Christmas Tree Festivals
Updated for 2025 – please check locally for up to information on opening times.
Who is in charge of the Christmas Tree in your house? Is it beautifully arranged with a coordinated colour scheme, a mass of sentimental home made decorations or maybe it’s a bit lop-sided because the kids decorated it.
If you are ever in need of new ideas and inspiration then head along to one of the many Christmas Tree Festivals held all over the country. It might just inspire you to enter one yourself next year. Here’s a round up of Christmas Tree festival events in Devon, Dorset and Somerset.
Find a Christmas Tree Festival Near You
Christmas Trees Galore
We’ve joined in before with origami stars and biscuits with jewels in the middle Each Church and their displays vary. Some have no rules, some just have a theme. It’s quite common now to have Nativity scenes being presented as well.
Why not try and visit one of these events even if going to church is not usually something you would do.
Please double check dates and times if you can in case I have anything wrong to avoid disappointment.
Christmas Tree Festivals in Devon 2025
Exeter, Princesshay Roman Walk:
A little distraction from Christmas shopping in Princesshay. The display runs from mid Nov until early January – plenty of time to visit the 35 trees decorated by a 35 local Charities.
Ottery St Mary Parish Church:
26th Nov – 29th Nov 11am – 5pm. Light refreshments available
St Andrew’s Church, Harberton, Totnes:
12th – 14th December 11am – 4pm. Closes with an informal Carol service. Cafe open from 11.30am
Axminster Minster Church:
13th Dec- Sunday 25th Dec 2025. Wander through the forest of decorated trees, enjoy music and refreshments and soak up the festive atmosphere.
St Andrew’s Church Colyton:
Wednesday 3rd – 6th December to coincide with Colyton Christmas Fair and Christmas lights switch.
Axmouth Church
From Sunday 30th Nov – Sunday 14th Carol Service 4pm. Friday 19th December Uplyme Gospel Singers Concert
Crediton Parish Church
Thursday 4th – Sunday 7 December 2025.
Opening times on Thursday, Friday and Sunday are 11-6.00pm and 10.00am-6.00pm on Saturday.
Light refreshments (soup, sandwiches, and cakes) will be served in the Boniface Centre from 10-4.30pm each day (2-4.30pm on Sunday). Thursday 7pm concert. Saturday 6pm Choir and Town Band concert.
St Paul’s Church Honiton
Thursday 4th – Sunday 7 December 2025. Opening times vary each day.
St Peters Church Dalwood
Locally decorated trees on display Sat 6th Dec – Sun 7th Dec 10am – 5pm. Christmas Street Market Saturday 6th 4pm – 6pm. Christingle Service at 5pm Sunday
St John the Baptist Church Hawkchurch
Sat 18th Dec until Christmas Eve 12 noon – 6pm.
Fantastic display with many inventive ideas. There is a wonderful child friendly Crib Service at 4pm on Christmas Eve with the trees still in situ.
St Eustachius’ Church Tavisitock
Delightful event with up to 60 trees. Friday 28th November opens. – 7th Dec 2025 10am- 4.30pm (check hours see poster)
Festival closes with a Christingle Service on Sun 7th Dec 4pm.
Enjoy the town’s Dickensian evening on 5th December from 5pm
You might see “trees” made of drain pipes, horseshoes, electrical cable and wood. Each year one of the most popular trees in Hawkchurch is one made of sweet wrappers (the visitors get to eat the Quality Street before sticking on the wrappers on the tree)! There is also a lovely memory tree where you can add your own personalised memory star.
Of course there are lots of traditional trees, but the variety of decorations seems to be endless – knitted, biscuits, photos, dinosaurs and Disney characters, origami and even brussel sprouts!
Why don’t you see what your local Church is doing and maybe enter. It’s great for all ages, businesses, toddler groups and schools to join is as well.
Christmas Tree Festivals in Dorset 2025
Lyme Regis Baptist Church
Friday 12th – Sunday 14th December: Friday 11am – 6pm, Sat and Sun : 10am– 5pm
Lyme Regis Baptist Church comes to life with trees decorated by local organisations.
Bridport United Church East Street:
From Weds 3rd December – Sun 14th 2025 – trees decorated by local residents and businesses raising money charity.
Times vary so please check locally.
Christmas Tree Festivals in Somerset 2025
The Minster Church Ilminster:
Mon 1st to Sat 6th December. It will open daily; Mon 11am to 5pm-Tues 9am to 5pm-Wed 9am to 5pm-Thurs 9am to 7pm-Fri 9am to 7pm-Sat 9am to 3pm.
Chard Museum and Heritage Centre;
Christmas Tree Festival Friday 5th – Sunday 7th December 2025 10.30 to 3.30pm.
Includes music performances, refreshments and chance to visit Father Christmas on Saturday 6th.
St Bartholomew’s Church Crewkerne
Christmas Trees festival 2025 will run from 13th – 20th December.
Further Afield
St Thomas Church Salisbury
Set in the centre of Salisbury, this year the Festival will open from Tuesday 2nd December to Sunday 7th December.
104 trees and nativity scenes will be on display. You can also enjoy a range of musical performances.
Refreshments available from the Church Cafe.
Melton Mowbray
If by any chance you are heading near Melton Mowbray, St Mary’s Church apparently has one of the largest festivals in the country that would take half a day to look around). Tuesday 25th Nov – 2nd Dec 2025
If you are after other ideas for days out then why not take a look at my ideas for Christmas Days Out with Teens and Grown Ups or Christmas Fairs.
Thank you for reading – Clare
Christmas Tree Festivals Light Up Our Local Churches
I lived in the lovely village of Hawkchurch for 10 years. The festival there has become very popular both in the number of entries and visitors. So popular in fact that BBC Spotlight came to film it! It might not be the largest festival locally, but for a small village it’s a great effort.
https://www.facebook.com/bbcspotlight/videos/1068733649858799/
“The Christmas Trees make us smile – it’s fun to see what clever ideas other people have”
Hi! I am Clare and I live in glorious East Devon with my family.
Join me in finding new places to explore in the West Country as well as further afield.
I hope you enjoy reading and taking inspiration from this website. 
Hi Clare – great website, well done! Pete and I help Jean with the Christmas tree festival by doing a press release for local papers etc (and Spotlight, but after the first success they have lost interest!). I was wondering if you could send me a copy of the photo of the church that you are using to attach to the press release. We have been using an old photo and it would be nice to have a change.
All sorted for Hawkchurch – one of the last festivals in the area.