Cornwall Christmas lights switch-on dates 2026: every town and time

Saltash kicks things off on Friday 13 November. From there it spreads, a pier in St Ives, a harbour in Newquay, a village green in Polperro, until Mousehole lights up in December and everyone heads west to see it.

Here’s where and when to see the lights come on, in date order. Organisers do move things, so check before you set off.

The dates in one place

Mid-November

Saltash, Friday 13 November

Fore Street has Cornwall’s first countdown of the year. From 6pm there’s a sleigh with Santa aboard, school choirs, a parade, a few surprise guests and late-night shopping. The lights go on at around 6.30pm outside Superdrug. The Elf Hunt Trail starts the same night, with children searching for Essa the Elf and prizes for those who find them. Saltash Town Council runs the evening with the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club.

📷Saltash Christmas Lights Switch-On poster. Credit: Saltash Town Council

Roads close from 4pm to 9pm on Fore Street, Wesley Road, Station Road and the A38 slip road into town. While the event is on, Victoria Road and King Edward Road become one-way.

St Ives, Friday 20 November

Smeaton’s Pier at 5pm. That’s when the St Ives Fisherman’s Christmas Lights come on, according to St Ives Town Council.

📷St Ives Fisherman's Christmas Lights switch-on poster. Credit: St Ives Fisherman's Christmas Lights

Newquay, Friday 20 November

Newquay has two switch-ons, and this is the quieter one. From 5.30pm to 7pm, a trail of handmade lanterns winds through Trenance Gardens and ends at Trenance Heritage Cottages, where the cottage lights go on. Fancy carrying one? Blystra Arts is running lantern-making workshops in the run-up.

📷Newquay Lantern Parade and Trenance Cottages light switch-on poster. Credit: Blystra Arts and Love Newquay

Camborne, Saturday 21 November

A 25ft Cornish fir stands in Commercial Square. The stage there opens at 1pm and the street lights come on at 5pm. Father Christmas is around too, and seeing him is free.

📷Christmas in Camborne poster. Credit: CamborneTown.Com

The square and surrounding streets close to traffic. Chapel Street, Gas Street and Gurneys Mews are shut from 10am to 7pm, and Trelowarren Street and Commercial Square from midday to 7pm. The Trevithick, Tyacks Hotel and Rosewarne car parks are all open (pay and display). Camborne gets a second night out six days later, when a lantern parade closes the town centre to traffic from 2pm to 8pm on Friday 27 November.

Truro, Saturday 21 November

Don’t wait for a countdown in Truro, because there won’t be one. The city’s lights come on without a ceremony some time that afternoon, the same day the cabins on Lemon Quay open for the Christmas season. The Lemon Quay market runs every day until Christmas Eve, and makers fill Boscawen Street every Wednesday and Saturday until 23 December.

Truro’s big night comes later, on Wednesday 2 December, when Father Christmas rides his sleigh through the streets. That’s also the first of the Wednesday late-night shopping evenings, which run until 23 December with many shops open until 9pm.

Thursday 26 November

Falmouth

Falmouth goes a night ahead of most. Kernow Pipes & Drums set off from Events Square at 5.45pm and lead everyone up to The Moor, where children from five local schools take over with carols at 6.15pm. At 7pm a local hero, nominated by the town, presses the button on the lights, and The Oggymen play the crowd out. Falmouth Town Council and Falmouth BID are behind it.

Friday 27 November, the busiest night

Nine switch-ons in one night. You’ll have to choose.

Newquay

This is the big one. The Killacourt opens at 3.15pm with Oll an Gwella, Rock Choir Cornwall, Bubbles the Pixie and Strut Productions on the bill. The lights go on at 6.30pm, and fifteen minutes later fireworks go up over the harbour for five minutes. Still Dizzy finish the night. The Festive Weekend carries on until Sunday with a three-day market and rides for the children. The town’s tree was paid for by Boardmasters.

Looe

Lanterns leave the Millpool at 6.20pm and wind through East Looe to the seafront, where the band strikes up at 7pm. At 7.30pm the lights go on, followed by fireworks over the water. Looe Town Council runs the evening.

Bodmin

Bodmin Lights Up gets going at 4.30pm, with the lights due on at about 6.30pm. Children can drop into a free Christmas crafts session on Lower Bore Street.

📷Bodmin Lights Up 2026 poster. Credit: Bodmin Christmas Lights

Launceston

The Town Square tree is up, ready for the Mayor, Cllr Nicola Gilbert, to light it up.

Helston

Discover Helston has promised music, lights and festive fun. Timings are due soon.

Hayle

Hayle does lanterns and lights together. Walkers meet at Hayle Lido car park at 5pm, and the parade sets off at 5.30pm along King George V Memorial Walk. Fancy dress is optional, with prizes for the best costume and the best lantern, and there are refreshments and entertainment at The Rec cafe afterwards. Hayle Carnival is organising it, and Hayle Town Council is urging people to come out and support it.

📷Hayle Christmas Lights Switch-On and Lantern Parade poster. Credit: Hayle Carnival

Budock Water and Leedstown

Two villages switch on the same night: Budock Water at the village hall at 5.30pm, and Leedstown at 6.30pm.

📷Budock Christmas Illuminations poster. Credit: The Playing Field at Budock Water

Saturday 28 November

Penzance

Penzance’s lights go on at 5.30pm. Market stalls and festive events will be out across town from about 4pm, and things carry on until around 8.30pm.

St Austell

St Austell town centre is busy all day, with music, entertainment and things for families to do from 11am until 6pm. The lights go on at 5pm. More music follows on some December Saturdays.

📷St Austell Christmas Lights Switch On poster. Credit: St Austell Town

Padstow

Padstow’s festive day is called Nadelik Lowen, which means Merry Christmas in Cornish. It starts at 11.30am, with fairground rides, stalls, music and a grotto. Santa is back for the switch-on at 5pm, which comes with carols. The Padstow Christmas Fayre then takes over the harbour from Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 December.

📷Nadelik Lowen Padstow poster. Credit: Nadelik Lowen Padstow

Liskeard

Nadelik Lyskerrys, Liskeard’s Lights Up, gets under way in the town centre at 4.30pm.

📷Nadelik Lyskerrys Lights Up 2026 poster. Credit: Nadelik Lyskerrys

Penryn

Penryn’s switch-on is back this year, with a 6.45pm countdown.

St Breward and St Teath

St Breward is showing off brand new lights from 5.30pm, with St Breward Silver Band, hot food and a prize for the best festive costume. Santa is telling stories at 5.50pm and 6.30pm, and places need booking through St Breward Carnival. St Teath switches on half an hour later, at 6pm.

Into December

St Just, Friday 4 December

St Just lights up at 7pm.

Polperro, Saturday 5 December

Polperro makes an afternoon of it. Entertainment starts on the Big Green at 2.30pm, with mulled wine, food, a Santa parade and a grotto. The lights go on at 6.30pm. Parking is free.

Mevagissey, Saturday 5 December

St Austell Band plays, lanterns parade, and the harbour is lined with food and drink. There’s also a craft fair in Jubilee Hall. It all starts at 4pm, when Willow car park goes free.

📷Mevagissey Christmas Lights Switch On poster. Credit: Mevagissey Christmas Lights

Redruth and Coverack, Saturday 5 December

Redruth in Lights fills the day from 11am. On the Lizard, Coverack switches on at the cove at 6pm.

Praze, Saturday 5 December

Praze-an-Beeble switches on its Christmas lights at 6.30pm, half an hour after Coverack.

Angarrack, from Saturday 5 December

Angarrack has no single switch-on moment. From 5 December the whole village is lit every night from 5.30pm to 10pm until 5 January. Scenes glow in front gardens, across fields, beside the river and even in the pub car park, and every one of them can be seen from the lanes. Parking is tight and the crowds are big, so leave the car and walk in.

Treneere, Penzance, Sunday 6 December

Treneere Team Spirit switches on its lights outside the shop at 4pm, and everyone is welcome.

Mousehole, from Thursday 10 December

Mousehole comes last, and it’s the one many people save for. The harbour lights glow most evenings from 5pm to 10pm, from 10 December until 3 January. On 19 December they’re dimmed, in memory of the Penlee lifeboat crew lost in 1981.

Is your switch-on missing?

Town and parish councils, BIDs and event organisers, we’d like to hear from you. Send your 2026 date, time and location (and a photo if you have one) to [email protected]