Sport and leisure
What’s On Walsall – December 2024
Published on
This December, Walsall Council venues bring festive cheer with a lineup including the classic pantomime Dick Whittington at Walsall Arena, a Christmas Makers’ Market across The New Art Gallery and Walsall Leather Museum as well as Carols in the Bandstand at Walsall Arboretum.
HIGHLIGHT
Dick Whittington
Saturday 7 December – 22 December, various times. From £13.
This panto season, the classic rags to riches tale of Dick Whittington is coming to Walsall Arena.
Join us for a whirlwind, globe-trotting adventure, that will see Dick, and his ever-trusty cat, battling the evil plans of rotten rotter the Royal Rat. Can he vanquish the varmint and become Lord Mayor of a medium sized town in the Midlands? Possibly.
But one thing’s for sure, with the help of beautiful brainbox Alice Fitzwarren, legendary ship’s cook Dame Fanny Haddock and all their fabulous friends, Dick is definitely in good hands.
The team that brought you last year’s sell out panto are back again, with a show full of singing, dancing and stupendous silliness for all the family! Make sure you don’t miss it!
December events at The New Art Gallery Walsall
Gallery Square, Walsall, WS2 8LG. Free admission.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm, Sundays 12 noon to 4pm. Closed on Mondays and Bank Holidays.
Christmas opening:
Monday 23 December – Thursday 26 December 2024 (inclusive): Closed
Friday 27 December – Sunday 29 December 2024 (inclusive): Open
Monday 30 December 2024: Closed
Tuesday 31 December 2024: Open from 10am-3pm
Wednesday 1 January 2025: Closed
Thursday 2 January 2025: Open as usual, 10am-5pm
Sunday Art Club
Sundays, 12-3pm. Age 4+. Free, drop-in.
The Gallery’s weekly art club for children and young people. Meet artists and creatives and learn to paint, print, sculpt, craft, make films and more!
- Sunday 1 December - Clay Earth Heads Make a mini clay sculpture of a mythical creature.
- Sunday 8 December - Woven Festive Baubles Weave paper decorations with artist Nilupa Yasmin.
- Sunday 15 December - Funky Junk Decorations Create Christmas decorations from recycled bottle tops and beads.
- Sunday 22 December - Fabric Christmas Trees Make hanging Christmas trees using sticks and fabric scraps.
Equal+Able collections trail tour (in English and BSL)
Saturday 7 December, 2-4pm. Free
Join us for an introductory tour of the Equal+Able Garman Ryan collections trail co-produced with our Collections Community Panel. This tour will have BSL interpretation and will be followed be an introduction to BSL basics, and is timed to celebrate National Disability Month (16 November -16 December) and International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3 December).
Baby & Me
Wednesday 11 December, 10.30am-12noon and 12.30-2pm. Every second Wednesday of the month. Suitable for 0-24 months. £3 per child, places are limited, booking essential. Book at Reception or call 01922 654400.
Multi-sensory sessions for parents, carers and their babies. Explore colours and light projections, discover new smells, feel new textures in our touchy-feely books and relax in our comfy cushions whilst you listen to a short story and meet other new parents.
Christmas Makers’ Market
Saturday 14 December, 11am-3pm. Free entry.
Stalls at both the Gallery and Walsall Leather Museum.
Pop along to the Gallery and Walsall Leather Museum to discover unique and original crafts from 35 local makers and craftspeople. Pick up a Christmas gift, or treat yourself to something special!
Walk and Draw
Saturday 14 December, 11am-12.30pm. Every second Saturday of the month.
Free. Booking essential.
Make speedy sketches of artworks in the Collections and temporary exhibitions, the Gallery’s architecture, the magnificent views from the Gallery’s windows, and the local area, including the wildlife along the canal, public sculptures and historical buildings along the high street.
Paper Plate Santas
Friday 20 December – Sunday 22 December
Drop-in during opening hours. All ages welcome.
Come along and make a paper plate santa as a fun, festive gift for a family member or a friend.
Current exhibitions at The New Art Gallery Walsall (Free admission)
- Earthbound. Until 8 June 2025
- Equal + Able = Not a Label. Until 18 May 2025.
- REFLECTOR. 26 October – 9 March 2025
- Walsall Society of Artist: 74th annual exhibition. 13 December – 2 February 2025
December events at Walsall Arena & Arts Centre
Hawbush Road, Bloxwich, Walsall, WS3 1AG.
Box Office: 0300 555 2898. Box Office opening hours: Monday to Friday, 10am to 2pm.
Online booking available 24 hours at www.walsallarena.com
Strings Concert
Tuesday 3 December, 7pm. £5
A strings concert featuring Apollo Strings, Phoenix Strings and Senior Strings.
Senior Citizens Orchestra Concert
Thursday 5 December, 2pm. £2. Tickets available on the door.
The Senior Citizens Orchestra perform bi-monthly concerts at Walsall Arena and Arts Centre. Their programmes always offer a great mix of fabulous music and feature a whole range of popular classics and favourite show tunes. The concerts also include invited guests and performers.
FAB, Junior Wind Band & Intermediate Wind Band
Tuesday 10 December, 6pm. £5
Performances from FAB, Junior Wind Band and the Intermediate Wind Band.
Jazz Big Band & Senior Wind Band
Tuesday 10 December, 8pm. £5
Performances from the Jazz Big Band and Senior Wind Band.
Rock 'N' Pop Festive Gig
Wednesday 11 December, 7pm. £5.
Walsall Music Education Service's Rock 'N' Pop bands perform their first gig of the academic year.
December events at Walsall Leather Museum
Littleton Street West, Walsall, WS2 8EW
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm. Closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Free admission. Christmas opening tba.
Santa’s S.T.E.M Family Workshop
Saturday 7 December, 10.30am-12.30pm. Free.
Build and race a sleigh, get tinsel to float, and other festive S.T.E.M themed activities.
Hosted by Make More in partnership with the Institute of Physics.
Christmas Makers’ Market
Saturday 14 December, 11am-3pm. Free entry.
Stalls at both the Museum and The New Art Gallery Walsall
Pop along to the Museum and Gallery to discover unique and original crafts from 35 local makers and craftspeople. Pick up a Christmas gift or treat yourself to something special!
December events at Walsall Arboretum
Christmas Wreath Workshops
Sunday 8 December and Monday 9 December, Three sessions between 10am-3pm. £10 per person.
Walsall Arboretum's annual and very popular wreath making workshop return. Your willow wreath and tools will be supplied.
Book via: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/healthyspaces
Breakfast with Father Christmas
Thursday 19 December and Friday 20 December 2024, 9-11.30am. £10 per child
Join Father Christmas for breakfast at Walsall Arboretum's Visitor Centre and cafe. As well as breakfast there will also be Christmas crafts and a small present included.
Carols in the Bandstand
Sunday 22 December, 12pm. Free.
The festive cheer starts here! Bring your santa hats, gloves and singing voices for our annual concert. Reworked traditional carols and contemporary Christmas hits by The Sleighbell Rockers. Mince pies and hot drinks also for sale. In case of bad weather, event updates will be on the Walsall Arboretum Facebook page.
ENDS.
