Some of these imaginative events include Visit Aylesbury’s Santa’s Sunday Spectacular. This event saw a procession of stilt-walkers, musicians, beloved cartoon characters, and incredible puppetry to kick off their festive season. 

Fun Street is an indoor play centre for children in Glasgow that had considered hiring reindeer for their Winter Wonderland event but told us in November that "We have cancelled our reindeers for this event due to this being unfair on the animals." Instead, they had snow machines, arts and crafts, and Christmas treats and songs, Fun Street proved that everyone can enjoy the festivities without the need to exploit animals!
 

We have also seen many organisers that had booked animals cancel this part of the event. This is thanks to our supporters and caring members of the public who got in touch with them to ask them to go animal free this year. 

They include Tesco brand, Jack’s Stores, which had planned 12 events at different stores. That’s 12 events that animals will not have to suffer going to and from and standing in a tiny pen in the car park. This is all down to our supporters, so thank you for taking the time to send an email to this or any of the events we have highlighted through this campaign so far.

There is also Silcock’s Winter Wonderland in Manchester, the UK’s largest Indoor Christmas Theme Park. Organisers decided not to use animals at this event after a petition was created by one of our wonderful supporters which gained nearly 50,000 signatures! This is truly inspirational and just shows what one person can achieve. 
 

With events all over the country proving just how much mirth and merriment can be spread in so many inventive and inclusive ways, there really is no excuse for exploiting animals as props at Christmas, or ever.

Our festive events campaign draws to a close as the big day arrives, but we will be preparing for next year, the year after, and every year, until the sight of stressed-out animals, penned-in and terrified, is gone from the UK’s Christmas celebrations for good.
 

Don’t forget you can still report events to us and find events still using animals this year on our map and find other ways to help animals this festive season.