24th November 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: 12
Christmas
Windsor
Celebrate the start of the festive season at Eton’s annual Christmas lights switch-on. Combining music, seasonal entertainment and a visit from Father Christmas, this much-loved event brings the community together in the heart of historic Eton.
Christmas
Eton
Celebrate Christmas in Eton as the Christmas lights are switched on!
Head to Jubilee Square from 17.00, for food stalls, funfair rides, music, dancing and all the fun of Christmas!
Christmas
Reading
The Christmas season in Reading officially gets underway on Saturday 15th November as we turn on the town centre’s Christmas lights. With links to Reading’s rich culture and heritage from Huntley and Palmers to Henry I, a magical display of over…
Christmas
Windsor
Windsor’s Christmas Lights Switch-on is set to dazzle! Join the Windsor community as the town comes together to celebrate the start of the festive season at Windsor’s much-loved Christmas Lights Switch-on.
Christmas
Aldershot
Step into a winter wonderland at Aldershot Christmas Cracker, taking place from noon to 5.30pm on Saturday 14 November. The town centre will be bursting with seasonal cheer, offering a sleigh-full of free family fun - from enchanting festive stalls…
Christmas
Gravesend
This spectacular day of FREE live music, street entertainment and holiday cheer is the perfect way to welcome the countdown to Christmas in Gravesend. Kickstart your Christmas shopping and grab a festive treat from a local café. Hop on-board the…
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
Maidenhead
Maidenhead's Christmas Lights Switch-On is the town's big festive kick-off! Get ready to light up your holiday season with a full day of festive fun and all-day live music in Maidenhead town centre!
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
Eastbourne
Little Chelsea at Christmas is back! Come along and enjoy festive food and drink, shopping, children's rides, music, entertainment and much more. Plus light show and festive fireworks!
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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