Looking for some festive fun in the lead up to Christmas? We've got you covered. 

Here are our top picks. 

1) Darth Vader’s Galactic Grotto, Ace Comics, Culver Street East, Colchester, December 15, 10am to 3pm. £5. 01206 561912.

The Force is strong at Ace as the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader, is returning to the shop. You can visit Lord Vader and his accompaniment of familiar Star Wars characters as they take a short break from pursuing the Rebel fleet to listen to your Christmas wishes.

2) Santa is coming to Fenwick, Fenwick’s, High Street, Colchester, until Christmas Eve, 9.30am to 4pm. £8.50. fenwick.co.uk/grottocolchester

In the run-up to Christmas, children will be able to meet Santa and receive a special Christmas present from the man himself.

They will also be able to grab an “elfie” with him and his team of elves.

The grotto will be located in the toy department on the lower ground floor with ten bookable tickets per hour on weekends in December as well as every day between December 18 and 24.

3) Christmas Tree Maze & Treasure Trail, Olivers Plants, Broomfield Farm Nurseries, Coggeshall Road, Earls Colne, until Sunday, 9am, entry into the maze is free. 01787 220281.

Here’s something a little different for Christmas this year as you combine your tree buying with a trip around a magical maze and treasure trail. As well as getting lost in the maze watch fresh pine and holly wreaths being made, sit in Santa’s sleigh and then guess how many trees there are in the nursery’s maze competition.

4) Clacton RNLI Santa Event, Hastings Avenue Boathouse, Clacton, Sunday, December 9, from 11am.

Arriving in Clacton RNLI’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat, more than 500 people often turn out for the annual event, which stretches back more than 20 years. This year Santa is due to make his arrival at the boathouse at 11am where he will be met by his old friend Stormy Stan and shown to a specially constructed grotto within the boathouse, where he will meet the children gathered individually to check their wish list and offer a free present.

5) Castle Grotto, Colchester Castle, Castle Park, December 8 and 9, 15 and 16, 20 to 23. £6.50. 01206 282939.

Visit Santa in his wonderful Grotto, receive a gift and whisper your Christmas dream into a shell in the Castle’s special Wishing Tree with their festive elf. And why not combine your visit with a visit to the Castle where you can do the Christmas trail and enter their prize draw for the chance to win a VIP guided tour of their major exhibition which will open next Summer.