The festive season is returning, and while it can mean different things to everyone, you may be thinking about how to make this Christmas a special one for you and family.
Presents are great, but what really matters are the moments you share with your family. The festive season is the perfect excuse to take a break from your daily routine, have fun, and create lifelong memories with your foster children.
With your busy schedule, growing to-do list, and events getting booked up fast, it’s never too early to start planning festive days out.
From light trails and Christmas markets to theatre productions, free activities and cosy fun at home, join us as we explore festive activities for foster families in the West Midlands.
Things to do with foster children this Christmas
As a small independent fostering agency based in Worcestershire, we’re very familiar with the local area. This has helped us carefully select events and activities from across the West Midlands that will help you make this Christmas special.
So, whether you’ve been fostering for a while or are celebrating Christmas as a new foster family, grab a notepad and pen and get ready to get into the Christmas spirit. Here are our favourite ideas for spending quality time together as a family this festive season.
Mesmerising light trails
No matter your age, twinkling Christmas lights never seem to get old. But light trails take it one step further, turning dark, dreary winter evenings into something truly spectacular. If you fancy an evening of being mesmerised by Christmas-inspired illuminations, book your place at one of the following locations:
- Webbs of Wychbold: This year, their light trail, The Enchanted Gardens, is inspired by The Wizard of Oz.
- Birmingham Botanical Gardens: This Winter Light Trail promises an immersive experience with interactive displays, light tunnels, and music synchronised displays.
- Winter Glow, Malvern: This Illuminated Light Trail is part of their festive extravaganza, which includes a fairground, crazy golf, and ice skating.
- Coombe Abbey: See Coombe Abbey transformed into a festive paradise on their mile-long Winter Light Trail.
Many of these light trails offer sensory sessions with a calmer atmosphere for children with SEND needs. You can also book dog-friendly slots if you want to bring your fur baby along with you too.
Magical Christmas markets
Is it really the festive season if you don’t visit a Christmas market? Plus, they’re a brilliant way to combine seasonal fun with Christmas shopping while drinking copious amounts of hot chocolate.
We recognise that some foster children may find Christmas markets overwhelming, so our suggestions include a combination of intimate and larger events, helping you choose one that suits your foster child’s needs.
- Forge Mill Christmas Craft Fair: On 30th November and 7th December, Forge Mill is hosting a Christmas Craft Fair. At this small market, you can browse stalls full of hand-made gifts, listen to traditional music, and book a visit with Father Christmas.
- Worcester Victorian Christmas Fayre: This annual market, which turns back the clock and transforms Worcester’s town centre into a Victorian delight, is back between 4th and 7th December.
- Stratford Christmas Markets: From 29th to 30th November and 6th to 7th December, Stratford-Upon-Avon’s streets are closed to traffic to make way for unique gift stalls, street food, and festive cheer.
- Birmingham Christmas markets: The infamous Frankfurt Christmas Market returns on 1st November, open all day, every day until 24th December. With live music, pretzels, and traditional German stalls, by the end of the day, you’ll truly be ready for a holly, jolly Christmas.
Yuletide activities with a twist
If you’re looking for something a bit different for Christmas 2025, the Severn Valley Railway, which operates a steam train, has five festive events happening throughout the season. From carol trains and festive dining experiences to their Christmas Cracker Express and Santa’s Steam Specials, your family can sit back, relax, and soak up the festive atmosphere.
You could also sign up for a Santa Fun Run. On 7th December at Arrow Valley Country Park in Redditch, you can join other families as you dash, jog, or stroll to raise money for Primrose Hospice. You’ll receive a free Santa suit when you sign up to wear on the day, and a mince pie and medal once you’ve completed the 1km or 5km stretch.
Immerse yourself at the theatre
A trip to the theatre isn’t just entertainment, it’s an immersive experience that children, young people, and adults can all enjoy together. From pantomimes to classic stories reimagined, here are some unmissable theatre productions happening locally this Christmas:
- Aladdin Pantomime: The Palace Theatre, Redditch, will take you on an adventure in their pantomime, Aladdin, from 13th December to 4th January.
- The BFG: Watch one of Roald Dahl’s most beloved stories come to life at the RSC in Stratford-upon-Avon, between 25th November 2025 and 7th February 2026.
- The Tiger Who Came to Tea: Everyone’s favourite uninvited guest is on stage at the Warwick Arts Centre from 29th November to 28th December.
- The Nutcracker: Birmingham Hippodrome welcomes the Royal Ballet’s rendition of this Christmas classic between 21st November and 13th December.
- Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas: Birmingham Rep Theatre is showing this comical production from 14th November to 18th January 2026.
Merry moments for free
We know that most of our suggestions come at a cost, and even with your fostering allowance, it’s still wise to have some free activities up your sleeve so you don’t feel overstretched financially this Christmas. With that in mind, here are a few festive activities you can do for free:
- Christmas Tree Festival: Head to Worcester Cathedral for their free Christmas tree festival, featuring carefully decorated trees from local businesses, community groups, and children.
- Baking: From mince pies and fruit cake to gingerbread houses and chocolate logs, spend the day cooking up some delicious festive treats.
- Nature walks: Whether it’s the Lickey Hills, Malvern Hills, or Wasley Hills, crunching in fallen leaves and breathing in the frosty air will do the whole family some good. If you want to make it more festive, why not stop off at a local pub for a hearty lunch?
- Christmas crafts: Get out the card, glue, and glitter; it’s time to make some Christmas crafts. From cards and wrapping paper to wreaths and window decorations, the possibilities are endless.
- Christmas Lights tour: You could spend an evening walking or driving around your local community to check out people’s Christmas light displays. For the ultimate festive touch, take a flask of hot chocolate and some mince pies to warm you up on your travels.
Supporting your foster children at Christmas
Christmas can be incredibly difficult for children in care. They may miss their family, be haunted by painful memories, or feel guilty about having fun.
That’s why it’s important to plan festive activities with your foster child’s needs in mind. Talk to them about what they’d like to do this Christmas, and be prepared for plans to change at the last minute.
As part of our support for foster families, we organise our own activities and events where every family member can meet new people, share experiences, and make friends with those who truly get where they’re coming from. This can be especially helpful for you and the children you care for during special occasions, like Christmas, as memories and emotions can resurface, which can be tricky to navigate.
Remember, at Clifford House, we’re here to support your whole family at Christmas through to the New Year and beyond, so never be afraid to reach out for advice, guidance, or even just a chat.
New to fostering? Enquire today
If you’re new to fostering and want to learn more about becoming a foster parent, we’d love to hear from you. Call us on 0800 369 8515 or fill in our enquiry form and we’ll call you.
You can also discover everything there is to know about fostering by logging on to one of our virtual information sessions or by checking out our other blogs and foster parent stories.