Booking for Father Christmas

To avoid queuing slots for Father Christmas will be available to book and online from 1st November.  Father Christmas will be in a special grotto full of Christmas sparkles in the Abbey where he will have time to chat to each child and hand out small presents.  Although there will be no charge for booking your slot we are asking that families pay what they can afford on the day.  Elves will not only dance but take cash or credit cards at the door to the grotto!

In line with our commitment to the environment, presents will be good quality 2nd hand books & toys, reindeer food and a christmas gingerbread person.

Pre-order your wreath, Christmas cake or Christmas cards

Book your Christmas wreath, cake or cards in advance, pay online and collect at the market or in the week after from the Abbey office

Wreaths

Beautiful wreaths created by a professional florist: prices tbc

Abbey Tea Room Cakes

Delicious cakes made by our tea room bakers:  7” marzipan top, fully iced & decorated, brandy soaked fruit & fed.

Abbey Christmas Cards

Pay for your cards online using the button above and have them delivered (in Dorchester) or posted or collect at the Christmas market.  All proceeds to Dorchester Abbey.  Cards are also available for sale at the back of the Abbey with payment through the gift aid box or the contactless donation device.

All cards are £4.50 for a pack of 10, painted by local artists

Over 50 tables full of gifts and Christmas food, with wreaths to order or take away, all surrounded by the smell of Bratwurst and mulled wine and Christmas music supplied by local choirs and musicians. As always, the highlight of the Market is the Tea Room stall packed full of home made Christmas cakes and food to take away as gifts!

Always a brilliant live music lineup!  Everything from jazz to brass to carols for you to join in, all playing Christmassy stuff to help get you in the mood while you shop
Or just get a cup of tea & a mince pie and take the weight off while you listen.  The draft 2026 line up looks like this:
10-11.30am Brass Quartet
11.45-12.15 The Wittenham Singers
12.30-12.50pm Dorchester Abbey Choir
1pm Cholsey Silver Band
3.15pm Dorchester St Birinus Primary Handbell ringers
3.30pm Cholsey Silver Band

Dear stallholders: We are now full!!

We are now packed out with amazing stalls for this year, but if you’d like to add yourself to the list for next year do email us!  Email fundraising@dorchester-abbey.org.uk

Below is a video of our 2024 stalls just to get you in the Christmassy mood!  Get a coffee and pull up a chair to plan your Christmas shopping!