Christmas Light Switch-Ons in Berkshire 2026: Towns & Villages
By My Town Rocks · Published Published
There's a particular kind of hush just before the countdown. Hundreds of people, a few thousand mittens, at least one small person on someone's shoulders shouting "FIVE!" a good two seconds early. Then the lights go on, everyone cheers, and it's officially Christmas.
Berkshire does switch-ons properly. Some are whole-day festivals with markets, funfairs and fireworks. Others are a village tree, a carol and a mince pie. We've rounded up this year's, from the big towns to the villages, in date order, so you can pick your favourite (or, let's be honest, do three).
Dates come from each organiser. Times can shift, so give the link a quick look before you set off.
Christmas Light Switch-Ons in Berkshire - at a glance
When | Switch-on | Where |
|---|---|---|
Thu 12 Nov | Eton Christmas Lights Switch-On | Eton High Street |
Thu 12 Nov | Yattendon Christmas Light Switch-On | Yattendon village square |
Sat 14 Nov | Windsor Christmas Lights Switch-On | Castle Hill, Windsor |
Sat 14 Nov | Reading Christmas Lights Switch-On and Christmas Market | Broad Street, Reading |
Sat 14 Nov | Newbury Christmas Lights Switch-On | Newbury town centre |
Sat 21 Nov | Maidenhead Christmas Lights Switch-On and Festive Market | Maidenhead town centre |
Sat 28 Nov | Thatcham Christmas Lights Switch-On and Christmas Market | Thatcham High Street and The Broadway |
Sat 28 Nov | Woodley Christmas Carol Concert and Lights Switch-On | Woodley town centre |
Sat 28 Nov | Winnersh Christmas Lights Switch-On with Gift and Craft Market | Winnersh Community Centre |
Sat 28 Nov | Sandhurst Christmas Lights | Sandhurst |
Sat 28 Nov | Kingfisher Chase and Dipper Lea Christmas Lights | Bracknell |
Sun 29 Nov | Wokingham Winter Carnival | Wokingham town centre |
Sun 29 Nov | Hungerford Christmas Light Switch-On | Hungerford High Street |
Sun 29 Nov | Mortimer Advent Procession and Tree Lighting | Mortimer |
Sun 29 Nov | Cookham Dean Christmas Tree Lighting | Cookham Dean |
Fri 4 Dec | Twyford Together Christmas Fayre | London Road, Twyford |
Sun 13 Dec | Carols on the Hatch and tree lighting | Burghfield |
A few more village switch-ons are still waiting on 2026 details. They're at the bottom, and we'll add them as soon as they're confirmed.
November
Windsor Christmas Lights Switch-On
When: Saturday 14 November, from 1pm Where: Castle Hill, Windsor Cost: Free
An afternoon of festive entertainment with the castle as the backdrop, building up to the big countdown as it gets dark. The cast of the Theatre Royal panto, Jack and the Beanstalk, help light the tree. If there's a more Christmas-card setting in Berkshire, we haven't found it.
Good to know: Castle Hill gets very busy. Little ones will see a lot more from a grown-up's shoulders.
Christmas Events in Windsor on Windsor Rocks
Reading Christmas Lights Switch-On and Christmas Market
When: Saturday 14 November, 2pm to 6pm Where: Broad Street, Reading Cost: Free
Reading's switch-on also opens the Broad Street Christmas Market, so you get two festive things for the price of one trip into town. Once the lights are on, the market sticks around until 3 January 2027 (10am to 8pm Monday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm on Sundays), which is handy for hot chocolate bribes all the way through December.
Newbury Christmas Lights Switch-On
When: Saturday 14 November, 9am to 7pm. Switch-on at 6.30pm Where: Newbury town centre, with the finale in Market Place Cost: Free
Less of a switch-on, more of a whole day out. From 9am the town centre fills with the Charter Market, gift fairs, live music and performances, all building up to the big moment in Market Place at 6.30pm.
Good to know: Last year's finale included a short light show and firework display. Worth knowing if you have a little one who isn't keen on bangs.
Maidenhead Christmas Lights Switch-On and Festive Market
When: Saturday 21 November, 11am to 7pm. Main stage from 3pm, countdown just before 6pm Where: Maidenhead town centre Cost: Free
A full day of festive market stalls, live music and entertainment (with this year's Battle of the Bands winners on stage), finishing with the switch-on and fireworks. Last year the rain cleared just in time for the fireworks, which is about as much as anyone can ask of a Berkshire November.
Good to know: Roads around the town centre close for the day, so check before you drive in.
Thatcham Christmas Lights Switch-On and Christmas Market
When: Saturday 28 November, 12pm to 7pm. Switch-on at 6pm Where: Thatcham High Street and The Broadway Cost: Free
New for 2026: Thatcham has moved its switch-on from a Friday evening to a Saturday and joined it up with the Christmas market, so it's now one big festive day. Browse in the afternoon, then stay for the countdown.
Woodley Christmas Carol Concert and Lights Switch-On
When: Saturday 28 November (late afternoon; times to be confirmed) Where: Woodley town centre precinct Cost: Free
A lovely community one. Carols in the precinct, then the lights are switched on by the winners of the local schools' Christmas poster competition alongside the Town Mayor. Imagine being seven and getting to press THE button. Last year it ran from 4.30pm to 5.30pm.
Good to know: Woodley's Christmas Extravaganza follows on Sunday 6 December, with stalls, entertainment and Father Christmas.
Winnersh Christmas Lights Switch-On with Gift and Craft Market
When: Saturday 28 November, late afternoon into early evening (exact times to be confirmed) Where: Winnersh Community Centre, Sindlesham Cost: Free
Twenty-plus gift stalls, carols from local schools, a fire performer, a hamper raffle and free mulled wine and mince pies, all building up to the lights. Money raised goes to local charities.
Sandhurst Christmas Lights
When: Saturday 28 November (times to be confirmed) Where: Sandhurst Cost: Free
Sandhurst Town Council's festive evening. Details are still to come, but past years have brought carols, panto characters, Father Christmas, mince pies and mulled wine.
Kingfisher Chase and Dipper Lea Christmas Lights, Bracknell
When: Official switch-on Saturday 28 November at 5pm. Then lit every evening from 4pm to around 10pm until 1 January Where: Kingfisher Chase and Dipper Lea, Bracknell Cost: Free (donations to this year's charities welcome)
Not a town centre at all, but a couple of streets of residents who go spectacularly, gloriously over the top for charity. The switch-on is the big night, but it's also brilliant for a cosy pyjamas-and-coats wander on any evening in December.
Kingfisher Chase and Dipper Lea Christmas Lights on Bracknell Rocks
Wokingham Winter Carnival
When: Sunday 29 November, 10.30am to 5.30pm Where: Wokingham town centre Cost: Free
Wokingham's biggest day of the year. The town centre closes to traffic, so children can roam a little more freely between more than 150 stalls, funfair rides, street entertainers, music and Santa in his grotto. The town's Christmas lights switch-on is the finale.
Good to know: It's run by Wokingham Lions to raise money for local charities, so your churros are doing good.
Wokingham Winter Carnival on Wokingham Rocks
Hungerford Christmas Light Switch-On
When: Sunday 29 November, from 4pm. Lights on at 5pm, finishing around 6pm Where: Outside the Town Hall, Hungerford High Street Cost: Free
A proper market-town switch-on, with the Town Band and the primary school choir getting everyone in the mood before the countdown at 5pm.
Good to know: Hungerford keeps the festive evenings coming, with its Victorian Extravaganza on Friday 11 December and the Illuminated Vehicle Parade on Saturday 19 December.
Mortimer Advent Procession and Tree Lighting
When: Sunday 29 November. Procession 6pm, tree lit at 7pm Where: St John's Church, then the Fairground, Mortimer Cost: Free
A candlelit-feeling start to Advent: a procession from St John's Church, then the village tree is blessed and lit on the Fairground.
Cookham Dean Christmas Tree Lighting
When: Sunday 29 November, 5pm to 7pm Where: Cookham Dean Village Club, Church Road
The village tree on the common gets its moment in the spotlight. In past years there have been carols and Christmas songs around the tree, with mince pies and mulled wine to keep the chill off.
Christmas Light Switch-ons in Berkshire - December
Twyford Together Christmas Fayre
When: Friday 4 December, 6pm to 9pm Where: London Road, Twyford (closed to traffic) Cost: Free entry
Twyford closes London Road and throws a festive street party: stalls, fairground rides, a climbing wall, the Scouts' famous BBQ, carol singers from local schools, a brass band and Father Christmas. Last year, the Tree of Christmas Wishes at Bell Corner was lit on the same evening.
Carols on the Hatch, Burghfield
When: Sunday 13 December. Gates 4.45pm, starts 5pm Where: St Mary's Church, Church Lane, Burghfield Cost: Free (donations to The Children's Society)
The community tree is lit, Tadley Band plays, everyone sings carols and there are refreshments. A gentle one for families with small children, at a sensible hour.
More festive sparkle
Not switch-ons exactly, but very much in the spirit:
Crowthorne late-night Christmas shopping, Friday 4 December, 5pm to 7.30pm, High Street, with stalls and music
Dinton Pastures Festive Fair Weekend, Hurst, Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December, with stalls, rides and Santa's grotto (book ahead)
Woodley Christmas Extravaganza, Sunday 6 December, Woodley town centre
Hungerford Victorian Extravaganza, Friday 11 December, from 5pm, parade at 7.30pm
Newbury Festival of Light, Sunday 13 December, a lantern procession through the town centre
Hungerford Illuminated Vehicle Parade, Saturday 19 December, 6.30pm, from the Rugby Club along the High Street
Waiting on 2026 details
These usually happen in late November or early December. We'll update them as soon as the organisers confirm:
Slough Christmas Lights Switch-On, hasn't run since 2023 but we stay hopeful...
Sunningdale Christmas tree lights, Broomhall Recreation Ground
Datchet Christmas tree lighting, The Green
Chieveley Christmas Market and Tree Lighting, Chieveley Village Hall
Pangbourne Village Christmas Evening, Pangbourne village centre
Theale Christmas Market and Light Switch-On, Theale High Street
Wargrave Christmas on Mill Green, Wargrave
Hurst St Nicholas Night and village tree, School Road recreation ground
Spencers Wood Christmas tree lighting, Spencers Wood Village Hall
Maybank Christmas Lights, Shinfield Meadows
Caversham late-night Christmas shopping, St Martin's Precinct
Tips for a happy switch-on
Pick your spot early. The best views go about half an hour before the countdown.
Sling beats buggy in packed town centres after dark.
Layer up. Standing still in the cold for the big moment is chillier than any amount of walking around.
Check for fireworks if you have a noise-sensitive little one. Newbury and Maidenhead have both included them.
Agree a meeting point with older children. A big Christmas tree is always a good one.
Check road closures and parking before you set off. Most town-centre events close streets for the day.
