Christmas dog events in the UK 2026: Santa Paws, festive dog cafés and winter walks

Christmas is one of the busiest times of year for dog events. More than 140 festive events are already listed on Pet Event for November and December 2026, from Santa Paws grottos in garden centres to Christmas dog cafés, parades and group walks.

Here are the highlights, grouped by type. Most events are ticketed and the popular sessions sell out, so book early.

Santa Paws grottos and photos

Meeting Santa is the headline festive outing for many dog owners, and the photo usually comes with it.

• Dobbies Santa Paws. The garden centre chain runs Santa Paws sessions at 44 of its stores across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, on 6 December at most stores and 13 December at a few. Examples include Dobbies Aberdeen, Dobbies Brighton, Dobbies Lisburn, Dobbies Swansea and Dobbies York.
• Santa Paws Grotto for Dogs in Mold opens early, on 27 October.
• Santa Paws in Delamere Forest, Cheshire, and Mrs Claus and Santa Paws at Prittlewell Priory, Southend, are both on 5 December.
• Paws & Presents with Santa at Hill of Tarvit, Fife, is on 6 December.
• Santa Paws at Charlton House in south-east London is on 11 December.
• Santa Paws at Holt Country Park, Norfolk, is on 19 December.
• Santa Paws and Claws in Dumbarton runs as late as 23 December.
• The Santa Paws Photoshoot for Guide Dogs in County Durham, on 22 November, raises money for the charity.

Festive dog cafés and breed meet-ups

Pop-up dog cafés turn festive in November, with breed-only sessions so your dog can meet others like them.

• Christmas tours for dachshunds, doodles, small dogs, big dogs, spaniels and more visit Manchester on 1 November, Sheffield on 8 November, Liverpool on 15 November, Bournemouth on 21 November, Newcastle on 29 November, Glasgow on 6 December and Birmingham on 13 December.
• Breed café Christmas specials for cockapoos, golden retrievers, labradors, pugs, cocker spaniels and others run in Durham on 1 November, Chelmsford and Edinburgh on 8 November, Liverpool and Birmingham on 15 November, Glasgow and Bournemouth on 22 November, Cardiff on 29 November and Milton Keynes on 21 December. Each city has sessions for several breeds.

Walks, runs and parades

• The Santa Paws Community Dog Walk at Stowe, Buckinghamshire, is on 5 December.
• The Santa Fun Run in Pittville Park, Cheltenham, welcomes dogs on 6 December.
• The Christmas Dog Parade at The Valley, Evesham, is also on 6 December.
• In Drayton, Oxfordshire, there is a free Christmas Group Dog Walk on 12 December and a Golden Retriever Christmas Walk on 19 December.

Markets, fairs and workshops

• The Cocopup Christmas Pop-Up Shop in Filkins, Oxfordshire, opens on 14 November.
• Dog Life Drawing at Hurley's Festive Pop-Up in West Bridgford, Nottingham, is on 27 November, with your dog as the model.
• The Dogs Trust Cardiff Christmas Fair and Santa Paws at Sprowston Christmas Market, Norwich, are both on 29 November.
• A dog-friendly Christmas wreath workshop runs in Cubbington, Warwickshire, on 3 December.

Tips for a festive day out with your dog

• Book ahead. Most of these events need a ticket, and Santa sessions are often booked in time slots.
• Read the organiser's rules. Many ask for up-to-date vaccinations, dogs on leads, or one dog per adult.
• Watch the treats. Chocolate, mince pies, Christmas pudding, grapes and raisins are all dangerous for dogs. Our guides to safe fruits and safe vegetables cover what you can share.
• Dress for the weather. Small and short-coated dogs feel the cold at outdoor events, so bring a coat and water.

Details can change, so always check with the organiser before you go. We add new events every week: see every upcoming dog-friendly event on Pet Event, and filter by date and area to find one near you.