Packed schedule of festive fun awaits as Northampton’s Christmas Lights Switch On announced
A day of festive fun awaits at Northampton’s annual Christmas Lights Switch On, set to take place at Market Square on Saturday November 21 from 12pm to 6pm.
The free event will feature a bumper schedule of family entertainment, organised by Northampton Town Council, including live stage performances hosted by radio personality John Griff, festive themed kid’s activities and crafts and plenty of seasonal food and drink, ahead of the big switch on at 5pm.
On the stage, visitors can enjoy traditional band music from Moulton 77 Brass and Shoe Town Big Band, festive songs from The Starlight Sisters and Buskerteer Choir and dance from Northampton College’s performing arts students. There will also be showcases by a glittering array of pantomime stars from The Deco’s ‘Wizard of Oz’ including Liam Fox from Emmerdale, and The Royal & Derngate’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ featuring Tracy Beaker’s Dani Harmer, plus a preview of the theatre’s ‘What the Ladybird Heard at Christmas’ show.
Kids’ activities and workshops will run from 12 – 6pm, with Christmas crafts from The Wild Tribe and Lemonpop Academy, magic tricks by Mr Illusionestay The Victorian Gentleman Magician, storytelling with Northants Libraries on a Northampton Transport Heritage festive red bus, plus free facepainting, a funfair ride and plenty of cheeky elves!
Anyone in the mood for dancing can visit The Silent Disco Project’s Christmas Party, with sessions on the hour from 12.30pm to 3.30pm. Walkabout artists will spread a little Christmas magic around the square including The Mystery Tours Ebenezer Scrooge, Victorian acts and stilt walkers, plus Santa will be on his sleigh collecting donations for the Rotary Club of Northampton Becket, which raises money for various local charities.
Those looking to pick up some Christmas gifts will find local produce and crafts on offer, alongside a range of community and charity stalls. The VandB Festive Bar will also be serving up warming mulled wine and speciality beers.
The countdown to the big switch on takes place at 4.55pm, when the Mayor of Northampton, Cllr Mike Hallam, will be joined on stage by Santa and the multiple-weight World Champion Boxer Chantelle Cameron, who hails from Northampton. Chantelle will be switch on the lights, illuminating the five large Christmas trees located around the town centre and decorative lights in the main streets, plus a new tree at the train station in partnership with Northampton Bid and another for Kingsley and Links View Residents Association by St Matthew’s Church.
Chantelle said: “I’m very proud to be from Northampton, and I still get overwhelmed by how much my community gets behind me and supports me. I’m so excited to turn on the lights with my people, and I hope I can keep making everyone proud on the big stages.”
Entertainment continues until 6pm, with a festive finale performance from The Funk Odyssey Party Band, performing hits from the golden era of funk, soul and disco with some Christmas time classics thrown in for good measure.
Councillor Keith Holland-Delamere, Chair of the Community Services Committee at Northampton Town Council, said: “We're really looking forward to welcoming everyone to the Market Square for this year's Christmas Lights Switch On. It's a wonderful way to kick off the festive season, with a fantastic programme of entertainment and activities for all ages, and we'd love to see as many residents and visitors as possible joining us for the celebrations.
“The town council continues to invest in new Christmas lights each year, expanding and enhancing the displays to bring even more festive sparkle to Northampton's streets. We hope everyone enjoys seeing the town transformed and sharing in the excitement as the lights are switched on.
“We're also delighted to be working in partnership with West Northamptonshire Council and our other partners to bring WinterFest to the town centre. As principal partner, we're proud to support a programme that celebrates our local businesses, brings people together and gives families even more reasons to visit Northampton throughout the Christmas period.”
The Christmas Lights Switch On will mark the start of WinterFest 2026, which will transform Northampton Market Square into a magical festive destination this winter.
Delivered by West Northamptonshire Council, alongside principal partner Northampton Town Council, together with Northampton Town Centre BID, Delapré Abbey, Grosvenor Shopping and Muse, WinterFest will deliver a packed programme of entertainment, seasonal shopping, food and drink, and community events in the heart of Northampton.
It will feature a selection of family rides, including a traditional Ferris wheel, a special festive light installation from Delapré Abbey and gingerbread-themed retail huts selling unique seasonal gifts from local traders. Following the switch on, festive performances and activities will take place on weekends from 28th November through until 19th December.
The Northampton Town Centre BID’s Grosvenor Centre Grotto also launches on November 21 alongside the switch on, where children can meet Santa for a small fee of £2 per family, with all proceeds going to charity. Tickets for the grotto, supported by the town council, can be booked by visiting the BIDs website: www.discovernorthampton.co.uk/christmas/santas-grotto
For more information about the Christmas Lights Switch On, visit the town council’s website: www.northamptontowncouncil.gov.uk/switchon
For information about Winterfest, visit: www.westnorthants.gov.uk/winterfest
Further updates will also be shared on the Facebook and Instagram channels of Northampton Town Council, West Northamptonshire Council and Northampton Town BID.