Begin celebrating Christmas early, with a series of free festive activities for all ages to get involved in. On Saturday 27th November from 2-6pm two ‘instagrammable’ Christmas themed grottos will be opened and will be open every Saturday in December in the lead up to Christmas. Following the opening of the grottos, Londoners and locals can celebrate the switching on of Castle Square’s and Elephant Park’s Christmas lights! A giant Christmas tree will be lit up and the Elephant and Castle Community Hub choir, featuring some of the Castle Square traders, will sing ‘The Twelve Days of Castle Square’ based on Castle Square and Ash Avenue businesses.

As well as Christmas carols, there will be a group of local artists who will create a version of the Christmas Carol Story, set in the Elephant and Castle with characters that represent the diversity of the area. It will also showcase some of the community groups which have been working with the Community Hub, such as Upside Down Dance, a teen dance group which will perform a popular Christmas song.

In addition to the festive Christmas event there are a wide range of free community activities to get involved in throughout the month of November, both in-person and virtual. This month The Elephant and Castle Community Hub will be hosting activities in different venues across Elephant and Castle to invite their current members and welcome new ones to meet and connect in a physical space.

The online kids creative station will host themed sessions every Thursday to enlist children in creative activities from the comfort of your own home. You can enjoy salt painting and firework printing, Remembrance Day Poppy printing and paintings and November Frost and Ice Frosty winter trees including sketching and shading. In the last session of the month, you can create your own American Thanksgiving Handprint autumn wreaths. You can also get creative during November, every Wednesday at 2pm, with the Creative Club which will be focusing on Origami Techniques, folding papers, unfolding magic!

Every Wednesday from 7.00PM – 8.00PM the Elephant and Castle Community hub are offering weekly English lessons, focusing on conversation. Suitable for learners at a near beginner level​​ the classes will be fun and interactive with lots of practice of what you have learnt. The topics will include, introducing yourself, conversations in a restaurant, asking for directions, your daily routine and talking about your likes and dislikes.

For those wanting to find calm during their busy week, Monday Mindfulness will be available to all to join in as well as Chair Yoga, Chi Hatha Yoga and Meditation classes. Join in every Monday morning online from 10am to 12pm. Every Thursday at 11am Re-Tribe will also be running self-care workshops over Zoom for people to connect with themselves and come together in a way that can provide calm and courage.

For kids and teens aged 6-16 looking for a fun activity and new hobby to learn, the Upside Down Kids/Teen Dance club will be running free dance sessions every Friday at 6.30pm around the corner at St John’s Centre, Larcom Street, SE17 1NQ. The weekly classes teach Hip Hop, Locking, Popping, House and break dance routines. The Disability Sports Coach will also once again host free online yoga and Dance classes at 5pm on Thursdays, and a fun monthly quiz on Friday 26th November at 5pm.

For further information, please contact the Elephant and Castle press team on: [email protected]. For further information about the events mentioned above, see below. Full timetable here and in the accompanying flyers – all events are FREE:

Christmas Light Switch On

What: Christmas festivities for the whole family to enjoy including a light switch on, community performances and instagrammable grottos

When: Saturday 27th October – 2pm – 6 PM

Where: Castle Square and Elephant Park

Christmas Grotto

What: Instagrammable Grottos

When: 27 November, 4, 11 & 18 December, 12:00-4:00pm

Where: Castle Square

Creative Club

What: Creative Workshops with all materials provided

When: Wednesday 2.00 PM -4.00 PM

How to join: Free to attend at St Jude’s Centre, St Georges Road, Elephant and Castle, London, SE1 6EZ

Frogprince Baby Music

What: Unique live music concept for babies, toddlers and preschoolers

When: Thursday 11.00 AM -12.00 PM

How to join: Free to attend at Mercato Metropolitano, 42 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6DR

Upside Down Street Dance Kids/Teens Club

What: Beginner street dance sessions for kids and teens (6-16yrs)

When: Friday 6.30 PM -7.30 PM

How to join: Free to attend at St John’s Centre, Larcom Street, SE17 1NQ

Monday Mindfulness

What: Free Chair Yoga, Chi Hatha Yoga, and Meditation classes

When: Every Monday 10.00 AM to 12.00 PM

How to join: Join via zoom here.

Re-Tribe Facebook Live Talks

What: This online series of self-care workshops will offer a space for people to come together and connect with themselves and others in a way that can provide calm and courage.

When: Every Tuesday at 11.00 AM

How to join: Click here to join the meeting on Facebook

English Lessons

What: Weekly English Lessons focusing on conversation

When: Wednesday 7.00 PM – 8.00 PM

How to join: email [email protected] for the Zoom ID and [email protected]

Disability Sports Coach – Online Sessions

What: Free sports lessons across yoga, and dance.

When: Yoga on Wednesday at 5.00 PM and Dance sessions on Thursdays at 5.00 PM, a monthly quiz on 26th November at 5.00 PM

How to join: Complete the registration here for Zoom details

Self Care Workshops with Retribe

What: Free online self-care workshops

When: Every Thursday at 11.00 AM

How to join: Join via zoom here

Creative Station

What: Free online themed kid’s activities promoting fun and learning at home.

When: Every Thursday at 4.30 PM

How to join: Email [email protected] for Zoom link