Are you crazy about Christmas and a huge fan of all things festive?

There’s so much going on around Barnsley over the coming weeks to keep your Christmas spirit topped up.

From Christmas fairs and markets to light art installations, meet-and-greets with Santa and more than enough carol singing to enjoy, look no further than Barnsley.

The town centre will be the place to be for the Bright Nights light and sound spectacular on 22 and 23 November and you won’t want to miss out on our Christmas Market in the Glass Works Square from 5 to 8 December.

Our communities around the borough are also pulling out all the stops to make it this Christmas a cracker for everyone.

Festive fun in the Dearne includes the Goldthorpe Christmas Market and Lights Switch-On at the Horse and Groom Square from 12pm on 30 December.

There will be a brass band, children’s rides, carols, stalls, refreshments, carnival games including “hook a Santa” and a lantern procession from Goldthorpe Pentecostal Christian Church before the big switch-on at 4.45pm.

In Hoyland, Hoyland Traders’ Group and volunteers from Owd Martha’s Yard are hosting a magical Christmas Market and Lantern Parade on 5 December.

A special Flavours of Christmas event in Worsbrough aims to bring together diverse communities for a festive celebration focused on food, music, and social interaction. 

The event runs from 3pm to 6pm on Thursday, 12 December.

Our Barnsley Museums have everything place for Christmas cheer, from A Very Victorian Christmas and the 12 Days of Christmas Family Trail at Cannon Hall Museum, Park and Gardens to the ever-popular Christmas Market at Elsecar Heritage Centre. There’s also a Community Toy Swap at Experience Barnsley on 7 December to help give unwanted toys a new home.

Visit the Barnsley Museums website for full details of all our events.

There’s loads going at our libraries, too. Why not make a willow wreath with artist and basket weaver Maggie Cooper at Worsbrough Library on 29 November? You can also create your own bespoke decorations with expert Julie Pratt at Library@Lightbox from 5.30pm on 11 December.

Visit the Barnsley Libraries events pages for more information.

Take a look at the full list of events below to find out where you can see Santa, join in carol singing and warm up with a hot chocolate while basking in the glow of festive lights this Christmas.

Barnsley North:

22 November: Mapplewell Christmas Lights Switch-On at Mapplewell Village Hall from 5pm. 

22-24 November: Mapplewell Beer Festival – Mapplewell Village Hall. Friday – 5pm to 10pm; Saturday – 1pm to 6pm; Sunday – 1pm to 4pm. Festival Guide available on the group’s website www.mapplewellbeerfestival.com

28 November: Woodview Christmas Tree Lights Switch-On. Redbrook Road, Gawber. Carol singing, mince pies and hot refreshments. 5pm to 6pm.

29 November: Woolley Colliery Christmas Lights Switch-On at Woolley Colliery Road. Santa, carol singing and hot chocolate, 5pm to 6pm.

2 December: Windhill Christmas Tree Light Switch-On, Keswick Road, Darton. Santa, carol singing and hot chocolate, 5pm to 6pm.

5 December: Kexborough Christmas, Priestley Avenue Community Centre, Kexbrough. Annual Christmas Tree light switch on event.  Santa, carol singing and hot refreshments.  Organised by Voice for Darton & Kexbrough supported by DW Ward Alliance. 4pm to 6pm.

Barnsley South

24 November: Darfield Santa’s Grotto and Christmas Fayre at Darfield Community Centre from 12 noon to 4pm.

24 November: Merry Brassmas at Darfield Community Centre. 6pm.

29 November: Darfield Museum Lights Switch-on and carols on the patio (time TBC)

5 December: Hoyland Christmas Market and Lantern Parade. Take chance to meet Father Christmas and enjoy carols from a school choir and entertainment from Hoyland Theatre Group. 4pm to 8pm.

7 December: Wombwell High Street Christmas Event and Lights Switch-On. 11am to 4pm. Music from the Salvation Army Band from 3.30pm. Lights Switch-On at 4pm. 

12 December: Santa’s Grotto at Wombwell Library (times TBC).

12 December: Flavours of Christmas event at Worsbrough Sports and Development Association (Miners’ Welfare Hall) on Park Road, Worsbrough. This event aims to bring together diverse communities for a festive celebration focused on food, music, and social interaction. 3pm to 6pm.

Barnsley East

9 November: Thurnscoe Pre-Christmas table top sale, St Helen’s Church Hall, Thurnscoe. 2pm to 4pm. Free entry.

23 November: Thurnscoe Christmas Fair and Visit from Santa at The Playhouse and Cafe, Thurnscoe. 9.30am to 2.30pm.

28 November: Thurnscoe Library Christmas Market and Lights Switch-on. Brass band and “elf checks” from service providers. 3pm to 5pm.

30 November: Goldthorpe Christmas Market and Lights Switch-on at Horse and Groom Square in Goldthorpe. Brass band, school choir, children’s rides, mobile bar and hot food. 12 noon to 5pm.

1 December: Bolton upon Dearne Christmas Lights Switch-on at St Andrew’s Square, Bolton upon Dearne. Christmas market, Christmas lights switch-on, brass band, Children’s rides and hot food. 10am to 3pm.

7 December: Robert Ogden School Christmas Fayre at Robert Ogden School, Thurnscoe. 11am to 2pm.

14 December: Dearne Kids Christmas Fayre and Santa’s Grotto at Houghton Road Centre, Thurnscoe. 10am to 3pm.

14 December: Christmas Coffee Morning at Goldthorpe Pentecostal Christian Church. Home baking, Christmas cards for sale, hot food and drink. 10am to 12 noon.

22 December: Carol Service and Nativity Musical at Goldthorpe Pentecostal Church. Free entry and refreshments. 6pm.

25 December: Christmas Day Service at Goldthorpe Pentecostal Church. 10.30am.

Barnsley West

30 November: Penistone Church Christmas Fayre. Visit from Santa, Lights Switch-on, handmade products, gifts and food. 12 noon.

1 December: High Street Christmas event at Dodworth. Live music and entertainment and the chance to meet Santa at Dodworth Library. 1pm to 4pm.

5 December: Glass Fusion Workshop at Springvale Community Garden. Create your own unique Christmas decorations and gifts. 10.30am to 1pm. £35. Booking essential via springvalecommunitygarden@yahoo.co.uk.

7 December: Jubilee Singers Christmas Concert at St Andrew’s Church, Penistone. Tickets priced at £8 are available on the door. 7pm.