(Image: Cherry Hill Garden & Landscape Centre)
A garden centre is preparing to transform into a festive wonderland with real reindeer, illuminated woodland walks and a host of new Christmas attractions.
Cherry Hill Garden Centre in Hemlington, Middlesbrough, will begin its 2026 festive programme on November 21, featuring a host of family attractions.
The Christmas Walk, Santa’s Grotto, and a Virtual Reality Sleigh Ride will all open on the same day.
This year’s Christmas Walk promises to be bigger than previous years, with new light displays, animatronic characters, and the return of Cherry Hill’s singing yetis.
Visitors will also have the chance to see and feed real reindeer as part of the indoor festive trail.
The Christmas Walk will run daily until December 24 and takes around 30 minutes to complete.
It is also fully indoors and designed to be accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
For those seeking an enhanced experience, a VIP upgrade will include a ride in Santa’s Magical Elevator before starting the walk.
The Winter Woodland attraction will return on November 28, transforming the outdoor woodland area with festive lights on selected evenings until December 23.
A Snack Shack will be available along the route, serving hot drinks and snacks to keep visitors warm as they explore the illuminated trail.
(Image: Cherry Hill Garden & Landscape Centre)
New events for 2026 include Santa’s Chocolate Countdown on November 22 and 23, where children can create and decorate their own chocolate advent calendars using milk, white, and dark chocolate.
December 23 will see the launch of a new event called Ready, Set, Santaaaa!
Returning favourites include Breakfast with Santa, Storytime with Santa, Tea with Santa, an Elf Disco, and festive crafts.
Cherry Hill began hosting family events in 2015 and has since expanded its seasonal offerings each year.
Beyond its Christmas attractions, the garden centre also features a café, outdoor play area, and a nine-hole mini golf course, making it an ideal destination for a full family day out.
Store Manager, Ruth Lunn, said: "We are always big for Christmas but this year we have relocated our Santa's Grotto to a new area and the whole concept has been redesigned.
"We have also extended the Christmas Walk area which of course still features the real reindeer but the whole experience is bigger and better than ever before.
"We've also been working hard behind the scenes and built an all new events room which will hold events such as Storytime with Santa and an Elf disco in a much cosier and more festive environment than previous years, along with our Virtual Reality Ride again being housed in a new bespoke room."
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The Christmas Walk runs from November 21 to December 24, while the Winter Woodland is open on selected evenings from November 28 to December 23.
Tickets start at £6.99, with family ticket options available.
It is also worth noting that dogs are not permitted inside the Christmas Walk because of animal-safety rules relating to the live reindeer.