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Thursford Review: leave all your worries at the door and see this 5* show! 

As we took our seats at a Friday afternoon performance of the Thursford Spectator, the announcer said ‘leave all your worries at the door’ and we sure did! It was 3 hours of pure joy and happiness. 

We are arrived at Thursford early so we could soke up the atmosphere. Thursford is more than just the show. We started with visiting the restaurant for lunch first. 

Restaurant:

It was really well stocked (and reasonable priced) with freshly made produce. Sandwiches, cakes, jacket potatoes and hot options: on our day, sausages (local) & mash and pie & mash. There were also gluten free and vegan options. It was a lovely lunch and the staff couldn’t have done more for us. They know everyone is here to see the show, so it’s a very slick operation and you have your food very quickly. 

Fantasy land: 

After lunch, we visited the fantasy land. This is a trail through lots of moving animals. My favourite bit was all the giant teddies (we’re all big kids at heart). It was a nice leisurely walk though, which would have ended with a visit from Father Christmas if you are there on the right days (his house looked lovely!). We found the cafe in this area a lot quieter than the other ones, so bear that in mind if you fancy some refreshments along the way. 

Now for the main event: the show!! 

The Thursford Christmas Spectacular 2024: 

I’ve seen the Thursford Spectacular five times, and the reason I return year on year is because simply it is the best show at Christmas. I will attempt to write some thoughts about the show but nothing I write will ever come to close to how I feel about it! 

A very strong cast of 120 singers, musicians & dancers entertained us with Christmas cheer. My favourite song of the night was a performance of ‘Happy Xmas (War is Over)’ which gave me goosebumps! Be ready for the cast to be up close; they stand all around the auditorium, which really adds to the show. 

Phil Kelsall is back for his 44th consecutive season at Thursford and still playing the ‘Mighty Wurlitzer’ in extraordinary fashion. There is always a bit in the show where Phil does a solo and you can him playing up close via the three screens. I honestly could listen to him playing all day; a truly wonderful man and the ‘Mighty Wurlitzer’ is an amazing instrument. 

Alongside the brilliant cast of 2024, there are some great speciality acts. Starting with the comedy Wordsworth himself ‘Lloyd Hollett’ (I’m still laughing about the joke about a mother in law!); he kept the crowd entertained and the show moving. We also had some fabulous mountain bikers called Danny and Ash Butler (never have I seen bikes on the Thursford stage before!). 

Being a returnee, I know what to expect and my favourite will always be the second half of the show. The 32-piece orchestra takes to the front of the stage, with the amazing singers to sing Christmas carols. It truly is the most beautiful sound: a treat for the ears and soul. 

The finale is a tradition: the doves fly over you (I think to represent peace) and every year I say to my self don’t cry… I just can’t help it. It’s the most feel good show out there. The question is should I come and see it again this season or wait for the 2025 show? 

The Thursford Christmas Spectacular 2024 is a triumph and a showcase of talent. John Cushing OBE and all the team have done it again another masterclass of variety on stage. It’s easy to see why people travel all over the country year or year. Get your tickets booked now (if you can; most performances are sold out). 

Our show got a standing ovation and it truly deserved it from front stage to back stage. Thank you and Merry Christmas! 

Enchanted Journey Of Light: 

We did this after the main show as we wanted to see all the exhibits lit up. It was my first ever light show and it was absolutely breathtaking. There were soldiers, trains, animals, Chinese New Year; all packed into a field a couple of minutes walk from the main Thursford area. I absolutely loved it and would highly recommend booking tickets for this – one for the whole family to enjoy! 

My Top Tips for Thursford: 

– Obviously, get your tickets booked now!

– Arrive early, so you can grab some lunch/dinner in the restaurant 

– Visit the shops for a look around (after the show, it was so quiet as everyone was rushing to get to their cars!) 

– Quieter tearoom in the Fantasy land for a bit of peace in Christmassy surroundings 

– Visit the light trail after the show to see the animals in the true glory 

– Lastly, fully immerse yourself in the experience, forget all your worries and enjoy! 

Thank you to all the staff at Thursford for their hospitality throughout our day, in particular Ben and Charlie. 

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Booking information: 

Shows will run from 8th November – 23rd December 2024.

You can book tickets online (tickets.thursford.com) or through the box office on 01328 878 477 Monday-Friday 9:00am -4:00pm.

2025 information: shows will run from 8th November – 23rd December 2025

You can book tickets online only from Thursday 12th December 2024 from 10am.

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