As we hurtle towards December, thoughts turn to the festivities; carol services, Christmas fairs and of course, the annual lights switch ons! This blog has all you need to know to plan a Christmas season that's full of festive fun here in Suffolk!
Halesworth - Saturday 18 November
Saturday 18 November sees the ever-popular Festive Lights Switch On event in the market town of Halesworth, and there's lots for families to enjoy and all for free from 2pm!
The packed programme includes Christmas carols through the Thoroughfare, U3A ukulele group, The Pop Chorus and the band of the Royal British Legion, Leiston. This event always gets everyone in the Christmas spirit with stalls, outside bar, refreshments and of course, Santa’s Grotto and live music from The Someones.
Find out more at https://www.halesworthtown.co.uk/news-events
Beccles - Friday 24 November
This wonderful festive evening kicks off at 5pm in and around New Market in Beccles town centre. Here you can enjoy live music from singers, choirs and groups, shop and enjoy festive food from the craft and food & drink stalls, have a go or two on the fairground rides and visit Father Christmas in his grotto at the church, with festivities running until 9pm.
Make sure you also visit Hungate Church to see the beautiful Christmas Tree Festival too!
Find out more at https://www.facebook.com/BecclesChristmasLights/
Bungay - Saturday 25 November
Bungay will be transported back to Victorian times at their Christmas Circus themed lights Switch on event taking place on November 25, 2023, 3pm to 7.30pm.
A Children’s Circus activity wonderland will take place at St Mary’s Church and Father Christmas has promised to come along. At the Buttercross there will be musical entertainment including a brass band, carol singing, and the pantomime characters, and glamour sisters will be switching on the lights with the mayor. Street entertainers will be mingling with the crowd.
To encourage people to shop local there will be a window competition trail and artisan gift stalls in Cross Street. The local food and drink court will feature the legendary green dragon beer and potent mulled wine from imperial wine. Maisebrook farm will be providing superior barbeque food and there will be a hog roast.
Southwold - Saturday 25 November
There's a wonderful evening of Christmas entertainment in store at Southwold's lights switch on. In the High Street you can enjoy perusing a range of stalls and tucking into food and drink from food and drink street food vendors, whilst in the Market Square there's a packed line up of entertainment from choirs and groups.
The lights will be switched on at 6pm, and be sure to pay a visit to the Adnams Tour Centre where you will find Santa in his grotto from 6.30pm!
Find out more at https://southwoldtown.com/event/southwold-xmas-lights-switch-on/
Woodbridge Lights Night - Thursday 30 November
The riverside town of Woodbridge will be lighting up on Thursday 30 November with celebrations starting at 4.30pm on Market Hill with live music, kids activities from Rocket Science, storytelling, magic glow butterflies, festive food and drink and a free children's carousel. The town's shops will be staying open late too for Christmas shopping!
At 6pm the lights will be switched, followed by a procession to the Thoroughfare where Santa will be waiting in his sleigh.
Find out more at https://www.choosewoodbridge.co.uk/activities-events/woodbridge-lights-night
Saxmundham - Friday 1 December
Saxmundham's popular Christmas Fayre is back with even more excitement for 2023! You can enjoy an enchanting step back in time for Saxmundham's Victorian Street Fayre from 4pm - 8pm!
Come along and enjoy a traditional market including street food and craft stalls, visit Santa in his grotto, watch dancers, musicians and singers take to the stage. Gaze in wonder at travelling street performers, including Polar Pip; a 7ft tall animatronic polar bear!
Lowestoft - Saturday 2 December
Lowestoft's annual Christmas Light Switch On is a fun, festive affair for the whole family! With music, street entertainment, and a visit from Father Christmas himself as well as a few surprises and much more leading up to the big count down when the town's festive lights will be lit up for the first time.
Find out more at https://www.discoverlowestoft.co.uk/events/christmas-light-switch-on-1367/
Felixstowe - Saturday 2 December
Christmas is a magical time of year in Felixstowe, with thousands coming from across the region to see the Official Christmas Lights switch on and Craft Market event which will take place on Saturday 2 December.
The Xmas lights started celebrations started in 1979 and since then the Lions have put the lights up in town, every year the current President takes a trip to Swans Nursery to pick a tree for the triangle.
The Lions have been working with Felixstowe Town Council (who help fund the lights each year) and BID, for a spectacular new light display, plus there will be The Lions famous BBQ, stalls and music and Santa in his grotto. Running from 12pm - 6pm, the lights will be switched on at 5pm.
Find out more at https://felixstowelions.org.uk/event/christmas-lights-turn-on/
Woodbridge - Sunday 3 December
Whilst not a Christmas lights switch on as such, the whole town of Woodbridge will be getting into the festive spirit on Sunday 3 December with a Christmas Street Fair in and around the Thoroughfare from 10am - 4pm.
Find out more at https://www.choosewoodbridge.co.uk/activities-events/woodbridge-christmas-street-fair
Leiston - Saturday 9 December
Leiston will be getting into the festive spirit on Saturday 9 December with a Christmas Shopping Evening in the town centre from 4pm - 8pm.
With live music, Santa in his grotto, an inflatable snow globe, food and drink stalls, face painting, a fair and craft stalls - plus the town's shops will be staying open late for you to get all your Christmas shopping done!
Find out more at https://leistonevents.com/leistons-christmas-event-9th-december-2023/