Town Centre Christmas Lights Switch On

Christmas Light Switch On & Lantern Processions

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.

Sparkling Festive Town Centre Light Switch On

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.

• Eton Christmas Lights Switch on, Windsor, Berkshire, 13rd November 2025
• Southampton Christmas Lights Switch on, Bargate Centre, 13th November 2025
• Winchester Christmas Lights Switch on, Winchester, Hampshire, 13th November 2025
• Windsor Christmas Lights Switch on, Windsor, Berkshire 15th November 2025
• Gravesend Town Centre Light Switch on, Gravesend, Kent, 15th November 2025
• Reading Christmas Light Switch on, Reading, Berkshire, 15th November 2025
• Southsea Christmas Light Switch on, Portsmouth. Hampshire, 20th November 2025
• Newport Christmas Light Switch on, Isle of Wight, 22nd November 2025 
• Portsmouth Christmas Light Switch on, Hampshire, 22nd November 2025
• Maidstone Christmas Lights Switch on, Maidstone, Kent, 20th November 2025
• Deal Christmas Lights Switch on, Deal, Kent, 22nd November 2025
• Maidenhead Christmas Lights Switch on, Berkshire, 22nd November 2025
• Bexhill On Sea Christmas Lights Switch on, East Sussex, 29th November 2025
• Henley-on-Thames Christmas Lights Switch on, Oxfordshire, 28th November 2025
• Faringdon Festive Light Switch on, Oxfordshire, 29th November 2025
• Sandwich Christmas Light Switch on, Kent, 29th November 2025
• Eastbourne Christmas Lights Switch on, East Sussex, 29th November 2025
• Battle Christmas Light Switch on, East Sussex, 29th November 2025
• Light Up Ramsgate, Kent, 11th December 2025

Winter Lantern Processions

• Winchester Lantern Parade, Hampshire, 24th November 2025
• Dover Light Up Procession, Dover, Kent, 6th December 2025
• The Carnival of the Animals - Lantern Parade, Maidenhead, Berkshire, 6th December 2025
• Christmas Carols with the Royal Marines Band at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth, Hampshire, 6th December 2025
• Festive Songs and Lanterns at Itchen Valley Country Park, Southampton, Hampshire, 21st December 2025
• Ramsgate New Years Eve Lantern Parade, Kent, 31st December 2025