Christmas in Reading Town Centre

Christmas is coming to 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 14 November, Broad St

The Christmas season in Reading officially gets underway on 14 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 

14 November - 3 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 26 November

Shopfronts all across the town centre will be 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.

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 

Meet some very special festive visitors in Reading this December! Bring the little ones along to say hello, snap a photo and soak up a bit of Christmas magic.

• Sunday 6 December – Pink Witch & Green Witch
• Saturday 12 December – Toy Sheriff & Cowgirl
• Saturday 19 December – Snow Queen & Huggable Snowman

Father Christmas visits Reading 

Sunday 20 December, Broad St 

Who’s on Santa’s ‘nice’ list this year? Head to Broad Street on Sunday 20 December to find out, as Father Christmas and his trusty Elf pay Reading town centre a visit! (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.