🎄Devon Christmas Lights Switch On Events 2025 – An A–Z Guide

This quick guide brings together Devon Christmas lights switch-on events 2025, What’s On in one place, listed alphabetically by town. It is designed to sit alongside our in-depth features on festive days out:

• Christmas in Exeter 2025 – markets, lights and events:
  https://thisissouthwest.com/things-to-do-in-exeter-at-christmas-2025/
• Best Christmas markets in Devon 2025 – full county roundup:
  https://thisissouthwest.com/best-christmas-markets-in-devon-2025/

If your town or village is missing, you can submit details to our What’s On Calendar and we will keep this guide updated:👉 https://thisissouthwest.com/submit-an-event-south-west-england-whats-on-calendar/

🍾 How to use this guide

Refer to the table of contents for quick navigation. All events are listed A to Z by town, with a summary, an organiser or official link where available, and a complete date-ordered list at the bottom of the page. Dates and details are correct at the time of writing, but may change, so please check before you travel.

Dates and details are, to the best of our knowledge, correct at the time of writing. Always check with organisers before travelling.

✨ Axminster – Light Up Axminster Christmas Switch On

Date: Saturday 29 November 2025
Where: Town centre, Axminster

Axminster Christmas light switch-on is a big community night with a Christmas market, kids’ activities and a lantern parade. Roads around the centre are closed under a Devon County Council traffic order for the Light Up Axminster Christmas Switch-On, confirming the 2025 event on 29 November.

The Axminster Christmas Lights Switch-On features afternoon and early evening stalls, children’s entertainment, a lantern procession, carols and an early evening lights switch-on.”

👉 You may also like to read our Axminster, Devon Travel Guide.

🎇 Barnstaple – Christmas Lights Switch-On

Date: Thursday, 27 November 2025
Where: The Square, Barnstaple

Barnstaple’s big town-centre party uses The Square as its main stage. Barnstaple Town Council trails a Barnstaple Christmas Light Switch-On 2025 with entertainment from 5 pm and lights at about 6 pm.

Expect choirs, live music, stalls and a busy atmosphere.

Late-night shopping at Barnstaple Pannier Market is scheduled for Thursday 4 December 2025, Thursday 11 December 2025, and Thursday 18 December 2025, with the market open until 8 pm on those evenings.

More information:
Barnstaple Town Council events page – “Barnstaple Christmas Light Switch-On”. barnstapletowncouncil.gov.uk

🤶Bideford – Bideford Community Christmas Lights Switch-On

Date: Sunday 7 December 2025
Where: Bideford Quay

Bideford’s switch-on runs as a full day of family activities on the quay, with fairground rides, stalls and live music. The Bideford Christmas Lights Switch-On takes place on Sunday 7 December 2025, starting at 12 pm on the quay with fairground rides, stalls and music, culminating in the lights being switched on at around 6 pm.

🏮Brixham – Lanterns, Lights & Luminations (Bay of Lights)

Date: Friday–Saturday 21–22 November 2025 (weekend focus)
Where: Brixham harbour

Brixham’s harbourside shines during the Lanterns, Lights & Luminations weekend, with illuminated boats, fireworks and a family carnival feel. The event forms part of the wider Bay of Lights programme across the English Riviera, which runs from late November into the New Year.

🌲Colyton Christmas Fayre

The Colyton Christmas Fayre takes place on Wednesday 3 December 2025, and serves as the town’s Christmas lights switch-on event.

The evening features market stalls throughout the town and in the Market Square, along with festive treats such as waffles, mince pies and mulled wine. It is one of the town’s annual highlights, offering a warm community atmosphere and seasonal sparkle for visitors of all ages.

👉 You may also like to read our Colyton & Colyford Travel Guide.

⚓️ Clovelly – Clovelly Village Christmas Lights

Date: Sunday 30 November 2025 (evening)
Where: Clovelly village and harbour

Clovelly’s switch-on is one of North Devon’s most atmospheric events. The cobbled streets and harbour are lit with fairy lights and lanterns, with a brass band, carols and a charity focus. Recent guides to North Devon Christmas events confirm the Clovelly Christmas Lights as a highlight, usually with an entry fee donated to the RNLI

🔔 Crediton – Christmas Lights Switch-On

Date: Saturday 29 November 2025
Where: Town Square, Crediton

Crediton’s Town Square hosts an afternoon of festive activity from 1 to 6 pm, with live choirs, local stalls, food, drink and seasonal entertainment building up to the Christmas light switch-on. It offers a lively and welcoming start to the festive season in the centre of Crediton.

Visit Mid Devon lists the Crediton Christmas Lights Event on 29 November 2025 in the Town Square, featuring afternoon stalls, choirs, and entertainment leading up to the switch-on.

⛪️ Cullompton – Christmas Lights and Festival

Date: Saturday 29 November 2025
Where: Town centre, Cullompton

Cullompton’s Community Celebration and Festive Fun begins with a tree-planting event at Upcott Field at 10 am, followed by an afternoon food market and street entertainment in the Bullring from 2 to 6 pm. The programme includes stiltwalkers, folk bands, choirs, fire shows and Elf and Nutmeg the baby reindeer puppet, along with a Father Christmas grotto at The Walronds. The town’s Christmas lights are switched on at 6 pm, and a community raffle for a festive hamper will be drawn during the event for anyone who spends £10 with participating shops before 28 November.

🧜 Dartmouth – Candlelit Dartmouth

Dates: Friday–Sunday 28–30 November 2025
Where: Royal Avenue Gardens and the town centre

Candlelit Dartmouth is a full festive weekend with lantern processions, Santa arriving by boat and a Christmas market. The Christmas lights in Royal Avenue Gardens are switched on during the weekend, with the 2025 programme confirmed on the Candlelit Dartmouth website.

🐬 Dawlish – Christmas in Dawlish Weekend

Dates: Saturday–Sunday 29–30 November 2025
Where: The Strand and Lawn, Dawlish

Christmas in Dawlish 2025 is a two-day celebration run by Dawlish Town Council in partnership with the local chamber. Dawlish Town Council’s website confirms the programme, with the Christmas lights switch-on and lantern parade on Saturday afternoon and evening.

Highlights include a Christmas market on The Strand, a lantern parade with a carol sing-along, late-night shopping, live music, children’s entertainment and a visit from Father Christmas.

❄️ Exmouth – Exmouth Winter Festival and Lights Switch-On

Date: Saturday 29 November 2025
Where: The Strand, Exmouth

Exmouth’s Winter Festival takes place on Saturday 29 November 2025 from 3 pm to 7.15 pm on the Strand, offering a free afternoon and evening of performances, walkabout entertainment, Christmas crafts and festive food and drink. The programme includes choirs, youth groups, majorettes, hula-hooping displays and an LED glow show, with entertainers roaming the town throughout the event.

A lantern parade leaves Holy Trinity Church at 5.20 pm and reaches the Strand at around 5.45 pm, before the Mayor switches on the town Christmas tree lights to mark the start of the festive season. Visitors are encouraged to enjoy late-night shopping and support Exmouth’s local businesses.

👉 You may also like to read our Exmouth, Devon Travel Guide.

☃️ Honiton Christmas Lights Switch-On 2025

Honiton’s Christmas Tree Light Switch-On and Christmas Market takes place on Saturday 15 November 2025, with festivities centred on Honiton High Street and Mackarness Hall. The craft market in Mackarness Hall runs from 10 am to 7 pm, with additional stalls along the High Street from 9 am to 5 pm. From 4.30 pm, the focus shifts to the main lighting event outside St Paul’s Church, featuring carol singers, the Honiton Town Band and a blessing of the tree, before the lights are switched on at 6 pm and Father Christmas makes an appearance. It is a free, family-friendly day out that combines festive shopping, music, food, and a strong sense of community to mark the start of Honiton’s Christmas season.

👉 You may also like to read our Honiton Travel Guide.

🎅 Newton Abbot – Christmas Lights Switch-On

Date: Saturday 22 November 2025
Where: Town centre and St Leonard’s Clock Tower

ChatGPT said:

Newton Abbot’s Christmas lights switch-on takes place on Saturday 22 November, bringing a full day of festive activity to the town centre. From midday, Courtenay Street fills with handmade gift stalls and street food, including jerk chicken, churros, wraps and pizza, all set to a backdrop of live music and street entertainment. Families can enjoy free face painting, balloon modelling and art activities, plus giant stilt-walkers, Taiko Drummers and a visit to Santa’s Grotto inside St Leonard’s Clock Tower.

Father Christmas arrives in a procession featuring a fire engine, vintage car, and the Ipplepen Carnival Float before leading the 5.30 pm lights switch-on with the Town Crier, Mrs Christmas and the Mayor. All activities are free, encouraging visitors to relax and enjoy the atmosphere while supporting Newton Abbot’s shops and local businesses. The town’s next festive event is the Victorian Evening on Wednesday, 3 December.

🎆 Ottery St Mary Festive Cheer – Late Night Shopping & Light Switch-On

Ottery St Mary’s festive lights event, branded as the “Festive Cheer – Late Night Shopping & Light Switch-On”, is scheduled for Friday 28 November 2025, from 4 pm to 8 pm in the town centre.

The evening includes live entertainment (brass band, choirs, dance performances), a torch-lit parade and the Christmas tree lighting, with many shops remaining open late and a craft market in the grounds of the parish church.

This community-centred event offers a charming, family-friendly kickoff to the festive season in Ottery St Mary, combining shopping, strolling, lights and town-centre atmosphere.

👉 You may also like to read our Ottery St Mary Travel Guide.

🧣Plymouth – City Centre and Barbican Switch-Ons

Plymouth City Centre Christmas Lights Switch-On
Date: Thursday 13 November 2025
Where: Piazza, Plymouth City Centre

Plymouth’s City Centre Christmas Lights Switch-On takes place on Thursday 13 November 2025, with entertainment from 4 pm and the lights switched on at about 6.25 pm. Visit Plymouth provides the full event details.

Barbican Christmas Lights Switch-On
Date: Saturday 15 November 2025
Where: Barbican and Sutton Harbour

Sutton Harbour Group confirms a separate Plymouth Barbican Christmas Lights Switch-On on Saturday 15 November 2025, with entertainment from midday and the big switch-on at 5.15pm. Expect appearances from the Lord Mayor, Father Christmas and community heroes.

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🏂 Seaton – Christmas Light Switch-On

Seaton’s Christmas Lights Switch-On takes place on Saturday, 29 November 2025, from 4 pm to 7 pm, organised by the Seaton and District Chamber of Commerce. The event brings festive entertainment to the town centre, with decorations, Christmas trees and seasonal displays transforming the high street for the occasion.

The switch-on provides a lively start to the season, drawing residents and visitors to enjoy the lights and support local shops. It is a free, family-friendly celebration that creates a warm, welcoming festive atmosphere throughout the town.

👉 You may also like to read our Seaton Travel Guide.

🧑‍🎄 Sidmouth – Christmas Lights Switch-On and Late-Night Shopping

Date: Saturday 22 November 2025
Where: Market Place, Sidmouth

Sidmouth’s Christmas Lights Switch-On takes place on Saturday 22 November in the Market Place, with festive street lighting provided once again by Sidmouth Town Council. The event runs alongside the Chamber of Commerce’s Late Night Shopping, drawing large crowds who can browse the town’s independent shops after the lights come on. Music and entertainment begin from 2 pm with Sid Valley Radio, followed by live performances from the local band Static Charge from around 4.30 pm.

At 5.15 pm, the annual Golden Ticket draw gives primary school children the chance to win a £100 toy voucher donated by Gliddon’s Toy Shop. The Christmas lights are switched on at 5.30 pm by Sidmouth College students Jack Massey and Holly Vicarage, with members of the Student Council in attendance to recognise their work. The display has been designed and engineered by Torbay Display, who also create the lights for Fields of Sidmouth.

Additional entertainment on the night includes a brass ensemble from Sidmouth Town Band near Hays Travel and a performance by the La-La Choir on Fore Street. With its mix of music, shopping and community involvement, the event offers a bright and lively start to the festive season.

👉 You may also like to read our Sidmouth Travel Guide.

🧣South Molton – Christmas Light Switch-On Event

Date: Friday 28 November 2025
Where: South Molton Pannier Market and town centre

South Molton’s Christmas Light Switch-On takes place on Friday 28 November 2025, from 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm at the South Molton Pannier Market, Broad Street. southmoltonpanniermarket.co.uk

Expect live music on stage, street food and drinks (including a hog roast and licensed bar), over 50 stalls selling unique gifts, and a festive, family-friendly atmosphere as the town’s lights sparkle to life.

🎄Tavistock – Dickensian Evening and Light Switch-On

Date: Friday 5 December 2025
Where: Tavistock town centre

The annual Tavistock Dickensian Evening takes place on Friday 5 December 2025, starting at 5 pm, with the Christmas light switch-on at 5.45 pm.

Shops stay open late and the town fills with festive entertainment including stilt-walkers, choirs, street bands, food and drink stalls, craft stalls, a merry-go-round and candy-floss for children.

There is free parking in the town centre from 3 pm and a free Park & Ride service from Morrisons Car Park starting at 4.15 pm; disabled parking is located at ATS on Parkwood Road from 5 pm.

🎅 Tiverton – Tiverton Christmas Light Switch-On

Date: Saturday 22 November 2025
Where: Tiverton town centre and Pannier Market

Tiverton’s Christmas Lights Switch On takes place on Saturday, 22 November 2025. It transforms the town centre into a lively street party with stiltwalkers, reindeer, live music and festive activities across Fore Street, Phoenix Lane and the Pannier Market. The big switch-on is at 6 pm, with headline act Joey the Lips delivering a high-energy mix of funk, soul, Motown, disco and pop to keep the celebrations going.

⛪️ Topsham Christmas Lights Switch-On

Topsham’s Christmas Lights Switch-On is set for Thursday, 28 November 2025, with festivities beginning around 4 pm and the lights switched on at 5 pm. Fore Street and The Strand come alive with a Christmas market at St Margaret’s Church, live music including a brass band, children’s entertainment, Santa’s grotto, mulled wine, mince pies and late-night shopping, creating a warm and lively festive atmosphere in the heart of the town.

👉 You may also like to read our Topsham Travel Guide.

🔆 Torquay, Paignton and the English Riviera – Bay of Lights

Dates: From Friday, 28 November 2025, into early January 2026
Where: Torquay seafront, Paignton and Brixham

The Bay of Lights – The Illumination Trail runs from 28 November 2025 to 2 January 2026 along the seafront of the English Riviera (from Torre Abbey to Torquay Harbour), featuring 19 large-scale light installations and a 1.5-mile fully accessible route.

Each evening, the trail opens at 4.30 pm, with sound and lighting effects running until 9.30 pm (and lights continuing until 11 pm) in Torquay; the towns of Paignton and Brixham also take part with 8-metre-high digital Christmas trees and light shows.

New for 2025 is a real ice rink in Abbey Park, Torquay (39 m × 12 m), open daily from 6 December to 2 January for up to 80 skaters per session, adding a winter-wonderland dimension to the event.

❄️ Totnes Christmas Light Switch-On 2025

Totnes will switch on its Christmas lights on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, with a free community event running from 3 pm to 6 pm in the town centre around the Market Square and Civic Hall. The afternoon features children’s crafts, live entertainment including stilt-walkers and a brass band, and a festive atmosphere leading up to the Christmas tree and town lights being switched on by the Mayor.

🔅And what about Exeter?

Exeter no longer has a single city-centre switch-on night. Instead, its “Follow the Stars” light trail and displays begin on 14 November 2025, tying into Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market and the rest of the city’s festive programme. For everything from market dates to Winter Wonderland details, see:

👉 Things to do in Exeter at Christmas 2025:
https://thisissouthwest.com/things-to-do-in-exeter-at-christmas-2025/

Add your Devon Christmas Light Switch-On

This guide is based on confirmed information from councils, BIDs, tourism bodies and official organisers at the time of writing. It is as comprehensive as we can make it, but Devon is full of smaller village events, parish celebrations and community light-ups that may not yet be listed.

If your town or village is holding a Devon Christmas light switch-on event in 2025 that we have missed, we would love to hear from you.

👉 Submit your event to our What’s On calendar:
https://thisissouthwest.com/submit-an-event-south-west-england-whats-on-calendar/

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