If you’re interested in getting your product, service or event in front of 5k+ North Londoners → Partner with us
Hey Neighbour,
Ever walked down the street, seen a crowd and thought, I wonder what’s happening over there?
For the next few weeks, there’s a good chance it’s a Christmas lights switch-on. And this year, I’m making sure you don’t miss it. After all, ’tis the season.
Here’s where and when the Christmas lights are switching on across Camden, Islington, Haringey, Barnet, Brent and Enfield.
Full disclosure, this isn’t every switch-on. Some I’m still waiting to hear back from, and I’ll be adding them as they announce. But I hope it gives you a good start.
—Maryam
✨ November
Chapel Market Lights On | 📍Chapel Market, N1 | 13 November | Free
Chapel Market is one of Islington’s oldest street markets, and this Friday it switches on its Christmas lights. Free mince pies and hot chocolate from 11am, live music from local buskers throughout the day, and voting opens for this year’s Market Trader of the Year, with the winner announced on 12 December. Angel Central’s own festive activities start at 4pm nearby.
Light Up Angel: Christmas Light Switch-On | 📍The Piazza, Angel Central, N1 | 13 November | Free
Angel Central’s Christmas lights go on this Friday with a full evening of street performance first: Toymaker Brass Band, Clockwork Ballerinas, Nutcracker stilt walkers, Marching Toy Soldiers, Elf Acrobats, Gingerbread Characters and a visit from Father Christmas. Lights switch on at 5.45pm. A child gets the chance to do the honours, entries open on the website. 4pm to 7pm.
Source: Muswell Hill Residents Association Instagram page
Light Up Hampstead: Christmas Lights Switch-On | 📍Hampstead High Street, NW3 | 15 November | Free
Hampstead’s Christmas lights get an upgrade this year, a bigger, brighter scheme going up across the high street, organised by the Hampstead Village Committee. Three hours of festive activity before the main event: Santa and his reindeer, kids’ funfair rides, carols from local school singers, face painting, hair braiding and airbrush tattoos, food stalls throughout. The VIP switch-on happens at 6pm. 4pm to 7pm.
Source: This is Highgate
St John’s Wood High Street Festive Lights | 📍St John’s Wood High Street, NW8 | 17 November | Free
St John’s Wood’s Christmas lights switch on this Tuesday afternoon, organised by the St John’s Wood Society and local councillors. It all happens at the top end of the high street by the Christmas tree. The local primary school choir sings at 4.10pm, the Lord Mayor of Westminster arrives at 4.15pm, the lights go on at 4.30pm, and Santa follows behind a brass band marching down the street. Shops and restaurants are running special promotions on the day too.
Wood Green Christmas Lights Switch On | 📍Wood Green Library, N22 | 19 November | Free
Wood Green’s Christmas lights go on twice this Thursday. First outside the library on the High Road from 3.30pm, free hot chocolate, a local youth choir, Victorian carol singers and buskers, with the countdown at 5pm. Then everyone walks down to Turnpike Lane to do it all again, second countdown at 5.30pm. Organised by Wood Green BID.
Brent Cross Town Winter Lights Switch-On | 📍Claremont Park, Brent Cross Town, NW4 | 25 November | Free
Brent Cross Town is the new neighbourhood being built around Claremont Park as part of the wider Brent Cross regeneration, and this Wednesday its Christmas tree and lights switch on. Carol singing, a live brass band and free ice cream from Gussy’s, plus a visit from Santa and his elves. The switch-on launches Winter in Colour, a light trail running across five locations in the neighbourhood through the season. 4pm to 5.30pm.
Highgate Lights Switch On | 📍Pond Square, N6 | 26 November | Free
Highgate’s Christmas lights go on this Thursday, switched on by Dame Meera Syal and Sanjeev Bhaskar, hosted by Alex Zane. Santa’s Grotto at The Crown from 3pm for under 10s, the Highgate Brass Ensemble playing in Pond Square from 4pm with surprise guests, lights switch on from the Superette terrace at 4.30pm. Organised by volunteers with support from the Highgate Society and local schools, who are asking for donations towards the cost of the lights.
Palmers Green Christmas Lights Switch-On | 📍The Triangle, Palmers Green, N13 | 26 November | Free
Palmers Green’s lights go on this Thursday at the Triangle, organised by Love Palmers Green and GLBA. Live performances from St Monica’s Choir and Adorned Gospel Community Choir before the switch-on. 3.30pm.
Edmonton Green Christmas Lights Switch-On | 📍Edmonton Green, N9 | 27 November | Free
Edmonton Green’s annual Christmas lights switch-on returns this Friday, a full afternoon before the main event: funfair rides, food stalls, a Christmas roller disco and surprise performances popping up throughout the day. Activities start at 3.30pm, building to the lights switch-on at 6pm.
Kentish Town Christmas Lights Switch-On | 📍The Canopy, Kentish Town Road, NW5 | 28 November | Free
Kentish Town’s Christmas lights switch on this Saturday under the canopy on Kentish Town Road. Live acoustic music from Solid Steel Acoustic Duo, Torryn and Hubbard Sax on sax, a snow shower at the moment the lights go on, and refreshments from Coffee Man House. Local shops are running festive offers on the day too. 4.30pm to 6.45pm, lights on at 5pm.
East Finchley Christmas Lights Switch-On | 📍East Finchley Town Square, N2 | 28 November | Free
East Finchley’s Christmas lights go on outside Budgens on the High Road. You’ll hear carols from local choirs and the London Metropolitan Brass Band leading up to the switch-on itself. Budgens puts on mince pies and mulled wine for everyone who turns up, as they do every year. 5pm.
🎄December
Angel Yard Community Tree Lighting | 📍Angel Yard, Edmonton, N18 | 3 December | Free
Angel Yard switches its Christmas tree lights on again this December, back for a second year after last year’s turnout. Young entrepreneurs and local makers sell early Christmas gifts, mince pies, mulled wine and a raffle on the side, with carols from MumSing Choir. Open to everyone in Enfield and beyond.
Muswell Hill Christmas Tree Lighting | 📍Muswell Hill, N10 | 5 December | Free
The Christmas tree outside the Everyman Cinema has gone up every year for as long as most residents can remember, and this year it was at risk. Haringey Council could only part-fund it, leaving a £3,500 gap. The community really showed up and raised £3,666 through a crowdfunder to close it. Lights switch on Saturday 5th Dec at 5pm. St James Choir singing carols will be there as well as mince pies from Sainsbury’s and mulled wine from Muswell Hillbilly Brewers.
Crouch End Christmas Tree Lighting | 📍Hornsey Town Hall, N8 | 5 December | Free
Crouch End’s Christmas tree lights up this Saturday at 6pm, organised by the Crouch End Festival, right alongside Muswell Hill Creatives’ Winter Makers Market. Shop original gifts from independent artists and designers from 11.30am, with festive workshops and refreshments, then stay for the switch-on.
Myddleton Road Winter Festival | 📍Myddleton Road, N22 | 6 December | Free
Myddleton Road Market’s Christmas edition takes over the street in Bowes Park for the day, back by popular demand after previous years. Market stalls for Christmas shopping, Santa’s grotto, rides, kids’ crafting, a choir, a brass band and DJs, food and drink throughout. Lights switch on at 5pm. 12pm to 5pm.
THANKS FOR READING!
While you're here:
Want this delivered to your inbox weekly? Subscribe here.
If you’re interested in getting your product, service or event in front of 5k+ North Londoners → Partner with us