Fenwick's 2026 Christmas Window in Newcastle, themed on Julia Donaldson's The Gruffalo's Child, is now open to the public after its unveiling on Sunday night. The display, which reimagines the beloved children's story with a festive twist, was revealed to invited guests before opening to general viewers on Monday.
The reveal took place on Northumberland Street, where fencing and a short road closure kept the window out of view until the big moment. Shortly after 6pm on Sunday, a large crowd of guests, including children from Fenwick's partner schools, gathered to await the unveiling, entertained by song and dance from a cast of performers.
Santa's Countdown and the Big Reveal
Santa Claus led the countdown from 10 to 1 as the curtain fell to reveal the festive display. The theme immediately went down well with the many people who tuned in to watch the unveiling online.
The Gruffalo's Child, one of the nation's most cherished children's books, has captivated generations of readers with its tale of imagination, adventure and courage. This year, Fenwick has reimagined the story with a festive twist, creating a Christmas experience that celebrates the joy of storytelling and reading together.
Authors Attend and Tradition Continues
Author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler were in Newcastle on Sunday to be among the audience for the reveal. On Monday, the general public got their first chance to see the display, which continues a tradition that has been spreading festive cheer in Newcastle for 54 years, since the first Window display at Fenwick in 1972.
ChronicleLive also headed down for a walk through, capturing pictures of the new display as crowds gathered to view it.
