Hosting Christmas events on the farm: what do you need to consider?

5th Oct 2026

Author: Rebecca Jepson

Christmas markets, Santa experiences, light trails, wreath-making workshops and festive food events can provide a valuable additional income stream for farms.

However, inviting the public onto a working farm can bring together property, planning, licensing, contractual and safety considerations. The arrangements become more complicated where the landowner, farming business, event organiser and individual traders are different people or businesses.

Working out who is responsible for each part of the event before tickets go on sale can help protect the farm if plans change or something goes wrong. Rebecca Jepson, Head of our Agriculture & Rural Affairs Team, explains the key points to consider when planning a Christmas event on your farm.

Who is running the event?

Before entering into agreements, decide which individual, partnership or company will operate the event and receive the income. This may not necessarily be the same person or business that owns or farms the land.

The operator may be responsible for ticket sales, staff, licences, suppliers and visitor complaints. If several businesses are involved, their respective roles should be recorded clearly. This is particularly important where a separate diversification business is using land occupied by a farming partnership or agricultural tenant.

The structure may also affect the farm’s existing contracts, insurance and financial arrangements. Taking advice at an early stage can help identify potential difficulties before commitments are made.

Do you have permission to use the land?

Even a temporary event may require consent, depending on how often it takes place, its size and how the land or buildings will be used.

Planning permission may be required, particularly if the event involves a change of use, permanent structures or a regular programme of activities. Existing planning permissions and conditions should also be checked.

If you are a tenant, review your tenancy agreement before committing to the event. The landlord’s consent may be needed to use the property for activities outside ordinary farming. If you own your property, restrictions in the title to the land, access arrangements, or the terms of any mortgage may also affect what is allowed.

We can review property documents and advise whether consent may be required before you commit to advertising, suppliers or infrastructure.

Are your agreements clear?

If an event organiser, food vendor, craft seller, performer or other third-party operator will be involved, a written agreement should make everyone’s responsibilities clear.

Depending on the arrangement, this may need to cover:

• the space, services and facilities being provided
• payment, commission or pitch fees
• arrival, set-up and departure times
• responsibility for licences and permissions
• insurance and health and safety requirements
• cleaning, waste removal and damage
• cancellation, postponement and severe weather
• responsibility for visitor complaints or claims.

The agreement should also require each business to comply with any regulations that are relevant to its activities. For example, a food vendor may need to show that it is properly registered and has suitable food hygiene procedures.

We can prepare or review agreements with event organisers, traders, caterers, entertainers and other suppliers. Clear terms can reduce the risk of disagreement if a supplier cancels, property is damaged or a visitor makes a claim.

What terms apply to visitors?

For a ticketed event, the booking terms should explain what visitors are buying and what will happen if plans change. This is especially important for attractions such as Santa experiences and light trails where tickets may be sold weeks or months in advance.

The terms may need to address:

• cancellations and refunds
• postponed or rescheduled events
• severe weather
• changes to advertised activities
• late arrival or missed time slots
• photography and filming
• visitor behaviour
• accessibility and age restrictions.

Terms must be fair and should not attempt to remove rights that visitors have under consumer law. They should also be consistent with the way the event is advertised.

We can help prepare booking terms which suit the event and give both the organiser and visitors a clear understanding of what will happen if the event cannot proceed as planned.

Have you planned access and parking?

Farm entrances, tracks and fields may work well for agricultural vehicles but not for large numbers of visitors arriving in cars.

Consider how vehicles and pedestrians will move around the site, whether entrances provide adequate visibility and how traffic will be managed at busy times. Lighting, signage, uneven surfaces and the effect of wet or icy weather should form part of the planning.

Emergency vehicles must be able to reach the event. If traffic could affect a public road, early discussion with the local authority or highways authority may be needed.

Reasonable arrangements should also be made for visitors with disabilities. This may affect parking, paths, toilets and access to the activities.

Which licences do you need?

The licences and permissions required will depend on what the event includes.

Selling alcohol, providing certain types of entertainment or serving hot food and drink late at night may require authorisation under a premises licence or a Temporary Event Notice. Temporary Event Notices are subject to restrictions on attendance, duration and the number of events held at one premises, so they will not be suitable in every case.

Food businesses, including those operating from temporary stalls or mobile units in England, need to be registered with the relevant local authority. Additional permissions may be required for raffles, collections or film screenings.

Speak to the local authority early, particularly if the event will run over several days or return annually.

Does your insurance cover the event?

Do not assume that an existing farm policy automatically covers a Christmas event.

Tell your insurer exactly what you are planning, including expected visitor numbers, the activities taking place and whether other businesses will be operating on the site. You may need additional public liability, employer’s liability, property or event cancellation cover.

Ask stallholders, contractors and operators for evidence of appropriate insurance. Written agreements should support these checks by setting out the cover each party must maintain.

What happens if something goes wrong?

As the occupier of the land, you have responsibilities towards people visiting the farm. A suitable risk assessment should identify potential hazards and the measures needed to manage them.

On a working farm, risks may include machinery, livestock, electric fencing, open water, uneven ground, temporary structures, generators, cables and vehicle movements. Winter events bring further concerns including poor visibility, slippery surfaces, crowds and young children moving around the site.

Responsibility may be shared with an event organiser, contractor or stallholder, but it should not be left to assumption. Clear agreements and good records can make it easier to establish who was responsible if someone is injured, property is damaged or one of the businesses involved fails to deliver.

Protecting your farm and its future plans

A successful Christmas event can become an important part of a farm diversification strategy. As the event grows, its planning, property and commercial arrangements may need to develop too.

Our Agriculture & Rural Affairs Team includes Solicitors specialising in commercial and agricultural property and corporate and commercial agreements, as well as dispute resolution specialists who can help farming families and rural businesses put the right arrangements in place.

We can review the property position, advise on the structure of the event and prepare agreements with organisers, suppliers and stallholders. We can also help with ticket terms, cancellation arrangements and disputes if plans do not go as expected.

If you are considering a Christmas event or developing an existing seasonal attraction, contact our Agriculture & Rural Affairs Team to discuss your plans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Information in this article was correct at the time of publication. The information is for general guidance only. Laws and regulations may change, and the applicability of legal principles can vary based on individual circumstances. Therefore, this content should not be construed as legal advice. We recommend that you consult with a qualified legal professional to obtain advice tailored to your specific situation. For personalised guidance, please contact us directly.