Christmas in Reading Town Centre

Christmas has arrived in Reading town centre! From family-friendly things to do to festive nibbles and merry markets, you don't have to travel far in Reading to get your Christmas fix. Here's what you can expect in the heart Reading town centre this festive season: 

Christmas Lights Switch On 

Saturday 15 November, Broad St

The Christmas season in Reading officially gets underway on 15 November as we turn on the town centre’s Christmas lights. This year's fantastic display is unique to Reading, with links to the town's rich culture and heritage. From Huntley and Palmers to Henry I, a magical display of over 800,000 LED lights will bring the Christmas spirit to Reading town centre! 

Broad Street Christmas Market 

15 November - 2 January

Reading's very own Christmas market returns to the town centre with more stalls and longer opening times than ever before! From food and drink to crafts and sweet treats, you'll find a whole host of Christmas stalls open on Broad Street for the entire Christmas season. Don't miss our unique Christmas tree on the roof of our bar! And, if Christmas markets are your thing, there are a few in and around town - so make sure they're in the diary! 

Reading's Snow Window Trail

From 21 November

Shopfronts all across the town centre have been transformed with unique, hand-painted snow designs! Wander through the streets and spot these enchanting festive scenes, from snowy villages and twinkling trees to joyful characters, including Reading's favourite bear. Download a trail map, wrap up warm and see how many snow windows you can find.

Candy Cane Stilt Walkers

Multiple Dates, Broad St.

Visit Reading town centre during the first couple of December weekends and you'll find our Candy Cane Stilt Walkers in Broad Street, spreading festive cheer! Make sure you're in town at 12 or 2pm on Saturday 6, Saturday 13 or Sunday 14 December to catch our friendly festive giants - the perfect way to kick start the holiday season and free entertainment for the little ones while you get some Christmas shopping sorted! 

Live Music  

Weekends in December 

Join us every weekend in December for live festive music on our beautifully decorated high street stage. Enjoy the sounds of local musicians, choirs and bands, including Reading’s very own steel pan orchestra, RASPO. Don’t miss it! 

Festive Character Visits 

Multiple Dates, Broad St 

Head to Reading’s Broad St. this December for a double dose of holiday magic. On Sunday 7 December, the Green Witch and Bubble Witch arrive fresh from the set of their new film to sprinkle a little extra sparkle over the town centre from 12pm - 2:30pm. Then, on Saturday 20 December, everyone’s favourites, the Snow Queen and Huggable Snowman are back again from 10am - 12:15pm to bring a flurry of fun. Pop into town on either day to meet these beloved characters and embrace the holiday magic! 

Father Christmas visits Reading 

Sunday 21 December, Broad St 

Who’s on Santa’s ‘nice’ list this year? Head to Broad Street on Sunday 21 December to find out, as Father Christmas himself pays Reading town centre a visit! If you want to catch him, make sure you head to Broad Street between 12pm and 2pm where you'll find him greeting shoppers and saying hello to little ones before he flies back to the North Pole. (Rumour has it Santa will be stopping off at some other Reading locations during the festive season - so no excuse to miss him!). 

Christmas Shopping in Reading 

Boasting three shopping centres and a pedestrianised high street with over 250 well-known brands, Reading offers the best Christmas shopping experience in the Thames Valley. Choose from household names such as John Lewis, M&S, Zara, H&M and Primark, as well as 80 independents offering a wonderful variety of quirky Christmas gifts. The best part? Everything is within a short stroll of each other; you'll find plenty of bars and cafes for a well-needed pitstop - and Reading's excellent bus and train connections makes it easy to get to.