Christmas in Alnwick 2026

Alnwick does Christmas on a bigger scale than most market towns its size: volunteer-run street lights, a six-week light trail at The Alnwick Garden and a run of festive shows at the Playhouse. This guide covers what happens every year and what is confirmed for 2026.

The Christmas lights switch-on

The town's street lights are put up by the volunteers of the Alnwick Christmas Lights team, with Alnwick Town Council among their supporters. Reporting on the 2025 switch-on, the Town Council said most of Alnwick's residents had gathered in the Market Place to watch local youngster Benjamin Elliott flip the switch with the Duchess of Northumberland looking on. Father Christmas arrived afterwards, with Alnwick Lions Club helping on the night.

Recent switch-ons have been on a Friday in late November, with entertainment from about 6pm and the lights on at 7pm.

2026 date: TBC. As of 2 November, neither the Town Council nor the lights team had published a date or programme for this year. Local press has reported Friday 20 November, but we will only confirm it here once the organisers do. With building works in parts of the town centre, check the location as well as the time before you go.

Christmas markets

Our guide to Christmas markets in Alnwick has the detail. In short, The Alnwick Garden's free Christmas Fair is on 21 and 22 November, and Alnwick Castle's charity fair has a Preview Evening on 24 November and a Market Day on 25 November.

In December, Alnwick Markets is holding its festive markets under cover in the Garden's Pavilion on the weekends of 5 and 6, 12 and 13, and 19 and 20 December. Entry is free and you do not need a Garden ticket.

Winter Lights at The Alnwick Garden

The Alnwick Garden runs Winter Lights from 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, a timed-entry trail of light and sound installations through the Garden. The ticket also covers the lights at Lilidorei, which you can visit any time from 4.30pm, before or after your slot.

Prices depend on the date rather than the experience. Saver dates start from £11.70, Standard from £19.25 and Premium from £22.20 (prices with Gift Aid). Premium covers 11 to 13 December and 18 to 24 December. There are no sessions on Christmas Day, and the trail runs every day from 26 December to 3 January. Dogs are not allowed, apart from assistance dogs.

Best for: The Garden's own parking costs £3.75 for the day, and blue badge holders park free in the priority car park.

Father Christmas at Lilidorei

Father Christmas sees families in the grottos at Lilidorei, and the play village has its own Lilidorei Christmas dressing. Father Christmas visits follow the same Saver, Standard and Premium dates as Winter Lights, except that none are offered on 26 November or 3 December. Non-member prices start at £26.50 on Saver dates, £34.50 on Standard and £38 on Premium, with lower prices for members.

Tickets are non-refundable. Adults coming along need their own admission: a Combined Day Ticket before 4.30pm, or a Winter Lights ticket after. The Garden also runs a separately ticketed Breakfast with Father Christmas at The Treehouse Restaurant.

Alnwick Castle at Christmas

Alnwick Castle closes for the season in late October, so its Christmas events are special openings. Besides the fair, it hosts Christmas Greetings Live on Friday 4 December: Matt Glossop and the Bloomsbury Soloists, with ballet dancers, playing everything from The Nutcracker to The Snowman. There are performances at 6pm and 8.30pm, booked through the castle's website.

Shows at Alnwick Playhouse

The Alnwick Playhouse on Bondgate Without has a full festive programme, including:

• Rockin' Santa, Sunday 29 November: local bands, and your ticket is a new toy for the Salvation Army to give to local children.
• A Very Merry CAST.MAS, Sunday 13 December: young performers from CAST. performing arts school.
• Heart of Winter, Saturday 19 to Tuesday 29 December: Lyngo Theatre's new family Christmas musical, mostly at 11am and 2pm.
• The Great Baldini's Christmas Magic, Sunday 20 December.
• A Christmas Carol, Sunday 27 December, a one-man Dickens show, then Sherlock Holmes Christmas Casebook on 28 December.

Carols and music at St Michael's

St Michael's Church on Bailiffgate hosts the Mayor's civic carol service each December, open to the whole community. In 2025 it was on a Wednesday evening at 6.30pm. The 2026 date had not been announced at the time of writing, so watch the Town Council's news page.

Before that, the strings of Royal Northern Sinfonia bring their candlelit winter tour to St Michael's on Thursday 26 November. Check the church's A Church Near You page for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services.

Festive walks

The Pastures, the riverside meadows below the castle, are reached from Lion Bridge and give you the classic view of the castle across the Aln. For something longer, Hulne Park has three waymarked trails through 3,000 acres of walled parkland. It closes at 4pm and does not allow dogs or bikes, so go early on short December days.

Between Christmas and New Year

Winter Lights reopens on 26 December and runs until 3 January, and the Playhouse has shows up to 29 December. Barter Books in the old station opens every day except Christmas Day, a dependable rainy-day stop.

Parking

Alnwick's council car parks are free, but some need a £1 parking disc, sold at outlets in the town including the Tourist Information Centre. Time limits apply in places, so read the signs. Dispensary Street, Roxburgh Place and Pottergate New Row are among the central car parks that need no disc.

Not yet confirmed

As of 2 November 2026, the lights switch-on, the civic carol service and any late-night shopping evenings had not been announced. We will update this guide when they are.

Know of an Alnwick Christmas event we have missed? Get in touch.