CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH-ONS 2026
One hub for the festive season across Hull and the East Riding: every town switch-on from Beverley to Bridlington, the big Hull night in Queen Victoria Square, and the garden centre Christmas events — Santa's grottos and Santa trains — at Hornsea and Langlands.
From the fireworks over Flemingate in Beverley to the moment the 50ft spruce lights up Queen Victoria Square, November and December 2026 see Christmas switch-ons across every corner of the East Riding — Beverley, Hessle, Cottingham, Willerby, Kirk Ella, Hedon, Brough, Hornsea, Bridlington, Driffield, Pocklington, Goole, Howden, Withernsea and Market Weighton — plus Santa's grottos at the region's garden centres.
Christmas Lights Switch-On Dates 2026
Day-of-week anchors follow the confirmed 2025 pattern. Town council events are marked "expected" until organisers confirm — always check with the organiser before travelling. HU NOW updates this hub as 2026 confirmations land.
| Town / Centre | Date | Times | Lights On | Where | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flemingate, Beverley | Fri 13 Nov (expected) | 5:00pm – 7:30pm | 6:45pm | Armstrong Way, Flemingate centre | Live music and panto-star performances, festive stalls, funfair rides, Father Christmas and a musical firework finale. |
| Hull City Centre | Thu 19 Nov (expected) | 5:00pm – 7:30pm | Approx 6:50pm | Queen Victoria Square | The 50ft Norwegian spruce, performers on the City Hall balcony, rooftop fireworks and the launch of late-night Thursday shopping. |
| St Stephen's & Princes Quay, Hull | Mid–late Nov (TBC) | Evening | Centre-by-centre | St Stephen's (Tesco entrance) & Princes Quay | School choirs and live sets ahead of each countdown, plus the annual Santa Parade arriving at Princes Quay. Free, no tickets. |
| Pocklington | Sun 22 Nov (expected) | 1:00pm – 7:00pm | Early evening | Town centre | The Pocklington Christmas Festival: market stalls, family entertainment and the town lights switch-on to close the day. |
| Goole | Sun 22 Nov (expected) | Market 10:00am – 4:00pm | TBC | The Courtyard, Boothferry Road | Christmas market stalls at The Courtyard. The 2025 town switch-on was cancelled over nearby construction safety — watch for a 2026 decision. |
| Hedon | Fri 27 Nov (expected) | From 5:00pm | 6:30pm | St Augustine's Gate & Market Place | The Mayor switches on the town lights at 6:30pm, with a Christmas market, Santa, funfair rides and live music around St Augustine's Gate. |
| Hessle | Fri 27 Nov (expected) | 4:30pm – 7:30pm | 4:30pm | Hessle Square, The Weir & Prestongate | Tree lights on first, then fairground rides, Santa's grotto, a street-food market and live entertainment. |
| Driffield | Fri 27 Nov (expected) | Evening | Approx 7:00pm | Market Place | The Driffield Christmas market and switch-on, with stallholders and community performances around the Market Place. |
| Hornsea | Fri 27 Nov (expected) | Road closure 5:00pm – 9:00pm | 6:30pm | Newbegin (Southgate to Cliff) | The seaside town's community switch-on on Newbegin, minutes from Hornsea Garden Centre's Santa train grotto. |
| Kirk Ella & West Ella | Sat 28 Nov (expected) | 3:30pm – 7:00pm | Late afternoon (TBC) | Packman Lane, near St Andrew's Church | Parish council switch-on with a school choir, food and craft stalls — a warm village-centre evening. Free. |
| Barton-upon-Humber | Sat 28 Nov (expected) | 12:00pm – 5:30pm | 4:00pm | Town centre | A short trip over the Humber Bridge: market stalls, community performances and roaming festive acts, with the lights on at 4pm. |
| Elloughton-cum-Brough | Sun 29 Nov (expected) | 4:00pm – 8:00pm | 7:00pm | Half Moon car park & Elloughton crossroads, Main Street | Lights at 7pm with a Christmas market of local stalls, live music and carol singing, Santa's grotto, mulled wine and hot chocolate. Free. |
| Bridlington | Sun 29 Nov (expected) | From 5:30pm | 5:30pm | King Street / Manor Street | The Old Town switch-on, with Bridlington's Christmas Tree Festival lighting up churches through December. |
| Cottingham | Sun 29 Nov (expected) | 10:00am – 4:30pm | Late afternoon | Village centre | A full daytime Christmas festival — stalls, food and family entertainment — finishing with the village lights. |
| Willerby | Late Nov (TBC) | From 6:00pm | Evening | The Star Inn, Main Street | Parish council tree switch-on with a school choir, ukulele band, town crier, mulled wine and mince pies. Free. |
| Howden | Thu 3 Dec (expected) | 4:00pm – 8:00pm | Evening | Howden Shire Hall, Market Place | Market stalls, a Santa's grotto and a brass band at the Shire Hall Christmas market evening. |
| Withernsea | Sat 5 Dec (expected) | From 12:00pm | From 7:00pm | Valley Gardens & Memorial Avenue | A pop-up market on Memorial Avenue from midday, with entertainment and the festive lights in Valley Gardens. |
| Market Weighton | Sun 6 Dec (expected) | 4:00pm – 7:00pm | Afternoon close | High Street | The Market Weighton Christmas tree switch-on, a short drive from Langlands Garden Centre at Shiptonthorpe. |
Every community switch-on above is free and run by town or parish councils and local traders. Organisers usually confirm final dates and stage times in October — spot an update? Send it to HU NOW and we'll verify and add it.
Hull City Centre Switch-On
The 50ft Norwegian Spruce
Adorned with thousands of sparkling energy-efficient LED lights, gifts, and glowing decorations right in the centre of Queen Victoria Square.
Rooftop Fireworks Finale
The moment the countdown reaches zero, the skies above Hull City Hall light up with a spectacular choreographed pyrotechnic fireworks display.
Star Pantomime Casts
Appearances and sing-alongs with the celebrity casts of Hull New Theatre's flagship family panto and Hull Truck Theatre's festive production.
Choirs & Local Musicians
Heartwarming carols performed by Hull community choirs, brass bands, and local emerging youth vocalists — plus late-night shopping across the city centre.
East Riding Garden Centre Christmas Events 2026
Garden centres are East Yorkshire's grotto powerhouses — ticketed Santa experiences that typically run from late November right through to Christmas Eve. Book online early; the best sittings sell out weeks ahead.
Hornsea Garden Centre — Santa's Grotto & Santa Train
British Garden Centres · Southgate, Hornsea, East Yorkshire
The region's most-loved garden centre grotto: Santa's elves welcome families into their magic workshop before a magical train journey and a 40-minute grotto experience with Santa himself, finished with a gift for each child.
- ▸Starlight with Santa — a calm evening grotto visit in pyjamas with your teddy
- ▸Quiet Grotto — a relaxed, low-sensory one-to-one Santa session
- ▸Festive displays, trees and decorations across the centre
Pre-book online — sessions sell out. Typically runs late Nov to 24 Dec.
Book Santa's Grotto at Hornsea →Langlands Garden Centre — Grotto, Breakfast & Afternoon Tea with Santa
British Garden Centres · York Road, Shiptonthorpe (near Market Weighton)
Langlands goes all-in on Christmas each year, with a spectacular Santa's Grotto in the run-up to the big day, plus Breakfast with Santa and Afternoon Tea with Santa sittings for a longer festive treat.
- ▸Santa's Grotto experiences on select dates from late November
- ▸Breakfast with Santa and Afternoon Tea with Santa sittings
- ▸Huge Christmas department — trees, lights and decorations
Bookings open early each autumn — book early, especially for breakfast/tea sittings.
Santa experiences at Langlands →Timing tip: pair a grotto visit with a town switch-on — Hornsea Garden Centre is minutes from the Newbegin switch-on, and Langlands sits between the Pocklington and Market Weighton events. More seasonal listings appear on Visit East Yorkshire as organisers confirm.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Hull Christmas Lights Switch-On?+
The annual Hull City Centre Christmas Lights Switch-On takes place in mid-November (typically the third Thursday in November) from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM, with the lights officially illuminated at approximately 6:45 PM to 7:00 PM.
Where is the Christmas lights switch-on in Hull?+
The main switch-on ceremony takes place in Queen Victoria Square, right in front of Hull City Hall, the Maritime Museum, and Ferens Art Gallery.
Is the Hull Christmas lights switch-on free?+
Yes, the event is completely free for all the public, featuring live entertainment, choir singing, pantomime cast appearances, and a rooftop pyrotechnic fireworks display.
Are shops open late during the Christmas lights switch-on?+
Yes, the switch-on officially launches Hull's late-night Christmas shopping season, with major shopping centres (St Stephen's, Princes Quay) and high street retailers open until 8:00 PM or later.
When are the East Riding Christmas lights switched on in 2026?+
East Riding town switch-ons typically begin with Flemingate in Beverley in mid-November, followed by Pocklington, then Hessle, Driffield and Hornsea in late November, Bridlington and Cottingham at the end of November, and Howden, Withernsea and Market Weighton in early December. HU NOW's Christmas lights hub lists every date, time and location.
What Christmas events are on at garden centres in East Yorkshire?+
Hornsea Garden Centre runs its Santa's Grotto with a magical train journey and 40-minute experience, plus Starlight with Santa and a Quiet Grotto session. Langlands Garden Centre at Shiptonthorpe offers a Santa's Grotto along with Breakfast with Santa and Afternoon Tea with Santa sittings. Both typically run from late November to Christmas Eve and should be pre-booked.
Do I need tickets for the Christmas lights switch-on events?+
No for the town switch-ons — Hull's Queen Victoria Square event, Flemingate in Beverley, Hessle, Driffield, Hornsea, Bridlington, Cottingham and the parish council switch-ons are all free to attend. Only garden centre Santa experiences, such as the grottos at Hornsea and Langlands, require pre-booked tickets.
Festive Events In Your Inbox
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The Complete Hull Christmas Guide
Looking for Santa's grottos, Victorian Christmas markets, and pantomime tickets? Read our complete seasonal guide.
Explore Christmas in Hull Guide →