In a city where the Victorian Christmas Carol was first heard, there is a wide range of things to do from workshops, theatre, festive shopping to get you in the Christmas Spirit.
Follow it weekend by weekend or pick and choose what weekends, events or days out to include in your Christmas plans. This plan should take some of the headache away from seeing what's out there, once you've decided remember to book the tickets before they sell out.
Saturday 21 November
Early Preparation and Theatre
If you'd rather make than buy then starting the weekend at 10am on Saturday with a festive wreath-making workshop at Blakesley Hall, a timber-framed Tudor house in Yardley. In the afternoon head down to the Christmas market in Cathedral Square to pick up a gift from one of the many independent stalls, and grab something warming to eat and drink at the same time.
By the evening, the Birmingham Royal Ballet's The Nutcracker is having its opening at the Hippodrome.
Or for a big all in one: the Festive Gift Fair at the NEC celebrates its 30th year with 325 stalls of gifts, food and family fun under one roof. Tickets are only sold in advance; none on the door.
Thursday 26 – Sunday 29 November
Christmas Spirit Film Festival
The UK's first dedicated Christmas film festival lands at the MAC Birmingham. A four day festival including festive cinema from around the world, masterclasses, panels, live music, and parties that combine to celebrate Christmas on the big screen.
Tickets available cover cinema screenings, opening/closing nights or workshops. If you're a Christmas film fan then there is nothing better.
The MAC's Christmas Arts Market runs alongside the festival, ideal for finding the perfect handmade gift at the same time.
Saturday 5 December
Family Christmas day out
If it's ice you're after Winter Funland opens on 4 December and runs to 4 January: 4-hour sessions of unlimited fairground rides, a giant indoor ice rink and a circus show, with sensory-friendly sessions on 14 December. Adults and children £35, family of four £137.50.
Alternatively the MAC in Cannon Hill Park runs Storytime with Santa, a cosy story corner with Santa for your kids. This pairs perfectly with the Luminate winter light trail at the Botanical Gardens in Edgbaston. Expect tunnels of light, projections and marshmallow toasting.
Saturday 12 December
Finishing Christmas Shopping
If you haven't wrapped up your gifts now is the time, if you have it's time to kick back a bit. In Victoria Square and New Street the Frankfurt Christmas Market is in full swing, with 80+ Bavarian chalets stretching all the way down to the station. Arrive early, grab a Glühwein and take your family for a ride on the fairground carousel. Plenty of food and drinks to try as you wander the wooden chalets of the biggest market of its kind outside Austria and Germany.
You'll find a range of handmade decorations, wooden toys and jewellery, and if that's not enough cross the city centre to the Bullring & Grand Central for everything else.
If you need something to occupy the kids, the Supersonic Kids Gig lands at MAC on 12 December: a Ben Sadler festive special, which should be enough to keep them singing and dancing through the month.
Saturday 19 – Sunday 20 December
The final weekend
There are a number of live orchestral film performances over the season but The Snowman with live orchestra is a true masterpiece of storytelling and music that is sure to be a memorable event for all the family. At Birmingham Town Hall on Sunday 20 December (1:30pm and 4pm, £20–32).
Thursday 24 December
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve is made for a film at home. It's the kind of spirit that our film festival was made around and that many of us cherish.
If you'd rather end the season out and about, Birmingham Cathedral hosts Midnight Mass and carol services on Christmas Eve, a candlelit moment just yards from the market squares.
Friday 25 December
Christmas Day
However your Christmas day plays out, we hope you can cherish the time together with those close to you. The Christmas Spirit Film Festival returns in 2027. If you'd like to be the first to know when next year's tickets go on sale, sign up for festival updates below.
Day trips around Birmingham
The city is the heart of it, but the region glows too. Every one of these is a Christmas-only event; most return each year, so check each venue's site for this season's dates.
- Christmas at the Castle, Warwick: a castle-sized light trail, a new ice rink and Stories with Santa in the grounds. About 25 miles out.
- LUMINATE at Coombe Abbey, Coventry: a reimagined illuminated trail through a medieval park, late November to New Year. About 15 miles out.
- Enchanted Garden of Oz, Webbs Wychbold: a Wizard-of-Oz themed trail and garden centre lights near Droitwich. About 18 miles out.
- Winter Light Trail, Trentham Estate: over a mile of trail with an après bar, food stalls and a children's funfair. About 40 miles out.
- Winter Glow, Three Counties Showground: an illuminated trail near Malvern that is dog-friendly, with free parking and a chance to meet Santa. About 30 miles out.
- Santa Trains, Severn Valley Railway: steam trains from Kidderminster with private compartments and a visit from Santa at the end of the line. About 22 miles out.
Worth a look
These didn't fit the weekend plan, but they're part of the region's Christmas, and the good ones sell out, so book early.
- The Christmas White Rose, Vintage Trains: Wednesday 2 December, from £132.50. A steam-hauled day trip from Birmingham New Street to York's Christmas market, with time around Stonegate and the Shambles.
- Tales from Acorn Wood at Christmas, MAC: 1–27 December. Julia Donaldson's storybook creatures come to life at the festival's own venue, a gentle festive show for pre-schoolers.