christmas

Your essential guide to what’s on in and around Exeter this weekend (2-4 December).

THEATRE

Comedy at the Park Friday, 7pm, Sandy Park, Exeter An evening of comedy MC-ed by Carly Smallman, described as 'the most exciting female act in the country right now.' First up is Trevor Crook, a deadpan Australian - one of Australia's most successful comics in the UK, followed by Simon Clayton, a likeable, fast-thinking Londoner' followed by John Robertson who's 'cheeky, brilliant, funny and sharp. Tickets £10 or £15 to include a meal. www.sandypark.co.uk/book

Living with...

Last month Princesshay launched a competition on its website to name its Christmas Polar Bears, a hugely popular feature of the city’s Christmas lights.

More than 250 entries were received, with Clarence (cub) and Hope (Mum) selected as the winning names.

The names were suggested by Joanne Allen from Exeter, who was also the lucky recipient of a £50 Princesshay Gift Card and family pass to the Winter Snow Globe.

Clarence and Hope will continue to light up Princesshay Square through the festive season. The sparkling bears are already the subject of hundreds of photos...

Last year we spent an average of £596 on Christmas presents, consumed around 10 million turkeys and munched our way through 10,000 mince pies! We are obsessed with the festive period, but how has Christmas changed over the years?

Photobox has created an interactive journey that shares festive facts from the past, present and future - giving us Christmas-loving Brits some interesting insights into our favourite day! What’s been the top selling toy throughout the years or the average cost of a Christmas dinner? Find out here…

Festive facts include:

• 880 million
...

Get the festive season started at Exeter Racecourse this Friday, December 2 with the first of two December meetings.

Pre-booked Grandstand and Paddock tickets are available for just £5 each for groups of ten or more plus there’s a scrumptious Festive package on the menu too that includes Premier admission, a racecard, a baguette or Chunks pie, a mince pie and a glass of sparkling wine, all for just £30.

This meeting is renowned for the quality of its racing with high profile horses among the winners in recent years. Last year Lizzie Kelly was on board Tea For Two when he...

Exeter city centre will be full of festive cheer this Christmas courtesy of the Exeter Business Improvement District (BID). Starting from the 24th November, festive entertainers will be taking to the streets of Exeter to entertain shoppers.

The Winter Fairy, Betty Twinkle, the Bouncing Elves and many more will be appearing in the heart of the city every Thursday and Sunday until 22nd December. Dressed in enchanting light up costumes you won’t miss them as they walk around the centre with music, magic displays, balloon art and juggling shows.

The countdown to Christmas in...

An ambitious production of Scrooge the Musical – based on the Dickens’ classic ‘A Christmas Carol’ - promises to be a festive treat for audiences.

The song-filled community performance, which features actors, singers and dancers from Kentisbeare Performing Arts, takes place at Kentisbeare Village Hall from Tuesday December 6 to Saturday, December 10.

The production has been co-ordinated by musical director/producer Alan Boxer, director Rob Pudner, choreographer Leanne Perkins and designer Chris Speyer. James Wakefield steps into the miserly shoes of the title character....

East Devon’s Cotley Farm’s welcomed a baby reindeer to the herd in May this year.

It’s rare for baby reindeer to be born in this country – and to survive, as the survival rates are not high over the first few months. The last calf the farm are aware of being born in the Westcountry was in Cornwall in 2010.

Cotley’s owner Helen Bowker said, “It was a bit of a surprise all round to be honest. We hadn’t thought Spice was young enough to be in calf and she’d always been a bit tubby but we knew there was an outside chance. However, she had shown no signs of labour in the morning...

A Brothers Grimm spell has been cast over Killerton this Christmas.

For the first time, the National Trust property will be transformed into classic fairy tales with a festive twist from Saturday 19 November.

Each year, to celebrate the start of Christmas at Killerton, the staff step out of their day jobs and ‘get into character’ for the festive theme with a specially commissioned photoshoot. This year, the staff portrayed Sleeping Beauty and Little Red Riding Hood. Visitors can then see scenes from the stories on display in the exhibition (although the staff will be back...