Canterbury kicks off the festive season with the Canterbury Christmas Lights Switch-On, as the city centre comes alive with three switch-on stages, live music, festive markets and family activities. Organised by Canterbury BID, the evening spreads across the city, from a Victorian Christmas in Burgate and Westgate Hall's Twilight Artisan Market to the main stage in Westgate Square, hosted by KMFM, where Marlowe Theatre panto cast members join the celebrations. At 7pm, the High Street, the Marlowe Theatre and all three Canterbury Christmas Market sites light up.

Price
Free to attend.

Dates & Times
13th November 2026
5pm to 8pm
Victorian Christmas in Burgate: 5pm to 7pm, lights switch-on at 6pm
Westgate Hall's Twilight Artisan Market: 5pm to 8pm, lights switch-on at 6.30pm
Westgate Square: 5.30pm to 8pm, lights switch-on at 7pm.

Good To Know
Drop in to The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge between 5pm and 6.45pm for Victorian Christmas crafts - no booking needed - and look out for the Giant Snow Globe in St Margaret's Street for festive photos.

🔗 More Like This
Love a bit of festive magic? Explore our Christmas Experiences in Kent listings, or our Seasonal category for more Christmas event listings, or visit our Christmas in Kent page for links to all our festive guides.

Picture Credit: © Canterbury City Council/Visit Canterbury.

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