Lotherton's Christmas Experience is currently in full swing and though we didn't see everything on offer, we got a taste of what it's all about. Santa is in residence for those wishing to let him know last minute gift requests and elves are on hand helping in the workshop. More elves can be found in the Elf Village helping little ones in craft activities and telling stories, and older visitors can grab refreshments.
We usually take a walk through the Captains Wood when we visit Lotherton with Archie, he loves woodland walks, but this time was a little different. A magical Twelve Days of Christmas Walk has been set up, let me show you a few of the attractions.
At the start of the walk is this grand organ. Press the buttons and it plays The Twelve Days of Christmas.
Most of the displays are interactive so it's hands on for younger visitors. The Ten Lords A-Leaping were cordoned off, each one lit up in sequence.
The Nine Ladies Dancing could be spun round and round and the faster they spun the brighter they lit up.
Archie was interested in the flashing Five Gold Rings.
There were Six Geese A-Laying in one of the sheds but a golden egg shy had been set up for visitors to try and knock down.
How about these Seven Swans A-Swimming?
1. Hook a swan
2. Move the rod up the window carefully.
3. Place the swan gently on the waterfall.
4. Wait.
5. Watch the swan slide and dive.
6. Celebrate.
7. Swans are swimming.
Here we are at Drummers Avenue where we can find Twelve Drummers Drumming.
If you stand behind each of the drummers and pull on the ropes you can make them drum.
As we came out the woods we saw a sign for the Fairy Dell.
I can't resist fairies so I had to visit their little village.
The houses were so cute and as we walked through the dell, the sound of fairies filled the air. They were whispering to each other about the people who passed by.
We visited the Christmas Courtyard before we ended our visit. Snow was fluttering about and one lady expressed her embarrassment to us, she'd just rung a relative and said she couldn't believe it was snowing, before she saw me taking a photo of the snow machine set up in the upstairs window of one of the buildings.
We could see the Christmas trees twinkling in the windows of Lotherton Hall, we couldn't go inside as we had Archie with us but I bet it's decorated beautifully.
We're so lucky to live close to Lotherton as they really make an effort with all their events.
My dad is currently back in hospital so I've been staying with my mum for the last couple of days. She doesn't have internet access so I haven't been able to get round and visit your blogs as often as I usually do. We're hoping that he'll be discharged tomorrow so, hopefully, normality will resume.
Fingers crossed your dad will be home soon, Lotherton sounds a wonderful place.
ReplyDeleteThank you. We're hoping that he'll be discharged tomorrow but we know that things can change from one day to the next. We're so lucky to have Lotherton on our doorstep, we visit regularly.
DeleteSounds like a nice little break. Didn't see Archie in the last photo until I was going to close. That made me smile and did all the pics. Hope your Dad comes home soon.
ReplyDeleteHa ha, I don't think Archie was impressed having to stick his head through the hole. Thank you, we're keeping our fingers crossed that he'll be home tomorrow.
DeleteWhat a great place to visit, not a tat stall in sight and no fast food wrappers. I hope that your Dad recovers swiftly.
ReplyDeleteIt does make a change in this day and age for an event such as this not to be selling tat. Thank you, my dad's on the road to recovery again now.
DeleteThat sounds like a wonderful well-thought-out attraction.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been to Lotherton's Christmas event before so we really enjoyed it, it was a nice change to our usual walk when we visit.
DeleteThat looks like a fantastic and whimsical walk through a fairy land. Im wishing your father well JO!
ReplyDeleteThere's so much to enjoy at the moment at Lotherton. Thank you, he seems to be doing much better now.
DeleteI love places like this! When I was a kid, a local plant nursery would have a Christmas "tunnel" every year, where you'd go in from an entrance on the outside of the store, wend your way through a bunch of exhibits with moving figurines and then it would end with Santa Claus inside the store and you could talk to him about what you wanted for Christmas. I wish there were something like this where I live now. I loved seeing Archie in the Five Gold Rings, which would be my favorite too. :)
ReplyDeleteWe always used to take our kids to things like this but now our children are grown I still enjoy getting my fix as and when I can. They're so much fun.
DeleteWhat a marvelous display!!!!! Never seen anything like this! Some places have light displays. But this is much more interesting!!!! So glad you got to visit, and share it with us.
ReplyDeleteHope your dad will be home soon. It's difficult for everyone.
Hugs..
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Lotherton is a great place for family fun, they put on some great events but even without them, it's a great place for kids and adults alike. Thank you, we're hoping he'll be home tomorrow. It's always a worry when a loved one is in hospital.
DeleteJust noticed the side bar pic of the Dragon Scales Shawl! Never noticed it before.
ReplyDeleteI love dragons! So I have to love this!
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I named it the Dragon Scales Shawl as the name of the yarn was Dragon Scales. It's iridescent and quite shimmery so it's the perfect name for it.
DeleteHope your Dad is better soon. Love the village.
ReplyDeleteThank you. He's being discharged this afternoon so he'll be pleased about that. The little village was really well done.
DeleteWhat a lot of effort they have put into their attraction, lovely way to spend an afternoon. Hope your Dad is feeling better and he gets to come home xcx
ReplyDeleteThey've put a lot of thought into things so there's plenty to see and do. It's lovely for little ones. Thank you, my dad should be home this afternoon, thank goodness.
DeleteNice post and pictures. Good to see something like this that is all about Christmas in a non-commercial way.
ReplyDeleteI hope that your dad is okay. xx
It's nice for a place such as this to include events in the admission price instead of charging extra for them as so many do. There's so much here to keep little ones entertained. My dad is on the mend now, thank you.
DeleteOh wow, I have never seen anything like this, it was truly wonderful, some people are so clever and inspiring, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteIt's a lovely event to visit, definitely gets you in the Christmas spirit.
DeleteHope Dad gets better soon. Your trip looks grwat fun, all it needed was three foot of snow! x
ReplyDeleteThank you. He's on the mend and is being allowed home this afternoon. I agree, snow would be a wonderful setting.
DeleteWhat a great place and looks to be so much fun for the young and young at heart. Hope your Dad will be home again soon.
ReplyDeleteThey put on some great events at Lotherton, fun for the whole family. Thank you. My dad isn't home yet but he is being allowed home later on today.
DeleteWell, that's a great way to get into the holiday spirit! I was just thinking the snow on the fairy houses looked so real then read the bit about the snow machine.
ReplyDeleteSending good thoughts for a swift recovery to your dad XO
The snow was very realistic, our walk made me feel all Christmassy. Thank you, my dad came home late yesterday afternoon, though I'm not convinced he should have been allowed home.
DeleteLovely seeing your photographs, and I'm the same, because I too can't resist fairies so I would have to visit their little village... so magical.
ReplyDeleteSending healing wishes for your Dad, and hoping he is back home soon.
All the best Jan
The fairy village was lovely, especially with sound effects playing in the background. Thank you, my dad's home again now but still not in the best of health.
DeleteWhat a lot of effort has gone into the festivities at Lotherton, it does look amazing.
ReplyDeleteSad to read Dad is unwell again, I hope he is soon home resting and feeling better.
love and {hugs} to you Jo at this worrying time. xx
We really enjoy visiting Lotherton because they do make such an effort with all their events. Thank you, my dad was allowed home yesterday but was still unwell, I shall be popping over to see how he is today shortly.
DeleteGlad to hear that your Dad is coming home and hope that everything goes well for you and the family. The walk looks magical with a nice theme that's perfect for interactive fun. Love the cute photo of Archie at the end.
ReplyDeleteThank you, it's always a worry when a loved one is unwell. My dad came home from hospital but is still unwell at the moment, they don't keep them in any longer than they have to. I'm not sure Archie enjoyed having his photo taken but it was a lovely walk through the Twelve Days of Christmas.
DeleteThis looks like a lot of festive fun, Jo, and the frozen little houses are adorable. We are having a dull and dreary weekend ourselves, very cold and a lot of rain. But nice and cozy inside.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
It's a case of getting out when we can now with the weather as it is. It was fine here this morning but it's raining now. It makes me feel like hunkering down.
Deleteso fun...
ReplyDeletehave a great weekend
It's a great place to visit.
DeleteIt looks like a very festive place to visit. Glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteThey put on a great event, the kids must love it there as we certainly do.
DeleteThanks for sharing Jo & do hope by the time you see this your Dad is home & doing better. Take care & huggles.
ReplyDeleteThank you. My dad came home on Friday, though he still wasn't very well. He improved a bit yesterday so I'll be popping round shortly to see how he's doing today.
DeleteAh, your poor dad, here's to him improving. I loved this post, what a wonderful, creative display.xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you. He's feeling a little more like himself again now. We enjoyed visiting Lotherton's Christmas Experience, good old fashioned family fun.
DeleteSo interesting to see what other districts do to celebrate the Christmas season.
ReplyDeleteThere's lots of Christmas events going on at this time of year, so many lovely celebrations.
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