Snuggled in the heart of Rougham Estate just outside Bury St Edmunds, historic Blackthorpe Barn is home to a Christmas event that ignites the Christmas spirit for thousands every year, and this year they are celebrating 30^th years.   

The Christmas festival starts in late October at Blackthorpe Barn with the opening of the Country Christmas shop.  There are also craft weekends and famous Rougham Estate Christmas Trees, which have been pride of place outside 10 Downing Street in recent years.

The Country Christmas shop has everything needed to make your Christmas extra special, from decorations, wreaths, aromatics and wrap to wonderful gifts for all. With everything beautifully displayed you cannot help but imagine how you could transform your home with amazing decorations and put a glorious smile on the faces of your friends and family through amazing gifts this Christmas.

Celebrating 30 years this year, the Christmas craft weekends are always much anticipated. They showcase some of the country’s most talented artists and craft-makers. There are woven and knitwear designs and textiles, ceramics, glassware, metalware, wood creations, natural beauty products, leather items, jewellery, books, baskets and so much more. Many exhibitors change each weekend so there are new crafts to be explored each visit.

The weekends start with a special unveiling of a 30^th anniversary sculpture on 6 November at 10am and continue each weekend until 12^th December.

For the icing on the cake this Christmas a famous Rougham Estate Christmas Tree could be a perfect festive centrepiece. Renowned for quality and longevity, each tree has been lovingly nurtured in plantations close to Blackthorpe Barn. Available in many shapes and sizes, freshly cut or pot grown.

George Agnew, Joint owner of Blackthorpe Barn and Rougham Estate adds, “I am so pleased that we are getting back to a face-to-face event again, it’s going to be fantastic. The 30^th anniversary sculpture unveiling to going to be special for me. There has been a lot of changes, we always try to evolve things every year and this year we have created more space for the crafts, to allow everyone to feel comfortable, and we have extended the Courtyard Café with more covered areas for all to enjoy. I look forward to welcoming our visitors again and seeing the smiles on their faces, it really does mean a lot to me.”

Blackthorpe Barn is just three miles east of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, off the A14 at junction 45 (Sat Nav IP30 9HZ). For more information and opening times for the various events see www.blackthorpebarn.com.