Winter Glow 2024: Review

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Winter Glow 2024 is back bigger and better than ever, running from 22nd November to 31st December 2024. Since the first Winter Glow that had lockdown to contend with, it has improved each year. Located at the enormous Three Counties Show Ground in Malvern, Worcestershire, the event is easy to get to from around the West Midlands and it’s a great way to kick off the festive period. With a light trail, festive ice rink, UV glow crazy golf and personalised Santa experiences, Winter Glow makes a fantastic Christmas day out. This year, there’s an indoor Christmas market, a bar and lots of food stalls with picnic benches indoors and out to enjoy the food. There are some brilliant fairground rides this year too, much to my children’s delight!

Winter Glow 2024 Review: Ice Rink

One of the largest covered ice rinks in the region opened at Winter glow on 22nd November 2024. Skate aids are available for families and there’s a large spectator area and café with festive drinks and snacks. Skate hire is included in the price of your 45 minute session and there’s an extra charge for skate aids.

There’s a 15 minute break between each skate session when staff sweep the ice. It’s advisable to arrive around half an hour early for your session to collect skates in plenty of time. Fifteen minutes before your session, the previous session will be coming off the ice and getting back into their shoes. So, to avoid queuing it’s best to collect skates before then. 

We always enjoy ice skating at Winter Glow and appreciate the whale skating aids for Lia who is like Bambi on ice. If you have children who haven’t skated before or who are known to be a liability on a slippery surface, I highly recommend investing in a skate aid.

Winter Glow 2024 Review: Illuminated light trail

The Winter Glow light trail has become somewhat iconic over the years. It is definitely the signature attraction. It’s safe to say that this year’s was the best yet, with a theme and a story to read as you walk around. Jingle the elf is on an adventure to help the Light Guardians to restore joy and happiness to the Winter Village. The light trail is dog friendly on 22nd, 23rd and 29th November and 11th to 13th, 16th, 19th and 27th to 31st December 2024.

Children have to read the information on their way around and press buttons that light up clues. Old favourite Winter Glow features are back too, including the signature cathedral arch for the ultimate selfie. The whole light trail is outdoors so we definitely advise wrapping up warm. Particularly as you’ll want to take your time on the trail, reading all the information and taking some beautiful photos.

The illuminations this year combine favourites from the past with brand new displays. Both my children and others walking through at the same time enjoyed reading the clues. For kids, the story elevates the experience from looking at something beautiful to going on an adventure. Lots of Christmas music plays as you are walking around too, it certainly gets you into the festive spirit!

Personalised Santa Experience

Please note, we didn’t go to the Santa Experience in 2024, so I have left my review below from 2022. One feature I love from 2024 is that if you go on the dog friendly nights, your pet can go into Santa’s grotto to meet Santa Paws too!

Children invited to meet Santa arrive at his huge workshop full of toys and festive cheer to chat to the elves before meeting the man himself. Every child receives a gift and one of Mrs Claus’ fresh cookies to decorate. Parents can enjoy a mulled wine while kids decorate their cookies and children are offered either a hot chocolate or an apple juice. Families visit Santa together and the elves are happy to take a photo of you all with your camera or phone. Santa experiences are available from 22nd November to 24th December 2024. If you book at least 14 days in advance, your child will receive a personalised invitation from Santa, asking them to visit him.  

Father Christmas’s village and workshop at Winter Glow are brilliant fun. Children can fill in a piece of paper answering questions to receive a little prize. Elves help out on a craft table where kids can make a beautiful tree decoration and games are available to play too. My husband and I played giant connect 4 and a slingshot board game while the children did some crafts. We always love the singing reindeer too. Waiting for Santa was no chore at all. When it was time to see him, we were called through as a family and the children had to knock on the door to let him know we were there.

Santa knew lots about the girls and had a lovely chat about the instruments they have started to play over the past few months. Although my children are too old to believe that this was the real Santa, it was still a fun experience to meet and chat with him. I thought he pitched it quite well for their age group (8 and 10). The gifts from Santa were really good this year and my girls were genuinely delighted. Libby had a Jump It Lap Counter and Lia had a Slushy Maker.

UV Glow Crazy Golf

UV Glow Crazy Golf is new for Winter Glow 2024. There’s an 18-hole crazy golf course that glows in the dark thanks to UV lights. My girls loved the way the UV made their teeth light up too! The decorations around the course are really cute and it’s a great way to spend an hour as a family. Groups tee off every 10 minutes, so you won’t be waiting for the group in front or getting caught up by those behind you. As well as booking in advance, you can join the standby queue to take part on the day. Balls and putters are provided.

Winter Glow 2024 Review: Additional attractions

Like last year, entry to Winter Glow is free if you don’t want to book any of the attractions. With parking free as well, it’s a really nice way to spend an evening. If you choose to do this, you can enjoy the following and the only cost is whatever you choose to buy:

Fairground Rides

This year’s fairground rides were great for older children as well as little ones. Whizz around on the waltzer, race on the Dogems, try not to fall over in the fun house and bounce on the Trampolines. There are a few rides aimed at younger children as well. To go on the rides, you’ll need to purchase tokens first as they don’t accept cash at the ride entrance.

Festive Food Quarter and Ice Café

A variety of vans were in the food quarter this year so there’s plenty of choice, including pizza slices, gyros, burgers, chips, Yorkshire pudding wraps and a vast array of sweet treats. I thought the prices were relatively reasonable at around £8 to £10 for an adult meal. We actually ran out of time and didn’t manage to get a meal at Winter Glow this year, although the girls did have some donuts. I would strongly advise leaving plenty of time if you have a few activities booked though, so you have time for the lovely craft market and delicious food.

Mulled wine is readily available from the ice café and bar which made us feel particularly festive. Beer and other drinks are on sale too. There’s plenty of indoor seating for the food this year, although the area is still quite chilly so I advise wrapping up warm if you’re going there to eat and drink.

Christmas Market

Within the same area as the food, bar, ice rink, ice café and UV golf is a small Christmas Market. It’s a great place to pick up unique gifts from local traders. Stalls include:

• Jewellery
• Soap
• Artwork
• Christmas decorations and cards
• Sweets, cakes and chocolates
• Candles and accessories
• Gifts for home and garden
• Books

This is a lovely way to support local traders and make an evening of Christmas shopping along with enjoying the other Winter Glow attractions.

Winter Glow 2024 Review: Other things that are useful to know

• Tickets: Winter Glow tickets must be booked in advance from the Winter Glow Website. Each element of the experience needs to be booked separately.
• When is Winter Glow taking place? 22nd November to 31st December 2024 but do check the dates of particular attractions. The Christmas market is only open on select dates, finishing on Christmas Eve and the Father Christmas experience also ends on Christmas Eve.
• Accessibility: The event seems very accessible, particularly for those in manual chairs. Manual wheelchairs can go on the ice rink and on the observation wheel. Santa’s grotto is also accessible for manual wheelchairs. The majority of the paths on the illumination trail are wide, hard-standing and fine for wheelchairs and buggies. However, there will be a few slightly uneven parts.
• SEND sessions: SEND sessions for Santa and the light trail take place on 24th November and 6th, 17th and 18th December 2024.
• Parking: There is a large, free car park at Winter Glow.
• What to wear: It is important to wrap up warm for Winter Glow. The illuminated light trail is outside, as is the Fun House. The indoor area isn’t particularly warm either. Wellies or other strong footwear are advisable as it does get muddy in places although the majority of the light trail is on hardstanding paths. Winter Glow also advise wrapping up warm for ice skating although it is indoors, because it takes place on real ice.
• Dogs: This is a dog friendly event on specific dates which are 22nd, 23rd and 29th November and 11th to 13th, 16th, 19th and 27th to 31st December 2024. Dogs can be added to your Santa booking on the opening weekend, and any weekday Santa except for 23rd and 24th December.
• Other Christmas events in the local area: Head to my roundup post for more Christmas events in Worcestershire.

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