Old Town Christmas Festival 2026

The Old Town Christmas Festival returns to Wood Street and Victoria Road on Sunday 22 November, from 13:00 to 18:00. The whole afternoon is built around the official switching on of the Christmas lights, which marks the start of the holiday season for Swindon. It's a community event that takes over the heart of Old Town, and it's open to everyone.

Around the light switch-on, the streets fill with a festive market, a funfair, live music, and seasonal food and drink stalls. There's family entertainment running throughout, and the market gives you a chance to shop from local businesses rather than the usual high street. It's the kind of afternoon that works whether you're there with kids or just drifting through for a drink and a look around.

Old Town itself is a good place for this. It's one of the more historic parts of Swindon, known for its independent shops and a welcoming community feel. It runs a year-round programme of street festivals, live music, food and drink celebrations, seasonal markets and cultural gatherings that bring residents and visitors together, so this is one of many events that happen here across the year.

On the practical side, there's a dedicated disability viewing area for the lights. Entry is by voluntary donation, which goes towards covering the costs of the area's community events. The festival runs from 13:00 to 18:00 on Sunday 22 November, at Wood Street and Victoria Road, SN1 4AN.