The Thursford Christmas Spectacular and Enchanted Journey of Light 2024!

The Thursford Christmas Spectacular and Enchanted Journey of Light 2024!

The Thursford Christmas Spectacular – Well, what can we say, other than the description “does what it says on the tin” and couldn’t be more apt in that! Thursford is a year long plan in the making, which comes to fruition in November and positively blooms until Christmas. Until the 23rd of December, usually twice a day, this enormous masterpiece of a show, which has been setting Thursford alight for the last 48 years (opening on Christmas Eve in 1977), is back, with a bigger and better show than ever before – and that’s saying something!

I visited this week, on Monday, right at the start of the run, and for a matinée show no less. You would imagine then, that there’d be a few seats without bottoms on them. You’d be wrong though. A theatre that holds 1400 per performance and, from my vantage point, I could only spot two chairs flying solo. TWO! Compere and comedian/wordsmith (he’s incredibly clever and entertaining) Lloyd Hollet, announced at one point that there were THIRTY coaches in for that performance alone! And that’s it you see, this may be a local, village show but… The antithesis of this description is what it’s really all about. Of COURSE 30 coaches rocked up for the first Monday afternoon performance of the run! This show, it really is quite something else!

A 32 piece orchestra merge with around 45 in the choir and maybe more for the dance line up?! Then, with other acts from around the world I guess the cast members add up so it’s rather impressive in number alone, when you then realise the standard of performance is as high as it is, performers have trained all the top theatre schools, it really does offer a lot of bang for your buck. Plus, it’s THE most Christmassy experience I can imagine you’d ever find. I’m not sure there’s a bush or a tree in the landscape that’s missed a fairy light and, honestly, I’d imagine you can see Thursford from space at this time of year!

The show manages to mix good, old fashioned, variety, with the very modern and now, superbly; no wonder people flock from not just around the country, but the world!

This one tiny village in Norfolk is ON THE MAP! And it couldn’t be for something more wonderful! My friend and I smiled and enjoyed the spectacular, which leaves you feeling annoyed when you look to the left, that you might be missing something else to the right! There’s a CAROUSEL ON THE STAGE actually in use, this is seriously, like nothing else you’ll ever see!

And you should see it! There are dates still available, a little tip would be to plan for an evening performance where openings in sales are a little bit wider right now, but be quick!

The show runs from November the 8th until the 23rd of December (meaning the massive 130 cast members all get to go home for Christmas – I love that) and with 2pm and 7pm performances, ticket prices begin at £43, while the show is recommended for those over the age of 8. The Enchanted Journey of Light can be added onto Spectacular ticket holder’s entry for a special price of £10 per person, but, this cannot be booked online, it must be done in person on the day, when you can access the lights for an hour before the show. For matinée performances where the lights are visited prior, your ticket can be stamped so that you can re-visit afterwards, once dark.

The Enchanted Journey of Light is really a day out on its own. My friend had thought it would be similar to the lights at Blickling, and I didn’t really give her any heads up other than saying “Oh just wait and see…” Because the journey of light at Thursford is so different to absolutely anything else I’ve ever seen, it would be difficult to imagine, given no idea to begin with, let alone explain it. A plethora of life sized animals and giant flowers, mixed with scenes from around the world, all lit up like art exhibitions in the dark, is how I’d try to put it. And, as you wander from one, to another, you’ll find yourself gasping that it really is getting better and better, more incredible with every foot step! This year too, some of the pieces are interactive – I’d say the whole experience is that it’s definitely one of those moments which will make your jaw drop open in wonder. A key note for this one is that not only does it get bigger and more elaborate year, on year, but they make it more and more accessible. The first year we visited was hard work on wet ground but the pathway is superb now, there would be no mobility issues here at all.

Tickets for this one (£23 per person) are really going fast now though – there’s lots of red blocked out days already, if you want to get in after dusk on your chosen day then you’ll have to book as soon as you can to ensure it. There is a small cheat, however… If you book to see the man in red, his entry ticket will cover a visit to the lights, but shh! Don’t tell anyone until you’ve booked yours and secured it!

A ticket to visit Father Christmas can be booked on the Thursford website too, Santa’s Magical Journey will include a walk through Fantasy Land (HOW did I miss this part, it’s SO much fun and yet I got my timings muddled up and it closed before we went in – don’t do that!) and, as mentioned, your ticket will also encompass The Enchanted Journey of Light making the £23.50 (with a gift from Santa, or £16 for adults) ticket price very affordable. I’ve checked, there are still lots of slots available, even right up to their final day (I can’t see this being the case for long though)! We visited Father Christmas at Thursford last year and the experience is very special, it’s a real one off and not to be missed. The walk through Fantasy Land to see him is pretty impressive too – just wait and see! And apparently, it’s EVEN better this year – gosh darn it I’m SO annoyed with myself for not getting in there earlier on Monday!

All in, Christmas IS Thursford and Thursford IS Christmas. Shopping, meandering, lights, the show, Father Christmas in Fantasy Land and actually, wowsers, the food we ate for lunch was incredible too! Is there anything they can’t do well for Christmas at Thursford?! I’m not sure there is!

P.S, The millionaire’s shortbread. It’s AS good as the show!