Celebrate a Global Christmas at Wembley Park: A Festive Journey through Music, Markets, and Cultures

Winter in Wembley Park – Image credit: Chris Winter / Wembley Park

Wembley Park, North West London’s renowned culture and entertainment hub, transforms into a global festive celebration this winter. Winter in Wembley Park 2024 will showcase how cultures worldwide unite through festive music, traditions and vibrant markets.

Kickstarting the winter celebrations on December 7th, Wembley Park’s open-air Sound Shell presents A Global Christmas: A Thousand Years of Festive Music Through Cultures and Time. This unique concert bridges continents and traditions, showcasing the universal spirit of Christmas through music. Starting on the same day, the Wembley Park Festive Market will be a global treasure trove of artisan and festive products. For three weekends in December, visitors can discover unique gifts, international flavours and seasonal treats, from German sausages and Italian Panettone to South American Alpaca crafts and African textiles.

Returning due to popular demand, the From Saint to Santa outdoor exhibition delves into the fascinating evolution of one of the world’s most enduring festive figures. Located in Arena Square from 3^rd December, this unique display takes visitors on a journey through centuries of history, exploring how the image of Santa Claus has been shaped by diverse cultures and traditions from across the globe. Meanwhile, younger visitors will be delighted by Festive Fun: A Merry Celebration for Young Ones, a special, free children’s event designed to bring joy and creativity to the season.

With a stunning 15 metre tall, traditional Christmas Tree in Market Square setting the festive scene from 4^th December and the launch of Trialogue, a new audio-visual 3D art installation on 27^th November as part of the public Art Trail, Wembley Park offers a wealth of free attractions for residents and visitors of all ages to explore.

Saturday 7^th December – Free to attend concert

Winter in Wembley Park – Image credit: Chris Winter / Wembley Park

Kicking off the wintery celebrations, Wembley Park’s open-air Sound Shell will host A Global Christmas: A Thousand Years of Festive Music Through Cultures and Time, a one-of-a-kind Christmas concert that brings together festive musical traditions from across the world. Taking place on Saturday, 7th December from 1pm – 6pm, A Global Christmas will be a free, open-air musical journey into global Christmas music traditions on iconic Olympic Way, right in front of Wembley Stadium.

Featuring world-class musicians, steel pans will bring a touch of Caribbean warmth to familiar carols, while the soulful echoes of Motown and Afro-American classics offer a nostalgic twist on Christmas traditions. Brass quartets will evoke the grandeur of Victorian England, and the rich tones of the Hurdy-Gurdy and Hammered Dulcimer intertwine with Indian Dhol drums, Arabic melodies and Balkan rhythms, weaving together centuries of musical heritage. This family-friendly event is free to attend but early arrival (and blankets for comfort!) is recommended.

Wembley Park Festive Markets

7^th, 8^th, 14^th, 15^th, 21 and 22^nd December – FREE to attend

Winter in Wembley Park – Image credit: Chris Winter / Wembley Park

The popular Wembley Park Festive Markets will feature a diverse range of artisan and festive products, with over 100 fantastic traders offering everything from unique gifts to seasonal treats from all over the world every weekend from the start of December until Christmas. From clothing made from alpaca wool, traditionally sourced from South America to African textiles and gifts and wine and truffle products from Tuscany, the Wembley Park Festive Market is the perfect place to pick up a present.

The Festive Market will also feature international cuisine to tempt the tastebuds including Caribbean street food, traditional Hungarian pastries, German and Polish sausages, Turkish flatbreads, Italian delicacies and Chinese flavours. Stalls will open in Market Square, off Olympic Way, where a stunning 15m Christmas tree complete with baubles handmade by local children, will also be located enabling shoppers to browse at their leisure from 10 am to 7 pm on 7^th, 8^th, 14^th, 15^th, 21^st and 22^nd December.

Throughout every weekend of the Wembley Park Festive Market in December, the Sound Shell will host a vibrant programme of free entertainment, featuring international artists, festive choirs and life-sized puppets including giant penguins, reindeers and polar bears, bringing festive cheer to Wembley Park.

Festive Fun: A Merry Celebration for Young Ones

Saturday 7^th December – Free to attend

Winter in Wembley Park – Image credit: Chris Winter / Wembley Park

Younger visitors (aged 4 – 11 years) to Wembley Park will be given the warmest of welcomes this winter at Festive Fun: A Merry Celebration for Young Ones event on Saturday 7th December. This free to attend family event, held at the Fresh Arts community hub between 2pm and 4pm, will offer a range of arts and crafting activities including bauble and lantern making, games, a disco, pizza and prizes for the best outfits! With spaces limited to 50 children, early booking is recommended.

Wembley Park Art Trail

Trialogue and From Saint to Santa

From 27^th November – Free to enjoy

‘Trialogue’ by visionary audio-visual artists Greenaway & Greenaway

Image credit: Greenaway & Greenaway

No visit to Wembley Park would be complete without an exploration of the hugely popular Art Trail. This winter, the free-to-enjoy outdoor Art Trail welcomes Trialogue, a new audio-visual 3D installation, as its latest addition from 27th November. Created by visionary audio-visual artists Greenaway & Greenaway, the bespoke work masterfully breathes new life into three Grade II-listed K6 telephone boxes – Britain’s iconic red phone booths – located in Arena Square.

From Saint to Santa, curated by Wembley Park – Image credit: Chris Winter / Wembley Park

More magical moments at Wembley Park

Winter in Wembley Park – Image credit: Chris Winter / Wembley Park

For those simply wanting to soak up the atmosphere, London Designer Outlet’s impressive festive lights and real Christmas tree are always a joy to behold (and to snap for Instagram). December will also see Father Christmas take a break from his frantic sleigh-prepping work to visit London Designer Outlet each weekend in the run-up to Christmas Day, with children able to speak to him for free. Creative young ones can also share their ideas for giving Santa a festive glow-up, with a colouring competition to design his new outfit (entries can be posted into the box in Guest Services). A winter trail will also invite youngsters to tour London Designer Outlet with their families, looking for clues and receiving a prize for their efforts.

Topping off the Christmas offering in Wembley Park this season will be Best Served Cold: The Festive Throwback at BOXPARK Wembley on Saturday 14^th December from 4pm. Featuring LEMAR, Blazin’ Squad, Big Brovaz, Booty Luv and Sol & The Gang, adults won’t want to miss this the ultimate Christmas party with an R&B blast from the past whilst visitors of all ages will be entertained at the live cine-concert production of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas at the London OVO Arena Wembley and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre throughout the winter months.

 “Winter in Wembley Park is such a wonderful time of year. The neighbourhood is awash with festive attractions from free concerts to children’s celebrations, art installations and seasonal treats at the festive markets, ensuring that every resident and visitor can make cherished memories at Wembley Park this season.”