Reading's Christmas lights and market return

Reading's festive season is about to get going, and it all kicks off on Saturday 14 November with the Christmas Lights Switch-On on Broad Street, right outside Marks & Spencer. It's a free, family-friendly event that runs regardless of the weather, so it's worth checking the forecast and dressing for it before you head down. The display itself is something Reading does differently to most places: more than 800,000 LED lights, with themes that lean into the city's own culture and heritage, from Huntley and Palmers to Henry I. It's a one-off display you won't find anywhere else.

The switch-on is only half the story, though. The Christmas Market on Broad Street officially opens the same day and stays put until Sunday 3 January, and this year it's the biggest version yet, with more than 20 festive cabins and stalls spread across the city centre. Four new stalls have been added to the line-up, including a new bar at the western end of Broad Street, so there's a bit more to browse than in previous years. The food and drink are the usual festive crowd-pleasers: German bratwurst, freshly toasted marshmallows, hot sugared donuts, crepes, waffles, giant cookies, handmade fudge, a traditional cheese stall, roasted chestnuts and a hearty Christmas carvery. To wash it all down, there's Glühwein and a non-alcoholic mulled wine for anyone skipping the alcohol.

If you're planning to catch the switch-on itself, the afternoon on the 14th is built around a programme of live music. Pete Doyle and Dionne open things at midday, RASPO, Reading's Steel Orchestra Band, take over at 2pm, and Danny Mountain plays at 4pm. The big moment comes at 5pm with the countdown, joined by special guests from the Reading FC Women's team, before the lights come on and the entertainment carries on past 5.15pm. It's a long afternoon, so it's worth planning around the acts you actually want to see.

For anyone who wants a bit more than just a visit, there's a way to get involved for next year. Visit Reading is running a 'Design Reading's Next Christmas Light Competition' open to all ages, with three categories: children up to 11, young people aged 12 to 17 and adults 18 and over. Three winning designs will be professionally made and built into the Christmas light display for 2027, so it's a genuine chance to have something you've come up with end up hanging over the city.

A couple of practical notes before you go. The market runs Monday to Saturday from 10am to 8pm and Sunday from 10am to 6pm, so there's plenty of room to visit on a quieter day if the switch-on crowds put you off. Public transport is the sensible choice here, with the city centre only about 0.3 miles from Reading station, and Broad Street is likely to be busy throughout the evening. Between the lights, the expanded market and the competition, there's enough going on to make a proper evening of it, whether you're there for the countdown or just for a wander and some festive food.