IT’S starting to look a lot like Christmas in Hampshire.

Our round-up of the top-ten things to do this weekend includes the opening of a number of festive attractions as well as other seasonal fare...

At Marwell Zoo...

CHRISTMAS at Marwell will see the zoo transformed into a winter wonderland this weekend.

Children and adults alike will delight at glittering illuminated trees before stepping inside to be transported to another world that will fill hearts with seasonal cheer.

The journey begins in the magical winter forest where guests can be warmed with a glass of mulled wine or blackcurrant and festive reindeer cookie before Mother Christmas will greet guests young and old into her fairy glen for an enchanting sensory reading of a tale inspired by The Nutcracker.

Families will then join the team of mischievous elves in their workshop where little ones will create their very own Christmas Eve plate to take home.

Finally the big man himself will be in his grotto granting wishes and giving a wonderful gift to each child before loved ones can pose to capture the perfect family photo as a lasting memory of the day.

The experience lasts around 60-80 minutes and always proves popular.

The event gets under way on Saturday and runs until Christmas Eve.

Go to marwell.org.uk/zoo/christmas

At Paulton’s Park...

CHRISTMAS at Paultons opens this weekend.

Families can join a reindeer on his journey to find Santa in time for Christmas Eve and return home with a gift, while parents have a complimentary hot punch and a festive treat. Included in the cost of a ticket is the chance to enjoy the delights of a daily, family festive show where visitors can meet Frosty, Rudolph and two cheeky elves, Billy and Belinda.

For the first time, families can take a stroll down the aptly named Snow Street as well as have the opportunity to discover Jurassic-themed attraction Lost Kingdom during the festive season, including rides Flight of the Pterosaur and Velociraptor. Visitors can also experience Peppa Pig World in a magical festive setting and see and hear the entertaining musical Christmas tree.

Also new for 2017, watch Birds of a Feather 4D at the state-of-the-art sensory cinema. Flying south for winter, straight-laced bird Brian is unexpectedly knocked out of the sky by overweight, loudmouthed pelican Del. Forced to rely on Del for directions south, the pair meets a flock of dangerous birds on their manic migration home. When they run into an egotistic eagle in the rainforest, can these Birds of a Feather stick together?

Christmas at Paultons takes place on selected dates from Saturday until Friday, December 23.

See paultonspark.co.uk/attractions/christmas/.

In Winchester...

GET in the festive spirit by watching the switch on of the wonderful Winchester Christmas lights.

The event at the popular festive destination is a great way to get the season of goodwill off to a twinkling start.

With food, drink and entertainment for all the family, look out for guest appearances from the cast of this year’s Theatre Royal Winchester pantomime – Cinderella.

Entertainment starts at 4pm, with the lights switched on at 6pm.

The ice rink in front of the cathedral and the celebrated Christmas Market opens on Monday.

At Locks Heath Shopping Village...

GET festive at Locks Heath light switch on from 12pm-9pm on Saturday as Locks Heath puts the rock n roll into Christmas, with the main act of the night Touch of Little Mix.

From a Santa meet and greet to a magical music festival, Locks Heath has a musical Christmas bonanza covered with not only a main stage featuring community groups and live acts, but a second stage located at the shopping village’s new pop-up bar featuring local acoustic sets.

Back to back acts will be hosted by Jez Clark from The Breeze Breakfast guaranteed to keep you and your family entertained all day. The festivities begin with Portsmouth singer Simon Kent at 12.30pm with acts every half hour on both stages building up the excitement until the grand finale. Acts include Daniel Eagle, BodyRox, Ryan Greaves, Horizon and many more.

Meet Santa from 6pm as he sets time aside from his busy Christmas schedule to meet families and take photographs.

Throughout the day freshly cooked hog roast, bratwursts, chips and mulled wine will be available.

Visit locksheathshoppingvillage.co.uk

At Mayflower Theatre...

AS part of Southampton Film Week, enjoy a fun-filled family event celebrating Mayflower’s own cinematic heritage.

Ahead of Mayflower Theatre’s pantomime in December, see the original Disney animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. This film event is open to all the family and you are very welcome to dress up as your favourite Disney characters to join in the fun.

First screened at the theatre in 1937, come along to enjoy this fabulous Disney classic and learn more about Mayflower Theatre’s history as a cinema. From 12.30pm, you can explore items from the archive and take a trip down memory lane to the days when Mayflower Theatre was one of Southampton’s stunning cinemas.

Tickets for the event, which starts at 2pm, are available from mayflower.org.uk

At The Swan Centre, Eastleigh...

THE centre’s Christmas festivities will be launched on Saturday between 11am and 4pm.

Chat to a host of colourful seasonal characters around the centre, collecting festive stamps as you go and finish off with a visit to see Father Christmas in the gallery above Costa.

The Christmas character trail will include the mischievous Elfie Shelfie, a firm favourite at The Swan Centre each year.

Young visitors can enjoy Santa’s grotto, face painting and competitions.

In Eastleigh...

THE Christmas countdown officially starts on Saturday in Eastleigh town centre when Santa joins the town mayor, councillor Mo Sollitt, to switch on the Christmas lights and get a day of fun and festivities under way.

The free event, which runs from 11am to 7pm, includes a Christmas market, fun fair on the Rec and lots of animals to pet from the Longdown Mobile Farm.

You can find Santa’s grotto at Eastleigh Museum and indulge in a spot of shopping form stalls up and down Market Street and High Street.

There’s an open day at the Sorting Office and live entertainment throughout the day.

The light parade kicks off at 5.15pm and a fireworks show will provide a dazzling finale.

If your youngsters want to write to Father Christmas, look out for the post box for all Christmas letters to be sent direct to his workshop at the North Pole. This will open tomorrow in the Swan Centre. Santa will reply to every letter he gets, ready to collect at Eastleigh Library.

In Guildhall Square, Portsmouth...

GUILDHALL Square in Portsmouth will be transformed into an ice-skating rink this Christmas.

Opening this weekend, it will be surrounded by Christmas trees, with a wooden chalet bar to be built next to the Civic Offices and will run until January 2.

The ice rink is big enough for 215 skaters per session.

All sessions are for one hour and include skate hire with the rink to be open from 10.30am until 11pm. Nine sessions will take place across the period on a daily basis with the rink open every day apart from Christmas Day.

At Red Hot Press, Southampton...

What better way to draw Southampton Film Week to a close than with a return to the exquisite Red Hot Press where you can feast upon the delightful Stephen Fry and the Gutenberg Press in The Machine that Made Us and soak up the sounds of Straight to Cake.

In this BAFTA-nominated documentary Stephen Fry investigates the story of the most important machine ever invented. The printing press was the world’s first mass-production machine.

Its invention in the 1450s changed the world as dramatically as splitting the atom or sending men into space, sparking a cultural revolution which shaped the modern age. It is the machine that made us who we are today.

Stephen’s investigation combines historical detective work and hands-on challenge. He travels to France, Germany and Switzerland on the trail of Johann Gutenberg, the elusive inventor of the printing press and the world’s first media entrepreneur. Along the way he discovers the lengths Gutenberg went to keep his project secret, explores the role of avaricious investors and unscrupulous competitors, and discovers why printing mattered so much in medieval Europe.

See southamptonfilmweek.com for details.