Festive Family Days Out this Christmas

Come to Drake Circus and The Barcode for a season full of joy and fun for all the family

Head to Drake Circus and The Barcode for a festive season you’ll remember forever. With festive characters, sparkling lights, snow flurries, incredible shopping, a brand-new soft play, Christmas menus for all ages, fun days out, family movies, easy parking and more, we’ve got endless possibilities for delight this Christmas – all in one place.

Join us for our Christmas lights switch-on event

On Thursday 14th November from 3.30pm, we’ll be joined by Christmas’ naughtiest festive friends, the Parcel Rascals, who’ll be out causing mischief across the centre with their giant game of pass-the-parcel. We also welcome back our Elf & Safety Team. Our festive characters will also be helping us with our official countdown for the 5pm switch-on!

Snow flurries, from Thursday 14th November to 24th December at 4pm

Every day from Thursday 14th November to Christmas Eve, join us for our festive flurries and be sure to get your Christmas jumpers ready for some perfect snowy selfies.

Meet some Christmas favourites with our walkabout characters

Beaky Boo, Thursday 21st November at 4.30pm, 5.45pm and 7pm (30 minutes per set)

Meet Crumpet the Elf and Cheeky and Beaky the Emperor Penguins. With their passion for fish, these inquisitive, larger-than-life birds follow wherever the bucket of trout goes. Interact with these beautiful Antarctic creatures, give them a stroke, or simply pose for a photo. Banter with Crumpet the lively Elf, as he is certain to put you in the festive spirit!

Parcel Rascals, Sunday 1st December 11am-4pm

Come and meet Christmas’ naughtiest festive friends, the Parcel Rascals, who’ll be out causing mischief across the centre with their giant game of pass-the-parcel. Some lucky visitors will be invited to unwrap each layer to discover a festive gift and a clue for who the parcel should be passed to next!

Elf & Safety Team, Sunday 8th December, at intervals between 11am-4pm

Our Elf & Safety Team will be on hand to check shoppers are carrying their bags correctly, maintaining hydration levels and crossing the threshold into shops with caution! With their clipboards and hard hats at the ready, watch them work their magic with straight faces and ridiculous rules.

Harry and Marv, Sunday 15th December, intervals between 11-4pm

Expect Christmas chaos, belly laughs, and maybe a little petty theft! You better be on high alert because the Sticky Bandits are hitting Drake Circus this holiday season – complete with crowbars, swag bags and, of course, Marv’s worst nightmare: the tarantula!

Polar Pip, Thursday 19^th December at 4.30pm, 5.45pm and 7pm

Meet Polar Pip. The biggest, bestest buddy you’re about to make firm friends with. Pip may not speak your language, but he’ll certainly make sure you know how happy he is to be here. The cold is snow joke where Pip comes from and that’s why he’s wearing that scarf! Don’t be shy now! Step forward, say hi and if you want the best bear hug in town, all you have to do is ask.

Enjoy must-see Christmas movies at Cineworld

This year is set to be one of the most exciting times for family movies with Wicked (22 November), Moana 2 (27th November) and Mufasa: The Lion King (20th December) all coming to the big screen at Cineworld. Book all your days out here here.

Eat, drink and be merry with family-friendly festive menus

Image provided by Franco Manca

Come together for sitdown celebrations with everyone you love at The Barcode. Las Iguanas’ has the seasonal Fiesta Festiva extravaganza (tacos, bottomless brunches and snackitos and sharing boards for children) while Zizzi’s Christmas menu is full of seasonal joy including venison pepperoni and hot honey pizza and pig in blanket bombe with a kids’ menu featuring three courses of mini pizza, veggie sticks, pasta and gelati for £8.50.

Head to YO! for winter-warming ramens, katsu curries, teriyaki and the best Japanese street food or book into Franco Manca for their four-course menu for £25 with pizza, drink and an ice cream £8.25 for kids. Finally, treat the whole family to out-of-this-world sundaes, crepes and doughnuts with festive treats for all at Kaspa’s Desserts.

Make some treasured memories with fun places to play together

Whether it’s a family game of mini golf in the swamps and surprises of Paradise Island Adventure Golf (from £5.50 for under 5s to £34 for a family ticket) or duckpin bowling and loaded nachos at Spinners delight and entertain them with fun days out together.

Special Christmas opening hours

With a wide range of stores, easy parking and access via train, and bus, discover the best beauty, fashion tech, jewellery, food and unexpected Secret Santas at Drake Circus and The Barcode’s stores.

With Apple, Lush, Levi’s and Mango plus great toy stores including The Entertainer, Mooch, Waterstones, Marks & Spencer, Hotel Chocolat and Flying Tiger Copenhagen, we have you covered.

It’s super easy for families to get here. If you’re travelling by train, we’re just under 15 minutes’ walk from Plymouth train station and, if you prefer to drive, then we have more than 2,000 spaces at our car parks. There are designated children-and-parent and disabled spaces plus six electric charging points.

Don’t forget – you can Click & Collect and share your festive selfies at @drakecircus; sign up for the latest menus and offers here.