The Reader announces packed programme of events for the festive period

Brunch with Mrs Claus, wreath making and A Christmas Carol Deep Read are just a few festive treats at Calderstones Park The Reader has announced for Christmas 2024.

The festive offering at The Reader will start on Saturday November 23 with Christmas Incy Wincy Rhymers, for one to four-year-olds, and Elves at The Storybarn, for four to nine-year-olds, running until Monday 23 December. These special seasonal sessions include festive sing-alongs, imaginative storytelling and Christmas crafts.

One of the big festive family highlights is set to be Brunch with Mrs Claus, an immersive event in the Mansion House, on Sunday 22 December at 10am and 2pm, including American-style pancakes and a welcome drink for children and their grown-ups.

Martyna Puciato, Storybarn co-leader at The Reader, said:

“Father Christmas gets all the credit in the run up to December 25, but everyone knows Mrs Claus is a big help in getting the job done.

“Families are invited to join Mrs Claus for brunch as she fills everyone in on what REALLY happens up in the North Pole some over some delightfully festive American-style pancakes.

“We can’t wait for some delightfully festive pancakes, and our Storyhunter elves are on hand to help Mrs Claus put on some holly jolly games, crafts and songs.

“Strike a pose, there’ll be chance to take pictures with the woman herself and there’ll even be a gift for those children not on the naughty list.”

Tickets are £20 for adults, £15 for children and £7 for under ones who are eating pancakes, free for under ones who are not eating.

23 November – 1 December

Little ones will be able to enjoy Christmas Incy Wincy Rhymers specials from Saturday 23 November to 23 December, 10am and 1pm, where the Storybarn team will share their favourite Christmas stories, sing seasonal nursery rhymes and create a festive craft to take home. Best for ages one to four-year-olds, siblings welcome.

For slightly older children Elves at the Storybarn, Saturday November 23 – Sunday 23 December, at various times. Santa’s helpers have transformed the Storybarn into a magical decoration making workshop, but they need a little assistance to finish up before Christmas. Best suited for ages 4-9, younger siblings welcome.

Tickets for both events are £5 for adults and £6 for children.

Steep yourself in festive spirit by joining A Christmas Carol Deep Read over three weeks. Charles Dickens’ Victorian tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, who is haunted by three spirits and learns the true meaning of Christmas, has stood the test of time as a huge influence on our ideas of celebration, charity and memory.

There will be a Friday group: 29 November – 13 December; and a Saturday group: 30 November – 14 December. Copies of the book will be provided for use during the sessions or order your own copy by selecting the add-on with your free ticket. Recommended for 18+.

From Saturday November 30 – Sunday December 1 The Reader will be hosting a Festive Book Flood at the Mansion House. Inspired by Icelandic Christmas tradition, the Liverpool charity will be giving away brand new books in exchange for an optional donation to help keep Shared Reading for free and for everyone.

On the same weekend Liverpool’s wonderful independent makers will return for a festive Makers at the Mansionon Sunday 1 December, 11am – 4pm, just in time for visitors to sort their final Christmas gifts.

Being alone is a particularly important topic at this time of year. A friendly and relaxed Ways to be Alone session will be led by one of The Reader’s experienced Shared Reading practitioners on Saturday November 30. It will involve reading and discussing poetry and prose which expresses what being alone means to different individuals.

This is one of a series of events designed to open up serious conversations that people do not always know how to start. There is no pressure to talk or read aloud. Tickets: £15.

2 December – 8 December

Learn how to craft a beautiful seasonal hanging door wreath in a Festive Wreath Making workshop on Sunday 8 December, 10am – 1pm, with local florist Booker Flowers for £60 per person. The morning will begin with foraging for foliage in the grounds of the Mansion House, and then head back indoors to create a natural wreath with the materials you have gathered.

This class will cover a selection of floral techniques, there will also be different types of natural accessories to customise your wreath. Fresh coffee and tea will be served alongside delicious cakes. Suitable for beginners.

Alternatively, on the same day there is an uplifting Winter Wellbeing Workshop, 10am – 4pm, inspired by author Katherine May’s 2020 memoir Wintering. It will begin with a relaxed Shared Reading session led by our experienced practitioners using extracts from Wintering. The group will then take a guided walk through Calderstones Park to bask in the wintery landscape that May sought so much strength from using poetry and mindfulness.

To finish the afternoon, the group will return to the Mansion House to enjoy a drink and build their own poetry collection to take home – the perfect gift for a loved one or to return to for a moment of inspiration and calm. The £30 per person ticket will include a light lunch of soup, refreshments and cake.

The most wonderful time of the year becomes extra special for new parents celebrating their baby’s first Christmas. They can join The Reader’s Baby’s First Christmas event in The Storybarn on Thursday 5 December and Thursday 12 December at 1pm.

It will involve creating magical memories, singing Christmas songs, sharing festive poetry and crafting a beautiful decoration with a little one’s handprint to hang on a Christmas tree for many years to come. For babies under one, and their parents or carers. A family ticket is £18.

9 December – 15 December

Pop in to enjoy free Christmas Carols at The Mansion House on Wednesday 11 December and Thursday 12 December with local schools performing heartwarming festive favourites at 11.30am.

Children aged four to nine-years-old can discover what kind of mischief their favourite toy gets up to when they are not there in the Teddy Bear’s Sleepover, from Friday 13 December to Saturday 14 December at The Storybarn.

The first of two sessions, from 4.30pm to 6pm, will involve writing a bedtime story, games, making a stocking for teddy before getting stuck into story time. Then it will be time to say goodnight and head off home.

Session two, the next morning from 10am to 11am, will be when children pick up their teddy for a breakfast of croissants and hot chocolate while watching a presentation of what the teddies got up to the night before. Each child will receive a mini photo album of their soft toy’s adventure as a parting gift. Please note, this is a soft toy only sleepover.

Families are invited to cosy up for an imaginative 50-minute retelling of this classic fairytale in Cinderella: The Mice’s Tale by Liverpool’s Bookworm Players on Sunday 15 December. With original music, interactive storytelling and a festive twist, it will be performed in The Theatre Room at 11am and 2pm. Fancy dress is very welcome! Suitable for all the family. Tickets are £10 for adults and £8 for children under 16.

21 December – 23 December

On Saturday December 21 welcome in the Winter Solstice with an extra special Winter Solstice: Poetry Walk and Breakfast around hidden gem,Calderstones Park. The walk will start at 8.15am with Solstice occurring at 9.21am, then warm up in the Reader Bookshop Cafe with a breakfast of pastries and a hot drink included in a £15 ticket per person.

On December 21 there will also be three free Festive Shared Reading sessions at 11am, 12.30pm and 2pm. At Shared Reading, groups read stories and poems aloud together. Everyone is welcome to share how the words make them feel, as well as their thoughts, ideas and memories. There is no pressure to talk or read aloud.

Brunch with Mrs Claus, will be served on Sunday 22 December, 10am and 2pm.

Christmas Celebrations

Looking to book a Christmas party? This season The Reader has unveiled The Nutcracker and The Great Gatsby Christmas Celebration packages.

Set against the winter wonderland of Calderstones Park in the Grade II listed Mansion House will combine incredible food and drinks from the organisation’s onsite chefs with a party to remember.

Whether it is for a group of seven or 70, there is the option to book a table or exclusive hire of The Theatre Room. Currently there is availability on a range of dates in December, including weekends, weekdays, afternoons and evenings.

The Nutcracker package includes an arrival drink of Cranberry Mimosa or Mulled wine and a three-course festive meal for £60 per person. Check availability here.

The Great Gatsby includes an arrival drink of Cranberry Mimosa or Mulled wine, a three-course festive meal and half a bottle of wine for £70 per person. Check availability here.

Select a package by Tuesday October 1 and secure with a £20 non-refundable deposit. All profits will go towards The Reader’s charitable work to improve the lives of people in Liverpool and beyond.