Here are all the details for Warwick's Victorian Evening and Christmas lights switch on event
Warwick will be officially kicking off the festive period this week with its annual Victorian Evening and Christmas lights switch on.
On Thursday (November 27) the popular Victorian Evening will take place in the town and will run from 3pm to 9pm.
Here’s what’s happening
The Victorian market and rides
The market featuring stalls selling gifts, street food and festive offerings such as mulled wine, will be set up in the market square and the surrounding streets.
There will also be rides and entertainers including a traditional carousel, traction engines and fire spinners.
A stage will also be set up in the market square.
The Market Hall Museum will also be hosting a ‘festive shopping event’ taking place from 3pm to 9pm, where it is offering a 10 per cent discount on everything.
Visitors who spend over £10 (after the discount) will receive an entry into a prize draw to win an afternoon tea for two at the Market Hall cafe.
The stage line up
The event will also feature several performances on the stage and entertainment is due to finish by 9pm.
Here is the current schedule:
- 5pm – Royal Spa Brass
- 5.30pm – Aylesford School Choir
- 6pm – ISDA (I Sing, I Dance, I Act) performance
- 6.30pm – Kitty Von Mew
- 7pm – Light switch on with the Mayor
- 7.10pm – St Mary's Choir
- 7.30pm – Fancy Dress Competition
- 7.40pm – Ronnie's Bar - Warwick's Got Talent winner
- 7.50pm – Kitty Von Mew
- 8pm – Tom Corsi
The Christmas lights switch on
The town’s Christmas lights are due to be turned on by the Mayor of Warwick Cllr Jackie D’Arcy and Father Christmas at 7pm.
This year, there are several new additions to the Christmas lights thanks to the Warwick Christmas Lights team at Warwick Town Council, who help to fundraise every year for new lights.
A new light curtain will be switched on at the event, which was funded by the Warwick Schools Foundation.
The previous one was first installed in 2015 thanks to the fundraising efforts of the then-Mayor Mandy Littlejohn, but it had reached the end of its life so needed replacing.
Other light additions include more sparkling lights in the trees, replacement icicle lights and a new Christmas light.
A spokesperson from the Warwick Christmas Lights team said: “None of this would have been possible without the incredible generosity of our 2025 sponsors and the ongoing support from our wonderful local community.
"We are grateful for everything you do to help us light up Warwick each year.”
Warwick Rotary Club’s ‘Lights of Love’ tree will also be switched on at 7pm. For more information about how to add a memory card to the tree click here.
Best Victorian costume competition
Once again there will be a ‘best Victorian costume’ competition.
Anyone wishing to take part should head over to the stage at 7.30pm.
There will be prizes for the winners, which include:
- Best dressed adult category - four main enclosure tickets to a fixture of your choice for the 2025/26 season at Warwick Racecourse
- Best dressed child category - premium annual family pass at Warwick Castle
St Mary’s Church Christmas Tree Festival
The popular festival has returned for another year featuring more than 70 decorated trees by businesses, schools and community groups.
The team behind the festival said it is ‘set to be Warwick’s biggest ever Christmas Tree Festival’.
It will launch at 5pm on Victorian Evening and admission costs £2 per adult and children can enter for free.
The festival will run until Sunday December 7. For more information click here.
️During the Victorian Evening, there will also be a tombola inside the church, which will be helping to raise funds towards the town’s Christmas Lights campaign.
Donkeys at the Lord Leycester
Donkeys will once again be visiting the Medieval courtyard of the Lord Leycester in High Street.
The event will be helping to raise funds for both The Lord Leycester and the Donkey Breed Society.
The gift shop and Great Hall café will also be open throughout the evening.
It will run from 5pm to 8pm and tickets cost £3 per person.
Tickets will be available on the door subject to availability or through The Lord Leycester website.
Road closures and parking
According to Warwick District Council, the following roads will be closed from 7am to 11.59pm on Thursday November 27:
- Northgate Street
- Old Square
- Church Street
- New Street
- Brook Street
- Swan Street – access will be maintained to Swan Court
- Market Place
- Market Street
- The Woolpack
- The Holloway
- New Bridge Street
- Puckerings Lane
Like previous years, Warwick District Council is also providing free parking in all of its off-street car parks in Warwick from 3pm. All on-street parking charges will still apply.
To view our photo gallery from last year’s event click here