The Merry Opera Company brings its unique, staged performance of Handel’s Messiah to St Mary’s Church, Causeway, Horsham, RH12 1HE on Friday 14 November, 7.30pm. Twelve professional singers play characters who experience transformation from need and despair to understanding and hope as they sing this traditional work in its entirety. Audiences report that the production gives the work ‘new meaning’ and ‘invigoration’. Tickets £25, (U18s £18) at www.merryopera.co.uk

Lights & Bushels, Horsham’s award-winning community theatre company, premieres its latest production at Cranleigh Arts Centre on 20 Thursday 20 November, with subsequent performances at Fishers Farm Theatre, Wisborough Green on 21 – 22 November. The evening will consist of two one-act plays - A Pot of Bones and The Reckoning.  Both plays are set in the 17th century and promise to be the perfect atmospheric entertainment for a dark winter’s night.  A Pot of Bones is based on actual depositions from the Ely assises, when the parents of a missing boy were accused of murder after a child’s bones were unearthed by a labourer.  The Reckoning sees the notorious Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins, being visited on his deathbed by three of his victims, intent on retribution. The plays were written by Lights & Bushels co-founder Barry Syder, who appears on stage alongside a company of 13 local actors. Tickets £16 from www.lightsandbushels.com

A Christmas Launch Party will be held in Horsham on Friday 21 November, 4 - 9pm. Organised by Your Horsham and Horsham District Council, the festive celebration will be held across the town centre. There will be entertainment from Twisted Bliss (stilt walkers, hula hoopers, jugglers etc) and fairground rides in the Bishopric, where Horsham Football Club will be hosting skills tests. There will be festive markets with food and drink stalls, with late night shopping in Swan Walk, where Father Christmas will also be making an appearance. Live music and theatre comes courtesy of Taygan Paxton, DJ Brian Mole, Paul Stanworth, Will Jones, Trinity Players, HAODS, Strobe Band, Big Notes Choir and Christ’s Hospital School. For updates, visit www.yourhorsham.com/Christmas

West Sussex Philharmonic Choir will be holding their autumn concert at St Mary's Parish Church, Horsham on Saturday 22 November at 7.30pm.  Under the direction of their new Musical Director, Jonathan Lucas Wood, the choir will perform Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle with four talented young soloists, accompanied by piano and local harmonium player Edward Dean. Tickets at £15 are available online: www.westsussexphilharmonicchoir.org.uk

Leonardslee Lights returns to the Lakes and Gardens from 28 November – 30 December. This year’s theme, A Midwinter Light’s Dream, will transform the historic woodlands and lakes into a glowing dreamworld of light, sound and colour. The mile-long trail includes illuminated landscapes, with specially composed soundscapes and theatrical flourishes from live performers. As well as enchanting lantern creations from Lantern House, acclaimed local artists Ithaca unveil a dazzling new installation to amaze. For the first time, the trail concludes in Leonardslee Village, a lively new hub featuring a covered indoor bar and outdoor firepits for marshmallow roasting and freshly-made doughnuts. It’s the perfect place for families and friends to round off their journey with mulled wine, festive treats and seasonal cheer. www.leonardsleegardens.co.uk/lights-2025

A Christmas Fayre will be held at Dalesdown, Honeybridge Lane, Dial Post, RH13 8NX on Saturday 29 November, 10am – 1pm. There will be a variety of craft and gift stalls, as well as book cake stalls, refreshments and fellowship. Free entry (donations welcome). Dalesdown is a residential conference and activity centre, owned by Christian charity Family Foundations Trust. www.dalesdown.org.uk

Horsham Music Circle has announced three autumn concerts as part of its 84th Season. The final concert sees the Aurora Trio (harp, flute and viola) bring the season to a close with works by Bax, Debussy and Ravel at the Causeway Barn on Saturday 29 November, 4.30pm. For tickets visit wegottickets.com/HorshamMusiccircle.org.uk or email horshammusiccircle@gmail.com

Southwater Christmas Festival is held in Lintot Square on Saturday 29 November, from 11am. Organised by the Southwater Community Partnership, it will feature live entertainment, Santa’s grotto, food and drink, shopping and  lights switch-on at 4pm, with Cantatrice Voices and Slinfold Concert Band. https://www.southwatercp.org.uk/christmas-festival

Petworth House hosts Christmas Enchantment from 29 November – 4 January. The grand state rooms transform into a world of overgrown wonder with celestial skies, roaming woodland creatures, towering trees, and spaces to pause and reflect. Petworth also hosts a Christmas Makers Market in partnership with Petworth Pop-Up on the weekend of 29 – 30 November, 10am - 6.30pm (4pm Sunday). There will also be traditional wreath making workshops on 2, 6 and 7 December. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/sussex/petworth

Colgate celebrates Christmas with candlelit carols at St Saviours Church on Sunday 30 November, 4.30 – 6pm. There will be carols with organ accompaniment, followed by mince pies and mulled wine in the hall, before the Christmas lights are switched on. 

Storrington and Sullington Parish Council host a Christmas Evening on Thursday 4 December, 5 - 8pm. There will be live music, fairground rides, Santa’s grotto, craft stalls and festive food and drink.

Billingshurst Christmas Fayre will be held at Billingshurst Centre on Saturday 6 December, 10am – 3pm. Organised by the Parish Council along with the Billingshurst Centre, the fayre includes a wide range of trade and charity stands. www.billingshurst.gov.uk

Horsham Twinning Association hosts a Carol Concert featuring One Accord Choir at the Unitarian Church, Worthing Road, Horsham, on Saturday 6 December, 7.30pm. Carols will be sung in English, German and French. The concert will be followed by seasonal drinks and light refreshments.  Free entry with a collection for church charities. www.horsham-twinning.org.uk

Horsham Harmony Choir ended its summer term with a varied concert led by Musical Director Sharon Lewis, raising £834 for St Catherine’s Hospice. The choir will be holding its Christmas Concert at YMCA FC, Gorings Mead, Horsham, on Sunday 7 December, from 3pm. The choir promise an entertaining hour or so and possibly even the chance for some audience participation. No admission charge, but donations are welcome in support of Turning Tides. Licensed bar. Horsham Harmony also welcomes new members in all voice parts.www.horshamharmonychoir.co.uk/

The Mediaeval Baebes perform their Twelfth Moon at St Mary’s Church on Friday 12 December. The vocal ensemble will lead a torchlit procession ending at the church, where they present an evening of musical stories, poetry and theatre. The Christmas concert will see several tracks from their new upcoming album, The Spinning Wheel, being performed live for the first time. A double A-side single, December, will be released in late November too. The Mediaeval Baebes are one of the most successful female-led, early music and folk ensembles in Europe, having released 11 studio albums and winning an Ivor Novella Award for their performance on the BBC serialisation The Virgin Queen. Tickets £32.50 (U16s £15) from www.mediaevalbaebes.com

Manor Theatre Group presents Hook: The Panto Strikes Back at Warnham Village Hall, Hollands Way, RH12 3RH, on Friday 12 – Sunday 14 December. In last year’s MTG panto, Raiders of the Lost Panto, Panto Land was saved when they recovered the Magical Talisman. However, it was stolen, right at the end of the story by Captain Hook, which is where this year’s production picks up the story. Hook has taken the Talisman back to Neverland, while Peter Pan, Ariel, Sinbad, Triton and a few other random characters once again retrieve the Talisman and save Panto Land. Terrible jokes, even worst singing, wobbly scenery and mediocre dancing awaits your viewing pleasure! Tickets £14 (children/concessions £12) from www.manorhorsham.co.uk

Half Cut Theatre present A Christmas Carol at The Capitol, Horsham, on 12 – 17 December. Following sell-out national tours of The Canterbury Tales, Much Ado About Nothing, Treasure Island and Twelfth Night, this creative company of actors bring their acclaimed adaptation of Dickens’ classic to The Capitol Studio this Christmas. There will be misers and magic, music and mayhem, ghosts and goodwill to all men, combined with Half Cut’s hallmark hilarity, a gentle pinch of audience participation and a delicious shiver of danger, all lovingly told by a company of talented actor-musicians. Tickets £20. www.thecapitolhorsham.com

The Southwater Infant and Junior Academies PTFA (Southwater Academies PTFA) present their popular Christmas Fair on Saturday 13 December, 11am – 3pm. The Christmas Fair, kindly sponsored by At Home and About Mortgages, will be held across both schools, creating an opportunity for the communities of both academies to come together and enjoy some festive fun. Highlights include a Christmas Café and Festive Food Village, Santa’s Dash for Cash, Snowman Snow Globe, a Christmas bouncy castle, Christmas Wheel of Fortune and the famous Christmas Raffle. There will be a Santa’s Grotto, while Elfridges will run the Secret Present Room. Entry £1 (50p per child, pre-schoolers free).

Crawley Millenium Concert Band will be performing a concert at Horsham Baptist Church, Brighton Road, RH13 5BD on Saturday 13 December, 7 - 9pm. Refreshments will be available. Entry is free, but there will be a retiring collection in aid of Pancreatic Cancer. www.cmcband.co.uk 

Heavy Horsham, a night of original rock and heavy music, will be held at the Rock Brewhouse, East Street, Horsham, on Saturday 13 December, 7.30pm. The headline act will be Horsham’s own Rogue Awakening, who recently performed in the Live Lounge for BBC Introducing in Sussex & Surrey. Opening are RE:O, who play a blend of cyber punk, rock and Japanese culture, with other support from Chub, an Eastbourne band who have played major festivals such as Bloodstock. Free entry.

Mainly Madness will perform at The Holbrook Club, North Heath Lane, Horsham, on Saturday 13 December, 7.30pm (music from 9pm). Mainly Madness are a Two Tone and Ska tribute band, playing songs by not just Madness, but also the likes of The Specials and The Beat. Tickets to this adults-only event cost £17.50. www.theholbrookclub.co.uk

The Mary How Trust hosts its annual Community Carols event at St Mary’s Church, Pulborough, on Wednesday 17 December, 7pm (doors open 6.30pm). Enjoy mulled wine and mince pies as you join in with carol singing, led by the Arun Choral Society. Free event with donations welcome. www.maryhowtrust.org

The Barns Green Players present a festive pantomime, The Snow Queen at the Village Hall, Muntham Drive, Barns Green, on 23 – 24 and 20 – 31 January 2026. BGP have been established for over 60 years and are well-known for hosting excellent amateur productions in the local community. The story tells of Gerda’s adventures from Denmark to the evil Snow Queen's Ice Palace as she attempts to save her best friend. Licensed bar. Tickets £13 - £16 from www.barnsgreenplayers.co.uk