Oyez, oyez! This year’s Bury Christmas Fayre is going to be bigger and better than ever! From Friday 25 to Sunday 27 November it will be spreading from Angel Hill, Abbey Gardens, the Athenaeum and Moyse’s Hall up into the apex and arc shopping centre with music, food and crafts in Charter Square. Expect the usual abundance of colourful stalls from all over the UK, traders from all over the world, fairground attractions plus great on-stage entertainment. New this year, Hatter Street will be closed to traffic and hosting a mini folk festival, plus The Beerhouse are having a Winter Beer Festival til 11pm daily. Cheers!

Hey, it’s panto season – oh yes it is, so turn again – to the Theatre Royal where, on 25 November, Dick Whittington strides onto stage with his cat; a fantastic, feline, fun-fuelled and fantabulous frolic for all the family  or 01284 769505

For a unique atmospheric cinematic experience the 1925 silent horror film The Phantom of the Opera is being screened on Saturday 12 November at St Edmundsbury Cathedral. As a finale in their organ festival, the film, starring Lon Chaney as the masked Phantom haunting the Paris Opera House, will have live organ accompaniment by David Briggs. Plus the Cathedral annual Christmas Fair is on Friday 25 & Saturday 26 November, 10am-5pm, stalls with treats, gifts, cakes, jigsaws, books, plants and paintings, plus Shoppers’ Carol services at 2pm and 3pm on Friday and Saturday, lasting just 25 minutes, as a reminder of what Christmas is all about, while outside sheep, donkeys and alpacas enact the Living Nativity

The beautiful Blackthorpe Barn will be opening its traditional festive doors, the shop (open daily from 5 November to 22 December) a haven for everything Christmassy from special gifts, baubles and decorations to lighting and gift wrap, plus Christmas Craft weekends from Saturday 12 November through to Saturday 10 December
 

Just next door, Blackthorpe House & Design will be selling all things delicious to decorate the house, from baubles and lamps to wallpaper and paint, plus gorgeous presents: handbags, pyjamas, scarves and throws. Every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 10-4pm, from 9 -11 November through until 14-16 December.

To celebrate St Edmund Day on 20 November, learn all about him in a lecture at Moyse’s Hall while West Stow Anglo Saxon Village will be celebrating Christmas with three weekends of Yule Fest; live music whilst you shop for unusual Christmas gifts.

Get ready for an Edwardian Christmas throughout December at Ickworth House on Saturdays 3, 10 and 17 December & Sundays 4, 11 and 18 December, 11am – 4pm, mulled wine, mince pies and a warm welcome await - make crackers and decorations, stories and gifts with Father Christmas; festive treats in the kitchen, carols in the house and behind the scenes tours. Free entry to park, gardens, shop and restaurant. And on Sunday 11 December, 6-7.30pm, join a lantern lit carols in the Italianate garden with choirs, bells and a carolling celebration; mulled wine and hot snacks from restaurant; gift shop will be open.

From Saturday 12 November to Saturday 24 December, Smiths Row at Christmas will see a celebration of the very best of British Craft

Now’s the time to book your Christmas party: Ravenwood Hall have parties every night during December. Start the evening with a glass of bucks fizz, 4 course meal then dancing until midnight in a festive atmosphere; £37.95 per person, Sun – Thurs; £39.95pp Fri and Sat. Call 01359 270345 to book your table from 8-130 guests!  Plus Ravenwood Children’s Trust Black Tie Ball is being held on Sunday 27 November: aperitif, canapés, four course meal, auction & dancing until 12.30pm; £399.50 table of 10, smaller groups can be joined together £39.95 per person.

Ho ho ho - Pakenham Watermill is pleased to announce the benevolent presence/presents of Father Christmas on Sunday 4 December; he has agreed to arrive by boat and deliver presents for children from in and around Pakenham. The Mill opens at 3pm and Father Christmas will arrive at 4.30pm.