Christmas Events for Kids in Burnley (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

3 min read

For 2026, we confirmed 3 Christmas events for kids in Burnley. The season opens on 19 December with Festive Family Fun Party and runs until 17 January with Jack and the Beanstalk (Burnley Pantomime Society). Every listing links straight to the host. This page is part of our guide to Christmas events for kids in the UK.

The short version

  • Kids’ Christmas events confirmed for 2026 in Burnley: 3
  • First: Festive Family Fun Party, Burnley, 19 December
  • Free events: None confirmed yet

Below is every event we could confirm, grouped by area, with the date, time, price and the small things parents ask about (booking, ages, what is included).

At a glance: Christmas events for kids in Burnley

Kids’ Christmas events
3 confirmed for 2026
Areas
Burnley
Season
19 December to 17 January
Free events
None confirmed yet
Last checked

Christmas events for kids in Burnley

Listed soonest first: 3 confirmed events in Burnley.

Family Christmas event

Festive Family Fun Party

Expand to see the parent tip

The Festive Family Fun Party runs from 3pm to 5pm on 19 December 2026 in Burnley Mechanics Theatre. It is organised by Burnley Pantomime Society and A Princess to Your Door.

There is a disco, food, live entertainment and festive activities for the whole family. Tickets are £30 for adults and £18 for children, and it suits all ages.

Parent tip: Run by Burnley Pantomime Society with A Princess to Your Door, so expect dress-up and a disco.

Host
Burnley Pantomime Society (opens in a new tab)
Where
Burnley Mechanics, Manchester Road, Burnley BB11 1BH (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Burnley Pantomime Society (opens in a new tab)

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Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 2 more Burnley events researched for you.

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Carol concert

A Christmas Carol

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Burnley Mechanics stages A Christmas Carol on 23 December at 7:30pm and 24 December at 12 noon, 2026. The show follows Ebenezer Scrooge through his past, present and future on Christmas Eve and is presented as a festive show for all the family.

Tickets are £21.50 for adults and £16 for under 16s, and a family ticket for two adults and two children is £64. No age guidance is given by the venue.

Parent tip: The noon show on Christmas Eve suits younger children better than the 7:30pm evening one.

Host
Burnley Mechanics (opens in a new tab)
Where
Burnley Mechanics, Manchester Road, Burnley BB11 1BH (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Burnley Mechanics (opens in a new tab)

New events in Burnley every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Burnley every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

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Panto or Christmas show

Jack and the Beanstalk (Burnley Pantomime Society)

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Burnley Pantomime Society presents Jack and the Beanstalk at Burnley Mechanics from 8 to 17 January 2027. Evening shows are at 7pm on 8, 14 and 15 January. Weekend matinees run at 12pm and 4:30pm on 9, 10 and 17 January, and at 2pm and 7pm on 16 January.

Tickets are £16.50 standard and £14.50 concession. It is a children and family show.

Parent tip: Weekend matinees at 12pm and 2pm or 4:30pm suit younger children.

Host
Burnley Pantomime Society (opens in a new tab)
Where
Burnley Mechanics, Manchester Road, Burnley BB11 1BH (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Burnley Pantomime Society (opens in a new tab)

New events in Burnley every week

Rally looks for new Christmas events in Burnley every day and adds them to this page. Enter your email for one weekly update with the latest finds.

Free. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

More Christmas events for kids in the UK

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Christmas events for kids in Burnley: questions parents ask

What are the 2026 Christmas events for kids in Burnley?

For 2026, we confirmed 3 Christmas events for kids in Burnley, each on its host’s own page: A Christmas Carol, Jack and the Beanstalk (Burnley Pantomime Society) and Festive Family Fun Party. Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.

How do you confirm these events?

We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city, library or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on 5 November 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.

Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.

Christmas events for 2026 are coming in late November

More Christmas events arrive in late November. We add them here as soon as we confirm them.

The story of Christmas in Burnley

Burnley's Christmas starts in mid-November, when a lantern parade winds down St James's Street and snow cannons fire at the countdown. Indoors, the 1855 Mechanics building has the town's panto and festive shows.

A lantern parade, a countdown and snow on St James's Street

Burnley's season begins with Burnley Believes, the town-centre light switch-on run by Discover Burnley. It takes over St James's Street and Curzon Street on a Saturday in mid-November. The afternoon builds to a lantern parade led by Batala Lancaster drummers, with Santa and his elves joining one year, and then a countdown to the lights with snow cannons.

The lanterns are made beforehand at community centres and schools, and nobody needs one of their own to walk in the parade. Burnley Market Hall has also hosted its own switch-on show, with a real-life elf and a retro arcade.

Fireworks back after six years, and Channy on the main stage

The 2025 Burnley Believes took place on Saturday 15 November. Curzon Street and St James's Street had Christmas crazy golf, games with Burnley FC in the Community, a fun fair, face painting and a free family trail with a chance to win a £50 gift card. Radio Burnley's Lee and Phil hosted the main stage, and Channy closed it.

The 4pm lantern parade had large puppets and school lanterns. At 5pm the lights came on with a snow-filled finale and fireworks, which Discover Burnley said had returned for the first time in six years.

A panto society that began in a church on Colne Road

Burnley Mechanics opened in 1855, designed by James Green of Todmorden, and the panto now plays there. Hazel Hodder founded Burnley Pantomime Society to bring panto back to the town, and its first shows were at Ebenezer Baptist Church on Colne Road. After a couple of years at the old Burnley College site, it moved to the Mechanics.

The society reached its 40th anniversary with Jack and the Bean Stalk. In 2026 it is back at the Mechanics with Jack and the Beanstalk from 8 to 17 January 2027, plus a Festive Family Fun Party on 19 December.

Traditions today

  • Burnley Believes lights switch-on: A free November Saturday on St James's Street with a family trail, fun fair and a 5pm countdown to the lights.
  • Lantern parade: Led by Batala Lancaster, with lanterns from local schools and community groups and large puppets.
  • Burnley Pantomime Society panto: A local panto played at Burnley Mechanics, with Jack and the Beanstalk on 8 to 17 January 2027.
  • A Christmas Carol at the Mechanics: Dickens' story on stage on 23 and 24 December 2026, with a child ticket at £16.
  • Festive Family Fun Party: A disco, food and live entertainment on 19 December 2026, 3pm to 5pm.
  • HAPPA Festive Fayre: A free indoor market with children's crafts at Shores Hey Farm in Briercliffe, held to support horses.

A fact for kids

Burnley's lights switch-on uses snow cannons, so it can snow on St James's Street even when the weather is dry.

Questions about Christmas in Burnley

When is the Burnley Christmas lights switch-on in 2026?

The 2026 date has not been announced yet. The 2025 switch-on was on Saturday 15 November, with the lights going on at 5pm after a 4pm lantern parade. Discover Burnley organises it under the name Burnley Believes, so check their announcements for the 2026 date.

What happens at Burnley Believes besides the lights going on?

In 2025 the day filled Curzon Street and St James's Street with Christmas crazy golf, games with Burnley FC in the Community, face painting, walkabout acts and a fun fair. There was also a free family trail with prizes, a gift market and a main stage with local performers.

Do you need your own lantern for the Burnley lantern parade?

No. In 2025 the parade was led by Batala Lancaster at 4pm and included large puppets and lanterns made by local schools and community groups. Visit Lancashire says lantern-making sessions ran at community centres beforehand and that nobody needs a lantern of their own to join in.

Is the Burnley Christmas lights switch-on free?

Yes. Visit Lancashire's event page for the 2025 switch-on gives the price as free, and it describes the day as designed for families and visitors of all ages. The main site is St James's Street, BB11 1QL. Prices for any 2026 edition have not been announced.

Are there fireworks at the Burnley Christmas switch-on?

Yes, in 2025. The 5pm switch-on ended with a snow-filled finale and a fireworks display, and Discover Burnley said the fireworks finale had returned for the first time in six years. An earlier edition ended with snow cannons and no fireworks mentioned, so they are not guaranteed every year.

Who hosted the main stage at Burnley Believes in 2025?

Radio Burnley's Lee and Phil hosted the main stage on St James's Street in 2025. Local performers took turns on it through the afternoon, and a closing performance came from the singer Channy before the lantern parade and the 5pm countdown.

What was the elf show at an earlier Burnley switch-on?

The Burnley Believes line-up in a previous year included an interactive elf show on the stage. The same day had the Burnley Silver Alliance Brass Band, local dance schools and Burnley College's Performing Arts group, plus Santa and his elves joining the lantern parade from about 4:15pm.

How many people go to a Burnley Christmas lights event?

A Pendle Today report on a Burnley Market Hall switch-on day put the crowd at around 7,000 people. It listed a real-life elf, crafts, balloon modelling, face painting and a retro arcade. For the town-centre Burnley Believes day, Discover Burnley says only that thousands came in 2025.

Who is the Burnley Pantomime Society?

It is the local amateur panto group, started by Hazel Hodder to bring pantomime back to Burnley. It first performed at Ebenezer Baptist Church on Colne Road, spent a couple of years at the old Burnley College site, and now plays at Burnley Mechanics. It celebrated its 40th anniversary with Jack and the Bean Stalk.

When is the Burnley panto in 2026?

Burnley Pantomime Society's Jack and the Beanstalk runs at Burnley Mechanics from 8 to 17 January 2027, so it falls just after Christmas. Evening shows start at 7pm on 8, 14 and 15 January, and there are weekend matinees at 12pm and 4:30pm, plus a 2pm show on 16 January.

How much are tickets for Jack and the Beanstalk in Burnley?

Standard tickets are £16.50 and concessions are £14.50 for Burnley Pantomime Society's Jack and the Beanstalk at Burnley Mechanics. The run is 8 to 17 January 2027. It is a children and family show, and weekend matinees are the easiest slots for young ones.

When was Burnley Mechanics built?

Burnley Mechanics opened in 1855, designed by the architect James Green of Todmorden. It is on Manchester Road, BB11 1BH, and is now the town's theatre and arts centre, hosting Christmas shows, the panto society's annual panto and the family party in December 2026.

Is there a Christmas show for kids at Burnley Mechanics in 2026?

Yes. A Christmas Carol plays on Wednesday 23 December at 7:30pm and Thursday 24 December at 12 noon, with a £16 child ticket. The Festive Family Fun Party follows on Saturday 19 December from 3pm to 5pm. Both are aimed at families, and the venue sets no minimum age.

How much is A Christmas Carol at Burnley Mechanics?

Adults pay £21.50, under 16s pay £16, and a family ticket for two adults and two children is £64. The shows are on Wednesday 23 December 2026 at 7:30pm and Thursday 24 December 2026 at 12 noon, at Manchester Road, Burnley.

What is the Festive Family Fun Party in Burnley?

It is a two-hour party on Saturday 19 December 2026, 3pm to 5pm, at Burnley Mechanics Theatre. The organisers are Burnley Pantomime Society and A Princess to Your Door. It has a disco, food, live entertainment and festive activities. Tickets are £30 for adults and £18 for children.

Besides the Burnley Believes parade, what can families do at Christmas in Burnley?

Beyond the November Burnley Believes switch-on with its lantern parade, the confirmed picks are at Burnley Mechanics: the Festive Family Fun Party on 19 December and A Christmas Carol on 23 and 24 December. The panto follows in January.

Which indoor Christmas outings near St James's Street suit kids in Burnley?

Burnley Mechanics on Manchester Road is the main indoor venue, with a family party on 19 December and A Christmas Carol on 23 and 24 December 2026. The town centre around St James's Street is where the lights switch-on and lantern parade take place each November.

Where can we spend Christmas Day in Burnley with children?

No Burnley event on this page runs on 25 December. The closest are A Christmas Carol at 12 noon on Christmas Eve, Thursday 24 December 2026, and the 7:30pm show on 23 December, both at Burnley Mechanics. This page adds dates as hosts confirm them.

Does HAPPA's Festive Fayre at Shores Hey Farm count as a Christmas market for kids?

HAPPA, the horse charity at Shores Hey Farm in Briercliffe, BB10 3QU, has held a free Festive Fayre in its indoor arena with an artisan market, children's festive crafts, a wreath workshop and live entertainment. Its 2026 date was not confirmed, so check HAPPA before you go.

Is Burnley Christmas lights day good for toddlers?

It suits families, though it is a long day for toddlers. The 2025 programme had a free trail, face painting and walkabout acts in the afternoon before the 4pm parade. The venue does not set age limits. The 5pm switch-on adds a countdown and fireworks, so younger children may prefer to arrive early and leave before dark.

Sources

  1. Burnley Believes Christmas Light Switch On, Visit Lancashire
  2. Thousands flock to Burnley Believes for a day of festive magic, Discover Burnley
  3. Burnley Believes in Christmas! Christmas Light Switch On set to return this November, Lancashire Evening Post
  4. Thousands flock to Burnley Christmas lights switch on, Pendle Today
  5. A History of Burnley Mechanics, BLC Group
  6. Burnley Pantomime Society marks 40th birthday with generous dose of slapstick, Burnley Express
  7. A Christmas Carol, Burnley Mechanics, Visit Lancashire
  8. Festive Family Fun Party and A Christmas Carol, Discover Burnley
  9. Jack and the Beanstalk, Burnley Mechanics, Visit Lancashire
  10. Festive Fayre, HAPPA, Visit Lancashire
Kelsey Cecil
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