Christmas Lantern Making Workshop & Santa's Lantern Parade
Lower Chambers, Knutsford · 20 min
Sat 21 Nov, workshops 9.30-11am or 12-1.30pm; gather at Knutsford station car park 5.30pm for the parade before the lights switch-onFree, adults freeSold out
Christmas crafts, workshops and storytimes near Timperley 2026
There are 24 craft sessions and storytimes within 45 minutes of Timperley this Christmas, 7 of them free. The nearest is Christmas wreath making afternoon at Sale West Community Church at Sale West Community Centre (10 min, Sun 29 Nov). 3 are selling fast or sold out. Libraries announce their Christmas crafts in late November and early December, and we add them as they do.
Updated . We look for new ones every week and add them as they're announced.
Nothing matches all of those.
Week of Monday 16 November 2
Mr Bear's Christmas - author storytime
Pear Tree Books, Tarporley · 45 min
Sat 3pm; free but ticket required to manage numbersSold outFree
Week of Monday 23 November 6
Gingerbread House Workshop (parent and child)
Bents Garden & Home, Glazebury · 30 min
Fri 5-6pm; one pre-built house per booking to decorate together£25+
Christmas Bake Off with Knutsford Bake Club (children's categories)
Knutsford Market Hall, Silk Mill Street · 25 min
Sat 2pm–5pmFree
Christmas Creative Workshop for ages 7–12
Hazel Grove Bowling and Tennis Club · 30 min
Sat 28 Nov 2pm–3.30pm£10–25
The Little Christmas Tree (festive storytelling show at the library)
Denton West End Community Library · 30 min
Sat 28 Nov, show 3pm to 4pm; the library opens from 2.30pm for refreshmentsFree, adults free
Christmas wreath making afternoon at Sale West Community Church
Sale West Community Centre · 10 min
Sun 29 Nov, 3-5pmFree
Little Chefs at Christmas (children's cooking)
Thompson House Equestrian Centre, Standish · 45 min
Sun 29 Nov, sessions between 10am and 12pm (choose a session when booking)£6 a child
Week of Monday 30 November 5
Christmas pottery painting for all ages at The Bake House
The Bake House, Runcorn · 45 min
Thu 3 Dec, 4.30–6.30pm£13 a child, adults £15 · £56 for a family of four
Shiny Christmas Fun Day (free crafts, storytelling and winter disco) - SOLD OUT
Z-arts, Hulme, Manchester · 20 min
Sat from 11am, 3 hours; A Very Merry Minifest shows at 11am and 2pmSold outFree
LET'S DRAW! Festive cartooning club (ages 6+)
Room for Comics, Macclesfield · 35 min
Date unconfirmed · Sat 5 Dec, 2–3.30pmOn sale Mon 9 Nov 7am£10–25
Pottery painting: Christmas gnomes at Hazlehurst Studios
Hazlehurst Studios, Runcorn · 40 min
Sat 5 Dec, listed 3pm–8pm; the workshop itself is a two-hour session£10–25
Week of Monday 7 December 5
Christmas Elves Workshop
Adventure Forest Play Centre, Trafford Park · 20 min
Saturday 12 December; time not given (shown when you book)£10–25
Christmas Decorations Workshop for neurodivergent young people (ages 10–17)
My:ND Space CIC, Leigh · 30 min
Sat 12 Dec, 1–3pmSEN session£10–25
Arighi Bianchi Festive Family Fun Day (decoration painting and Santa)
Arighi Bianchi, Macclesfield · 35 min
Sat 12 Dec, 10am–3pm£10–25
Little Robin's Christmas (family crafts and robin trail)
Brabyns Park, Marple Bridge · 35 min
Sat 12 Dec, drop in any time 12–3pm at Brabyns Recreation CentreUnder £10
Week of Monday 14 December 5
Cookie decorating workshop for little bakers
Delamere Station House, Delamere Forest, Northwich · 45 min
Tue 15 Dec, 4–5pm (after school)£25 a child
Little Bears Christmas Party
Adventure Forest Play Centre, Trafford Park · 20 min
Friday 18 December; time not given (the usual Little Bears morning runs 9.15–11.15am)£10–25
Free Christmas Kids Crafts (suncatchers) at Kargo MKT
Kargo MKT, Salford Quays · 25 min
Sat 19 Dec 10am–12pmFree
Paint your own Christmas baubles at Kargo MKT
Kargo MKT, Salford Quays · 25 min
Sun 20 Dec, 1–2pmUnder £10
Children's Christmas Craft with Be Wild Creative
The Bridgewater, Worsley · 30 min
Sun 20 Dec, 10.30am–12pmUnder £10
On through the season 1
Runs of more than a week and weekly sessions, nearest first.
Tiny Tots Christmas Party (ages 1–3)
Bents Garden & Home, Glazebury · 30 min
Tue 1, Wed 2, Tue 8, Wed 9, Tue 15 and Wed 16 Dec, 9.30–10.30am, in the family area of the Fresh Approach restaurant£19.99 a child
Free craft sessions and storytimes 7
- Christmas wreath making afternoon at Sale West Community Church Sale · Sun 29 Nov · 10 min · Free
- Christmas Lantern Making Workshop & Santa's Lantern Parade Knutsford · Sat 21 Nov · 20 min · Free
- Shiny Christmas Fun Day Hulme · Sat 5 Dec · 20 min · Free
- Christmas Bake Off with Knutsford Bake Club Knutsford · Sat 28 Nov · 25 min · Free
- Free Christmas Kids Crafts Salford Quays · Sat 19 Dec · 25 min · Free
- The Little Christmas Tree Denton · Sat 28 Nov · 30 min · Free
- Mr Bear's Christmas - author storytime Tarporley · Sat 21 Nov · 45 min · Free
By area 24
Nearest areas first.
In Trafford (Sale, Altrincham)
4
- Christmas wreath making afternoon at Sale West Community Church Sale · Sun 29 Nov · 10 min · Free
- Messy Cafe: Christmas Crafts Altrincham · Sun 6 Dec · 10 min
- Christmas Elves Workshop Trafford Park · Sat 12 Dec · 20 min
- Little Bears Christmas Party Trafford Park · Fri 18 Dec · 20 min
In Cheshire East (Knutsford)
2
- Christmas Lantern Making Workshop & Santa's Lantern Parade Knutsford · Sat 21 Nov · 20 min · Free
- Christmas Bake Off with Knutsford Bake Club Knutsford · Sat 28 Nov · 25 min · Free
In Manchester (Hulme)
1
- Shiny Christmas Fun Day Hulme · Sat 5 Dec · 20 min · Free
In Salford (Glazebury, Worsley)
5
- Free Christmas Kids Crafts Salford Quays · Sat 19 Dec · 25 min · Free
- Paint your own Christmas baubles at Kargo MKT Salford Quays · Sun 20 Dec · 25 min
- Gingerbread House Workshop Glazebury · Fri 27 Nov · 30 min
- Tiny Tots Christmas Party Glazebury · until Wed 16 Dec · 30 min
- Children's Christmas Craft with Be Wild Creative Worsley · Sun 20 Dec · 30 min
In Stockport (Hazel Grove, Marple Bridge)
2
- Christmas Creative Workshop for ages 7–12 Hazel Grove · Sat 28 Nov · 30 min
- Little Robin's Christmas Marple Bridge · Sat 12 Dec · 35 min
In Macclesfield
2
- LET'S DRAW! Festive cartooning club Macclesfield · Sat 5 Dec · 35 min
- Arighi Bianchi Festive Family Fun Day Macclesfield · Sat 12 Dec · 35 min
In Runcorn
2
- Pottery painting: Christmas gnomes at Hazlehurst Studios Runcorn · Sat 5 Dec · 40 min
- Christmas pottery painting for all ages at The Bake House Runcorn · Thu 3 Dec · 45 min
In Cheshire West and Chester (Tarporley, Delamere Forest)
2
- Mr Bear's Christmas - author storytime Tarporley · Sat 21 Nov · 45 min · Free
- Cookie decorating workshop for little bakers Delamere Forest · Tue 15 Dec · 45 min
Further afield
4
- The Little Christmas Tree Denton · Sat 28 Nov · 30 min · Free
- Christmas Decorations Workshop for neurodivergent young people Leigh · Sat 12 Dec · 30 min
- Elf Workshop at Charlie Park Atherton · Sat 12 Dec · 35 min
- Little Chefs at Christmas Standish · Sun 29 Nov · 45 min
Every one side by side
The same list as a table, nearest first. A dash means the organiser doesn't say.
| What | When | Price | What you make or do | Ages | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas wreath making afternoon at Sale West Community ChurchSale West Community Centre · 10 min | Sun 29 Nov 2026 | Free; mince pies included. Book a place online. | Make your own Christmas wreath, with mince pies and festive refreshments | Everyone welcome | – |
| Messy Cafe: Christmas CraftsSt George's Church · 10 min | Sun 6 Dec 2026 | £4 per child; spaces are limited, so book ahead | Festive crafts such as tree decorations and handmade gifts, with homemade cakes and a visit from Santa | Children and grown-ups | On sale |
| Christmas Lantern Making Workshop & Santa's Lantern ParadeLower Chambers · 20 min | Sat 21 Nov 2026 | Free | Make a lantern to carry in Santa's Lantern Parade through the town before the Christmas lights switch-on that evening | – | Sold out |
| Shiny Christmas Fun DayZ-arts · 20 min | Sat 5 Dec 2026 | Free | Hands-on arts and crafts, interactive storytelling and a winter disco, inspired by the venue's Christmas show | For all the family | Sold out |
| Christmas Elves WorkshopAdventure Forest Play Centre · 20 min | Sat 12 Dec 2026 | Price on booking; includes two hours of play, a Christmas Furry Friend to build (worth £24.99) and a hot chocolate | Build a Christmas furry friend toy with a visit from the Christmas Elf, plus Christmas songs, a hot chocolate and a letter to Santa | – | – |
| Little Bears Christmas PartyAdventure Forest Play Centre · 20 min | Fri 18 Dec 2026 | Price on booking | Christmas crafts, party games, Christmas songs and dancing with Bruno the bear and the Christmas Elf | – | – |
| Christmas Bake Off with Knutsford Bake ClubKnutsford Market Hall · 25 min | Sat 28 Nov 2026 | Free to enter; small prizes for ages 4–11, 12–17 and adults | Bring a festive bake made at home to enter the Christmas bake-off; small prizes in each age group | Children's categories for ages 4 to 11 and 12 to 17 | On sale |
| Free Christmas Kids CraftsKargo MKT · 25 min | Sat 19 Dec 2026 | Free, book a ticket | Make a Christmas suncatcher | – | On sale |
| Paint your own Christmas baubles at Kargo MKTKargo MKT · 25 min | Sun 20 Dec 2026 | £3.96 a ticket including booking fee | Paint your own wooden Christmas baubles, guided by Creative Tangent | All ages | On sale |
| Gingerbread House WorkshopBents Garden & Home · 30 min | Fri 27 Nov 2026 | £33 per house (parent and child or children) | Sketch a design, then decorate a large ready-built gingerbread house with piping icing, sweets and chocolates to take home | A parent and child (or children) together | On sale |
| Christmas Creative Workshop for ages 7–12Hazel Grove Bowling and Tennis Club · 30 min | Sat 28 Nov 2026 | £16.96 per child | Several Christmas-themed crafts to take home, with all materials provided | 7 to 12 | On sale |
| The Little Christmas TreeDenton West End Community Library · 30 min | Sat 28 Nov 2026 | Free | Watch a storytelling show with songs, based on Hans Christian Andersen's tale of a little fir tree | Recommended for ages 3 to 7; all ages welcome | On sale |
| Tiny Tots Christmas PartyBents Garden & Home · 30 min | 1–16 Dec 2026 | From £19.99 | Christmas crafts, musical instruments and dancing, stories and songs with the Christmas Elf, and a small food plate | Toddlers aged 1 to 3 | On sale |
| Christmas Decorations Workshop for neurodivergent young peopleMy:ND Space CIC · 30 min | Sat 12 Dec 2026 | £10 contribution plus booking fee (£11.55) | Paint and decorate a set of wooden Christmas decorations to take home | 10 to 17 | On sale |
| Children's Christmas Craft with Be Wild CreativeThe Bridgewater · 30 min | Sun 20 Dec 2026 | £8 to £10 a child on Eventbrite | A morning of Christmas crafts led by two teachers experienced with young children | – | On sale |
| LET'S DRAW! Festive cartooning clubRoom for Comics · 35 min | Sat 5 Dec 2026 | £14.50 a child plus booking fee | Draw festive cartoons and funny Christmas characters with felt pens, led by cartoonist Marc Jackson | 6 and over | Not on sale yet |
| Arighi Bianchi Festive Family Fun DayArighi Bianchi · 35 min | Sat 12 Dec 2026 | Decoration painting £12.50 (two for £22); Santa visit £15.95 a child; store trail free | Paint and personalise a hanging Christmas decoration (a star, tree or AB arch) with Periwinkle & Clay | – | On sale |
| Elf Workshop at Charlie ParkCharlie Park · 35 min | Sat 12 Dec 2026 | Tickets £2.60 to £15.34 on Eventbrite, fees included | Christmas crafts, a letter to Santa, festive story time, games with prizes, dancing and soft play | – | On sale |
| Little Robin's ChristmasBrabyns Park · 35 min | Sat 12 Dec 2026 | £8 for up to four people from one household, £1 each extra (plus booking fee) | Make a robin from wool, fabric and collage, follow a robin picture trail and add a wish or kind message to a community tree | All the family; simple paper robins for younger children | On sale |
| Pottery painting: Christmas gnomes at Hazlehurst StudiosHazlehurst Studios · 40 min | Sat 5 Dec 2026 | £17.85 a ticket plus booking fee (£20.05) | Paint three ceramic Christmas gnome decorations, glazed and fired by the studio's potter for collection before Christmas | All ages | On sale |
| Mr Bear's Christmas - author storytimePear Tree Books · 45 min | Sat 21 Nov 2026 | Free ticket via Eventbrite | A reading of the picture book Mr Bear's Christmas by its local author and illustrator, Lorna Gibson | All ages welcome; the book suits ages 3 to 5 | Sold out |
| Little Chefs at ChristmasThompson House Equestrian Centre · 45 min | Sun 29 Nov 2026 | From £6 | Make a Christmas tree pizza, decorate snowman biscuits to take home and put together a festive afternoon tea | – | On sale |
| Christmas pottery painting for all ages at The Bake HouseThe Bake House · 45 min | Thu 3 Dec 2026 | From £13 | Paint a Christmas plate, a single ornament or a set of three tree ornaments; they're glazed and fired, ready to collect a week later | All ages | On sale |
| Cookie decorating workshop for little bakersDelamere Station House · 45 min | Tue 15 Dec 2026 | From £25 | Decorate festive biscuits using simple, child-friendly icing techniques and take them home | 5 to 10 | On sale |
Questions parents ask
Where's the nearest Christmas craft session to Timperley?
The nearest to Timperley are Christmas wreath making afternoon at Sale West Community Church (Sale, Sun 29 Nov, 10 min), Messy Cafe: Christmas Crafts (Altrincham, Sun 6 Dec, 10 min) and Christmas Lantern Making Workshop & Santa's Lantern Parade (Knutsford, Sat 21 Nov, 20 min).
Are there free Christmas crafts for children?
Yes: libraries, museums and community centres run free Christmas crafts, often drop-in. 7 craft sessions and storytimes listed here are free (some ask for a donation). The nearest are Christmas wreath making afternoon at Sale West Community Church (Sale, Sun 29 Nov, 10 min), Christmas Lantern Making Workshop & Santa's Lantern Parade (Knutsford, Sat 21 Nov, 20 min) and Shiny Christmas Fun Day (Hulme, Sat 5 Dec, 20 min). There are 7 in all, listed under Free.
Do you need to book Christmas craft workshops?
Workshops with materials to take home usually need booking and can sell out; library and museum crafts are often turn-up. Each listing says which, with the ages it's for.