Northwood House Christmas Fair VIP Preview opens the festive stalls for a ticketed Friday evening at Northwood House in Cowes. The preview gives you a chance to browse before the free Saturday and Sunday fair, with fewer visitors than the main open days. You can take time to chat to exhibitors about their work, look through gift ideas and begin your Christmas shopping without fitting it around a full weekend outing.
Your £9.50 adult ticket includes a glass of wine or prosecco, cheese and biscuits, and nibbles to enjoy while shopping. The fair features local art, craft and produce, making this an option if you would like to choose gifts from island businesses and makers. So Much Dough serves wood-fired pizza until 8.30pm, and you can stay for a drink after browsing if you want to make an evening of the visit. The preview has its own ticket arrangements, separate from the free admission advertised for the main fair.
The evening runs from 6pm to 8.30pm on Friday 27 November. Choose one of the three arrival periods when booking, as the organisers use them to spread visitors through the event. Enter through the Rotunda main event entrance and bring your order confirmation, either printed or on your phone. The Father Christmas activities belong to the main fair programme, so use the weekend listings if that is the reason for your visit. For other occasions to browse handmade work, check the island's craft markets and fairs.