Weald & Downland Living Museum Launches a Season of Winter Traditions and After Hours Celebrations for 2026

Published 14:24 on 15 Dec 2025

The Weald & Downland Living Museum is welcoming 2026 with a rich programme of winter events, historic celebrations and immersive living history experiences, inviting visitors of all ages to step into seasonal traditions from the past. Set within 40 acres of rolling Sussex countryside, the open-air Museum is renowned for its collection of historic buildings, daily live interpretation and ever-changing visitor experiences throughout the year.

From festive wassailing to the return of a medieval living history residency, the Museums programme for early 2026 offers a chance to connect with the seasonal rhythms and rituals of the past with something new to discover each visit.

After Hours at the Museum 

New for 2026, a series of after hours events will be launched, giving visitors the chance to take part in completely unique activities while experiencing the atmosphere of the Museum after dusk. 

The first of its new after hours programme will be a lively Wassailing Ceilidh on Saturday 17 January, 6-9pm. Taking place inside the award-winning Downland Gridshell building, guests can enjoy an evening of spirited live music, traditional dancing and seasonal cheer. Brighton-based trio Belver will provide the soundtrack, with an expert caller on hand to guide dancers of all experience levels through classic ceilidh steps.

Tickets are £32 per person (ages 14+), including food and drink. 

Traditional Wassailing Celebration

The festivities continue the next day on Sunday 18 January, 11.15am 3.15pm, with the Museums much-loved Wassailing Celebration, honouring an ancient winter custom that blesses the orchard for a fruitful apple harvest in the year ahead.

Visitors can enjoy short performances, live music and take part in a procession leading to the orchard. There will also be family activities across the site. 

Candlemas Living History Residency

Returning for a second year, the Black Knight Historical Living History Group will take up residence at the Museum for an immersive Candlemas experience on Saturday 31 January. Over nine days, visitors will witness winter life as it may have been lived in the 15th century, as the group escapes from modern technology and embraces medieval rhythms of work, reflection and faith.

This atmospheric residency offers a rare opportunity to see authentic living history in action - not staged performances, but real day-to-day historic life unfolding within the Museums buildings.

Exclusive Candlemas Evenings

As part of the residency, the Museum will host two intimate Candlemas Evenings inside the North Cray Medieval House, welcoming guests to step into a winter gathering of the Middle Ages.

Taking place on Tuesday 3 February and Friday 6 February, ticket-holders can join in fireside discussions led by the Black Knight Living History interpreters while keeping warm with a traditional mulled drink. Each evening offers a deeply atmospheric and historically inspired experience within an authentic historic setting.

Tickets cost £40 per adult. Capacity is limited to 15 spaces to give visitors the best possible experience. 

A Full Year of Inspiration Ahead

These winter events mark the start of the Museums ambitious 2026 calendar, filled with seasonal celebrations, historic demonstrations and opportunities to explore traditional life through immersive interpretation.

To explore the full programme and plan your visit, go to wealddown.co.uk.