December 2025
Many of the towns and villages across South East England turn on their festive lights in November to mark the start of the Christmas shopping season. Head out with family and friends to a town centre Christmas light switch on near you and enjoy a sparkly night out! These events bring light and the festive feeling to high streets, market squares, and city centres throughout the South East. Many include a countdown to the light switch on, often by a local celebrity or guest, often with entertainment, music and traditional Christmas market and fireworks. Grab you hat and scarf and head along to one of these free events and take the chance to enjoy what's on the doorstep. A number of towns and cities also hold winter lantern processions, these heart-warming celebrations of the festive season are filled with light, music and community spirit, these include Winchester, Reading, and Dover.
Our featured events list is shown in date order, you'll also discover more Christmas lights switch on events happening across the South East at the bottom of the page. You can also find a host of colourful Christmas Light Trails many of which take place in visitor attractions, woods and gardens across the region.
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Number of results: 4
Christmas
Marlow
Each winter, Marlow's fabulous Christmas lights attract thousands of people to the town centre, to stroll along the High Street from the obelisk at the top to the iconic Marlow Bridge at the bottom, admiring the fairy-tale display. Multiple rows of…
Christmas
Deal
Start your Kent Christmas celebrations with a visit to the family-friendly Deal Annual Christmas Lights Switch On.
Head along to Deal town centre on Saturday 21st November, from 5.30pm including music, performances, a visit from Father Christmas,…
Carnival
Sandwich
This Christmas head to Sandwich in Kent for the start of the festive season, with the town centre light parade and Christmas light switch on
Christmas
Dover
Head along to Pencester Gardens in Dover for the annual Winter Light Up Dover event on Saturday, 5th December. This festival brings light to the winter months and offers an enchanting range of activities for visitors and residents to enjoy.
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