Popular Santa Band kicks off Christmas at North Devon garden centre

A Barnstaple Christmas tradition has returned with the unveiling of this year’s Santa Band at St John’s Garden Centre.

The animatronic display at the garden centre in Newport has been enjoyed by generations of local families in the run up to Christmas and has also raised thousands of pounds for local charities over the years.

Jason Mellett, co-Owner of St John’s Garden Centres, said: “Our Santa Bands are such a big part of Christmas here at St John’s. Every year, visitors come in especially to see the new displays — complete with animatronics, festive music, and that classic nostalgic feel.

“This year’s display is definitely our best yet. Our maintenance manager John Hartford has worked incredibly hard to bring it all together and the results have truly paid off.”

This year’s Santa Band, which features Father Christmas being pulled on his sleigh by Rudolph, will be raising money for the Fern Centre, Royal Devon Hospitals Charity's cancer wellbeing centre at North Devon District Hospital.

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Above: Posing with the Santa Band. Credit: Royal Devon Hospitals Charity

Shoppers at the unveiling enjoyed complimentary mulled wine and mince pies and were able to chat to Fern Centre staff and volunteers about the support the centre offers to anyone in North Devon affected by cancer.

Julie Whitton, Royal Devon Hospitals Charity community fundraiser, said: “We are thrilled the Santa Band at the Barnstaple St John’s will be supporting the Fern Centre this Christmas.

“The centre opened in 2020 following a £1.5million fundraising appeal and Royal Devon Hospitals Charity (formerly Over and Above) continues to raise the money to needed to cover the centre’s annual running costs.

“Every note the Santa Band plays this Christmas will be helping the Fern Centre to offer a whole range of free counselling, complementary therapies, information, support groups and wellbeing support to North Devon cancer patients and their families.”

Above and below: The popular St John’s Santa Band display is back for 2025, this year on behalf of North Devon’s cancer wellbeing centre. Credit: Royal Devon Hospitals Charity

Mark Toon, co-Owner of St John’s Garden Centres, said the Fern Centre was nominated by the local community.

He said: “The response was fantastic and the Fern Centre received an incredible number of nominations.

“We know just how much their support means to people across North Devon and are really looking forward to rallying support for the cause this Christmas and helping raise funds for the vital work they do.”

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A second Santa Band display at the St John’s Garden Centre in Ashford will be supporting North Devon Against Domestic Abuse (NDADA) between now and the New Year.

This Friday (November 28) Santa will be arriving at Barnstaple St John’s to take up residence in his grotto. Landkey and Newport School choirs will be kicking off the entertainment at 6pm, with Santa arriving on a horse-drawn sleigh at around 6.30pm. The grotto will be open on select dates from Saturday, November 29 through to Christmas Eve.

JungleLand at St John’s will also be transformed into a magical winter wonderland in time for Santa’s arrival, complete with twinkling lights, festive photo opportunities and the iconic big red chair, while the Ashford garden centre will be inviting children to enjoy breakfast with Santa.

“Christmas at St John’s is always such a special time, and this year we’re pulling out all the stops,” added Mark.