The Reader unveils a new season of events for Christmas 2025 in Calderstones Park 

A new family-friendly festive trail through Liverpool’s iconic park is back as part of The Reader’s Christmas programme with a new children’s picture book, Mr Santa, by Jarvis.

Liverpool-based charity The Reader has announced its biggest ever programme of events and activities to celebrate the festive season in its Calderstones Park home.

The programme includes the return of the Christmas Story Trail and a Mini-Christmas Trail for under 4’s, Brunch with Mrs Claus, festive-themed Bookshop Bedtime Stories, family-friendly theatre, literary deep dives, wreath making and Baby’s First Christmas. 

New events for 2025 include a Twilight Quartet, Brontë Christmas Afternoon, Winter Spoken Word and Music and Festive Shopping in The Reader Bookshop on Thursday 11 December, 4pm-7pm - with up to 20% off books, live music, local makers, mulled wine and mince pies.   

Natalia Rojas, Storybarn Manager at The Reader, said: “This Christmas season, we are delighted to offer a variety of festive, family-friendly sessions for all ages. The Storybarn will be filled with holiday cheer, and we can’t wait to share the magic with you.  

“We’re also excited to welcome back our much-loved Christmas Family Story Trail based on the book Mr. Santa by Jarvis. We can't wait for you to see the beautiful artwork and take a walk into a world of Christmas wonder.”  

The Christmas season opens on Sunday 23 November with The Reader’s very first fundraising Christmas Quiz, 12pm – 4pm to support Shared Reading in the community. There will be good food, drinks and quizzing in the beautiful Mansion House. Tickets include a welcome drink, grazing board and dessert. 

Calderstones members will receive Priority Booking for several events, plus special discounts, from today (Thursday, 11 September). Tickets will go on general sale on Monday 15 September. 

From festive story trails to Brunch with Mrs Claus: What’s On for families 

Back by popular demand, the team behind magical play space The Storybarn, in the heart of Calderstones Park invites families to join this year’s Christmas Story Trail exploring the charming children’s picture book, Mr Santa, written and illustrated by Manchester-based author Jarvis. 

Running every Saturday and Sunday between 29 November – 31 December with time slots beginning at 10am, the self-led trail lasts approximately 60 minutes and offers activities inspired by the book for children of all ages to complete throughout the park.  

Every Friday there will also be a special Storyhunter-led Mini Christmas Trail for toddlers and young children aged one to four.  

A family ticket costs £15 for an adult and child in advance, or £17 on the day - additional adults are £1 and £3 per child. It includes a map and pencil for each child, and a copy of Mr Santa to take home and keep. The trail starts at The Reader Bookshop, with hot chocolate upgrades and room hire available for groups. 

Mr Santa was published in 2024 and tells the story of a little girl who has a face-to-face encounter with Santa in her own house - a golden opportunity to ask all the questions she is desperate to know. 

Young bookworms will also have the chance to Meet the Author in the Mansion House on Sunday 7 December at 10am. Award-winning children’s author Jarvis (The Boy with Flowers in His Hair, Follow Me, Flo!, Tropical Terry, Mrs Mole, I’m Home! and Alan’s Big, Scary Teeth) will be giving a special reading of Mr Santa and leading a draw along inspired by his festive book.  

For the second year Brunch with Mrs Claus returns on Sunday 14 December and Sunday 21 December at 11am and 2pm with Storyhunter elves helping Mrs Claus put on games, crafts and songs. Santa’s other half will be sharing the secret of what REALLY happens up in the North Porth in December over freshly-made pancakes! 

Other family festive favourites include specially themed sessions with storytelling, singing and crafts at Christmas Incy Wincy Rhymers (Fridays and weekends) from Friday 28 November to Sunday 21 December; and Christmas at the Storybarn (weekends only at 12pm) from Saturday 29 November to Sunday 21 December. 

Families are also invited to dig out their favourite PJs afterhours for a cosy evening of festive storytelling in Bookshop Bedtime Stories at The Reader Bookshop on Friday 12 December and Friday 19 December, 5.30pm. All children will receive a free babycino. 

Two family-friendly theatre productions will be taking the stage this Christmas. Step into Sherwood Forest for Altru Drama’s action-packed retelling of Robin Hood on Monday 22 December, 11am and 2pm.  

And in the run up to New Year join award-winning Wigan-based touring company Goofus Theatre for their mesmerising puppet show, All in a Mouse’s Night, on Sunday 28 December, 11.30am and 2pm about the adventures of a curious mouse about the house.  

From literary deep dives to live music: What’s On for adults  

This December, string quartets will be performing live at two special events at the stunning grade II listed Mansion House in Calderstones Park for the first time.  

On Tuesday 16 December the Reader Bookshop is the setting for an evening of Winter Spoken Word and Music from 6.30pm-8.15pm with music by The Simashgu String Quartet interspersed with poems, stories and excerpts from plays - all with a winter theme. 

It will be followed by Cosy Twilight Quartet, on Thursday 18 December, 7pm-8.30pm, an unmissable evening of live music and poetry featuring Q Quartets, an acclaimed group of musicians from Liverpool University who champion forgotten composers while also committing to new works. Performing against a backdrop of atmospheric twinkling fairy lights in one of Liverpool’s most atmospheric settings. 

As always, The Reader will bring people together and books to life through literary events including a brand-new Bronte Christmas Afternoon, on Saturday 6 December, 12pm-5pm. Booklovers are invited to explore the delights of a Victorian Christmas through festive scenes from Jane Eyre and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. It will include a delicious Bronte themed lunch, the opportunity to rifle through some of Charlotte’s letters in which she describes snowy Yorkshire and traditional parlour games. 

On Sunday 7 December, 10am-4pm, founder of The Reader Dr Jane Davis, will be delving deep into carefully selected poems inspired by winter in her latest Winter Poetry: Masterclass, with lunch, hot drinks, cakes and all reading materials provided.  

A Deep Read with an experienced Shared Reading practitioner will be exploring Claire Keegan’s haunting novella, Small Things Like These, over three weeks on Fridays 5, 12 and 19 December at 2pm. And a Winter Wellbeing Workshop inspired by David Whyte’s 2014 book, Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words, will take place on Saturday 13 December, 1.30pm-4pm. 

Local florist, Booker Flowers, returns to run three festive Wreath Making workshops this season on Thursday 4 December, 6pm-8pm, after hours in the Reader Bookshop; followed by two morning sessions on Saturday 6 December and Saturday 13 December, 10am-12pm in the Theatre Room. Each one will involve foraging for foliage in the grounds of the Mansion House and then learning how to craft a natural hanging door wreath. They include fresh coffee, tea and cake and are suitable for beginners aged 16+.  

The final Makers at the Mansion of the year will be running on the weekend of Saturday 29 November and Sunday 30 November, 11am – 4pm - showcasing locally-made festive gifts created by Liverpool’s wonderful independent makers, along with delicious food from the onsite chefs. 

At Makers in the Mansion, The Reader will also be hosting a Blood Flood, 11am-4pm, giving away brand new books in exchange for an optional donation to help keep Shared Reading for free and for everyone. It has been inspired by the Icelandic Christmas book flood tradition - Jólabókaflóð, where family and friends curl up with steaming cups of hot chocolate and read a new book on Christmas Eve. 

The historic Mansion House is also one of South Liverpool’s most beautiful settings for a Christmas party. From office nights out and family get-togethers to festive fun with friends, guests can book a table or even hire The Theatre Room, which overlooks the walled garden. Groups of people between eight and 80 are welcome. 

Available dates include Friday 5 December, Saturday 6 December, Saturday 13 December, Friday 19 December. Daytime options are also available on 5 December. 

The Mansion House will be open seven days a week with guided tours exploring the history of the house every Tuesday at 2pm, and the History of the House exhibition, and the ancient Calder Stones which give the local area its name on display every day.  

Profits from all events go towards The Reader’s charity work to improve the lives of people in Liverpool and beyond through Shared Reading.

The full season is available to book here. Anyone wishing to become an annual Calderstones Member for priority booking and discounts can visit here.