Who will switch on Falmouth’s Christmas lights this year?

Somewhere in Falmouth there is a volunteer, a neighbour or a group of people who have quietly made the town better this year. They probably have no idea they are in the running for one of the biggest nights on the local calendar. That is where you come in.

Nominations are about to open for a local person or community group to press the button on Falmouth’s Christmas lights, on stage, in front of hundreds of people.

A thank you, with the whole town watching

The switch-on is organised by Falmouth Town Council and Falmouth BID, and it marks the start of Christmas in the town. Each year the honour goes to a local individual, group or organisation, chosen from nominations sent in by the people who know them best.

The organisers say Falmouth is full of people who give their time to make the town a better place, whether that is volunteering, looking out for their neighbours, running local groups or simply going the extra mile for others. The switch-on is a chance to say thank you, and to give one of them a night to remember.

This year’s switch-on takes place on Thursday 26 November, with the chosen nominee joining the organisers on stage at 7pm to light up the town.

📷Schoolchildren performing at the lights switch-on. Credit: Falmouth Town Team

How to nominate someone

Nominations open at midday this Wednesday (21 October) and close at midday on Wednesday 18 November.

To put someone forward, fill in the short Christmas lights nomination form on the Falmouth website. You will need your nominee’s name, their contact details and a few words on why they deserve it.

Falmouth Town Manager Richard Gates said: “The switch-on is one of my favourite nights of the year, and a big part of that is meeting the people who work so hard to make Falmouth better every day. They’re rarely the ones looking for the limelight, which is exactly why it means so much. If someone has gone out of their way for Falmouth this year, please take a couple of minutes to nominate them.”

📷The Oggymen at the Christmas switch-on. Credit: Neal Johnston

What else is on in Falmouth this Christmas

The switch-on kicks off a busy festive season in town. Here is what is coming up:

• Falmouth Christmas Lights Switch-on: Thursday 26 November
• Falmouth Christmas Tree Festival: Sunday 29 November to Tuesday 29 December
• The Poly Christmas Market: Friday 4 to Sunday 6 December
• Falmouth Fire Station’s Santa’s Grotto: Saturday 5 December, 4.30pm to 7.30pm
• Festive Weekend: Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December
• Christmas Market on The Moor: Saturday 12 to Saturday 19 December
• Late Night Shopping: Thursday 17 December
• Harmony Choir: Thursday 24 December

More on the switch-on and Christmas in the town is on the Falmouth website. And whoever ends up on that stage on the 26th, chances are someone reading this will be the reason they are there.

📷The 2025 lights switch-on nominee on stage. Credit: Neal Johnston