.
Children can speak to our festive heroes and receive a gift directly from the busy elves at the North Pole. Find out if they are on the Naughty or Nice List, and even make a bag of reindeer food to take home, ready to put out for Rudolf and his friends before bedtime on Christmas Eve. Don’t forget to visit the gift shop, where you can get personalised gifts including photo-printed mugs of that special moment to remember for years to come.
With festive highlights to find all across the centre, all free of charge to visitors, there are photo opportunities aplenty to share special moments with family and friends. The giant inflatable snow globe awaits you for a special holiday snap. And don’t forget to visit the cheery Christmas bouncy castle, which is just the ticket to burn off some extra excitement before heading home and will be sure to bring smiles galore!
How about taking the tree trail around the centre. Will you be able to find all fifty-two of the Christmas trees? A little hint… Two are over twenty feet high, so you really can’t miss them!
Maybe children will be able to spot their own contribution to the magic, as the decorations this year have been made by local Newport schools.
It’s not Christmas without music, and Kingsway Centre has a packed schedule of special visitors every Saturday to create the soundtrack to your stocking filling. They’ll be joined by musicians Robyn and Josh Hicks, the Warehouse Church Choir for heartening gospel music and the Gwent Male Voice Choir for traditional holiday songs, then the DJs of Newport City Radio will be live from the centre, taking over with music every moment in between.
Every weekend in December they’ll be hosting a rotation of twenty independent festive market stalls indoors throughout the centre from 10 am until 6 pm. They are really looking forward to welcoming the best craft traders from Newport and the surrounding areas, who will be offering crafts and homemade food for visitors. Offering unique gifts and handmade treasures, it makes the ideal destination to spot that perfect present for everyone on your Christmas list, with a few treats for yourself too!
There’s always something for the adults too, with mulled wine complementary for visitors. But a quick pit-stop at Starbucks or Boswells Cafe can bring a warming hot chocolate, and Delicious Delights and Bubble Trouble are on hand for snacks and drinks as you explore the festivities.
Visit F Hinds for timeless jewellery for your partner, or pick up relaxing treats at Lucky Leaf Bath Bombs. Explore the newest luxury scents at The Fragrance Shop and find stocking stuffers at Claire’s. The newly opened Cosy Living store is now offering beds, alongside furniture and sofas. For tech-savvy shoppers, Techuarium will cater to all your laptop and phone repair needs throughout the season.
The last festive weekend is going to be one you really can’t miss! Kingsway Centre will host its first Christmas Jumper competition on Friday 20th December, with a grand prize of £1,000 of Kingsway Centre shopping vouchers. To enter, simply upload a photo of yourself wearing your finest festive jumper creation in front of the competition display to Instagram or Facebook, but be sure to tag Kingsway to make your entry valid! It’s time to get crafting…
Be sure to mark your calendars for Saturday 21st, when Father Christmas has lent us four of his Reindeer for the Christmas party. They will be visiting Kingsway Centre for a little holiday before their big day journey on Christmas Eve. From 1 until 4 pm you can meet real reindeer, and feed them their favourite snack, moss and carrots!
With free parking every Saturday in December, and free attractions, it’s never been easier, or more affordable to soak in the holiday spirit.
Christmas at Kingsway – Schedule
Saturday 14th December
- Open 10 am to 6 pm, new traders join us at the Kingsway for the second weekend of our indoor Christmas Market
- From 10 am until 4 pm our grotto is back open, and Mr and Mrs Claus will be busy giving out presents and reindeer food to take home
- Free mulled wine will be available to adults
- From 12 pm Newport City Radio will be filling the centre, throughout the day
- We are joined by the fabulous Warehouse Church Choir, who will be bringing their unique style of gospel music to the centre
Sunday 15th December
- Open 10 am to 6 pm, our Christmas Market continues with another variation and more traders from in and around Newport.
- From 10am until 4pm, our grotto is open and Mr and Mrs Claus will again be with us with presents for the children
Friday 20th December
- We will be throwing our biggest giveaway to date, where a grand prize of £1000 of Kingsway Centre shopping vouchers will be won by a member of the public with the best Christmas Jumper! There will be a photo station at the centre for people in their festive outfits to come and have a photo. To enter, simply upload a photo of yourself wearing your finest festive jumper creation in front of the competition display to Instagram or Facebook. Be sure to tag Kingsway to make your entry valid! The winner will be announced the following day at 6 pm
Saturday 21st December
- From 1 pm until 4 pm, we have four of Father Christmas’ reindeer coming to visit the centre, available for visitors to have photos with, and their handlers will be bringing their favourite food, moss and carrots, for people to feed them
- Mr and Mrs Claus will be not far away, at our grotto from 10am until 4 pm
- We have even more traders at our indoor Christmas Market from 10 am to 6 pm
- More free mulled wine for the adults
- At 12 pm we are joined by the fantastic Josh Hicks who will play his first set of the day
- We are joined once again by the incredible Warehouse Church Choir who will be doing a full Christmas set
Sunday 22nd December
- Our Christmas Market runs for its final day with more traders selling their crafts and food, for all last-minute shoppers.
- Our grotto is open from 10 am until 4pm for Mr and Mrs Claus’s final visit to the Kingsway Centre
