Okay, it might be October right now, but we’re ready to start spreading the festive spirit – sorry, not sorry! Tickets to Noir Kringle – The Black Santa’s Grotto Experience have gone on sale today (October 11), and now’s the time to bag your tickets; for the past few years, this Caribbean Christmas grotto has sold out pretty early in the season.
Taking place on December 18–22 at Kachette Shoreditch (the old Shoreditch Railway ticket hall), the Christmas grotto will host fabulous food and festive fun for all the family, inspired by an Afro-Caribbean Christmas. Parang music, ponche de creme, and plantain may not be so familiar to some households, but for those with Caribbean heritage, these elements are a Christmas staple (and year round for plantain, tbh), dependent on the island you hail from.
What can you expect at this Caribbean Christmas grotto?
Those who visit the grotto will be greeted by Mrs Kringle and the helpful elves, who will take you on a one-hour tour of the magical workshop. This will include a mini-elf school visit, the making of Mrs Kringle’s very own secret magic reindeer feed, and more. Of course, no tour of Santa’s workshop would be complete without a meet and greet with the big man himself, which will be captured in a commemorative photograph (you can pre-book this). Groups to meet Santa will be split, depending on the ticket you choose (group or individual meet and greet). Each child will receive a gift, and well, children at heart aka fully grown adults, you’ll have the memories to cherish instead!
If you feel your child would benefit from a more relaxed session, then these are available too – you can select the 9am slots. The relaxed sessions will see the The Noir Kringle Caribbean Christmas grotto welcome a smaller group per session; the team will offer more time in specific parts of the experience; and they will reduce the flickering lights and volume.
Noir Kringle started back in 2019, founded by Charlotte Lewis, who was searching for a Santa’s Grotto that showcased what Christmas in her British-Jamaican home was like, so her young daughter could feel represented during the Christmas season. While this existed in America, she was unable to find one here. Since then, her enchanting grotto has helped many children and adults share their Caribbean Christmas experience with friends, family and the community. In previous years, Mrs Kringle was played by Charlotte’s own mother, making the experience even more special.
Sound like your kind of Christmas? Grab your tickets to Noir Kringle – The Black Santa’s Grotto Experience via their website.