Family Event

The Winter Realm of the Paraffin Pixies

paraffin pixie

Enter a winter realm of tiny lights and winding woodland trails. Venture into the fire, spark, and spectacle of the Paraffin Works, and breath in the sticky scents of cinnamon, cloves and paraffin oil.

Many wondeful things happen at Almond Valley on chilly winter evenings which lift the spirits, spark the imagination, and anticipate the joy of the festive season.

Explore, wonder & enjoy

At five o'clock, once all the usual visitors to Almond Valley have left for home, lights are switched on and the sparkling winter realm of the Paraffin Pixies beams into life. Strings of twinkling lights guide the way past the old watermill and across the river through a scintillating tunnel of light. The woods and fields of Charlesfield are picked out in thousands of tiny lights which guide you to magic places among the trees where paraffin lanterns hang from the high branches, and pixies are close at hand.

From the woodland trail, you'll return past a field of scented flares to the orchard and the shelter of its giant barn. Beneath this cover you'll discover the world's largest paraffin heater that radiates brilliant sparks and tiny spots of light in every direction. Take control of its dancing beams and put on a show, or project giant pixie shadows onto the walls. The air is rich with the scent of winter spices and the sweet tasty treats from the food stall, while sticky marshmallows are toasted over open flames.

At the centre of the pixies' realm lies the Paraffin Works; a unique multi-level play space sheltered beneath a giant umbrella. After dark, the light and sound is blended into a breathtaking experience that will immerse and amaze. Climb, explore and slide through refinery pipes if you wish, or just relax and let the magic erupt around you.

The animals of Mill Farm will be snug in their byres throughout each evening, so parts of the site will be closed off. Of course the tearoom and its soft play area will be open and welcoming; offering homemade soup, a range of warm supper dishes, big mugs of hot chocolate, and lots of festive cheer.

Book your tickets now

Tickets need to be booked on-line and in advance. Capacity is limited, so tickets may not be available for purchase on the gate. Memberships and season tickets are not valid for out-of-hours events, but a discount ticket is available for Friends members.

The Winter Realm of the Paraffin Pixie is only open on certain evenings - the 6th to 8th, the 13th to 15th, the 17th to the 23rd, and the 27th to 30th of December, plus the 3rd to 5th of January. A specific arrival time, between 17.00 and 19.15, needs to be booked to ensure a smooth flow of visitors, although you can choose your own route around the site and remain until closing time at 20.30 if you wish. We suggest that you allocate at least 60 minutes for your visit.

Tickets are priced at £12.00 for adults (aged 16+) and £8 for children (age 3 to 15), a 10% discount is available for Friends members. See the FAQ page for futher details.