Christmas Events for Kids in Northampton (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

3 min read

For 2026, we confirmed 2 Christmas events for kids in Northampton. The season opens on 21 November with Northampton Christmas Lights Switch On and runs until 31 December with Beauty And The Beast. One of these is free. 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 Northampton: 2
  • First: Northampton Christmas Lights Switch On, Northampton, 21 November
  • Free events: Northampton Christmas Lights Switch On

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 Northampton

Kids’ Christmas events
2 confirmed for 2026
Areas
Northampton
Season
21 November to 31 December
Free events
1
Last checked

Christmas events for kids in Northampton

Listed soonest first: 2 confirmed events in Northampton.

Meet SantaFree

Northampton Christmas Lights Switch On

Expand to see the parent tip

Northampton Town Council hosts the Christmas Lights Switch On in Market Square on Saturday 21 November 2026, from 12pm to 6pm. The stage programme runs through the afternoon, with Royal & Derngate performing its Christmas show What the Ladybird Heard at Christmas at 4pm and a panto cast chat about Beauty and the Beast. The Mayor and Father Christmas join the stage at 4.50pm before the countdown with special guest Chantelle Cameron.

Around the square there are stilt walkers, an Ebenezer Scrooge walkabout, face painting, a children's funfair ride, Wild Tribe craft workshops and storytelling on the Northampton Transport Heritage Bus with Northants Libraries Service. The Christmas Family Silent Disco is free, with a SEND session at 12.30pm and further sessions at 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm.

Parent tip: Check session details for the silent disco if you have very young children. Winterfest launches at this event.

Host
Northampton Town Council (opens in a new tab)
Where
Market Square, Northampton NN1 2EN (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Northampton Town Council (opens in a new tab)

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Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 1 more Northampton event researched for you.

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Coming up on this page

  • 2 Shows
  • 1 Santa
  • 1 Story time
  • 1 Lights
  • 1 Free

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Panto or Christmas show

Beauty And The Beast

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Royal & Derngate in Northampton stages Beauty And The Beast as its 2026 pantomime, with performances from Friday 4 December to Thursday 31 December. There is a relaxed performance on Sunday 6 December at 1pm, a BSL-interpreted performance on Tuesday 15 December at 6pm and a captioned performance on Sunday 20 December at 1pm.

Check the box office for ticket prices and age guidance before booking. Group rates are listed at £14.50 for schools, £16 for PTA groups and £17.50 for uniformed groups, with discounts for groups of ten or more. The cast chats about the show on the Market Square stage at the town's lights switch-on on 21 November.

Parent tip: The relaxed performance on 6 December is the one to look at for children who find a loud theatre hard.

Host
Royal & Derngate (opens in a new tab)
Where
Royal & Derngate (Derngate), 19-21 Guildhall Road, Northampton NN1 1DP (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Royal & Derngate (opens in a new tab)

New events in Northampton every week

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More Christmas events for kids in the UK

A story for the trip home

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Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolour corgi peeking from a red train

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Christmas events for kids in Northampton: questions parents ask

What are the 2026 Christmas events for kids in Northampton?

For 2026, we confirmed 2 Christmas events for kids in Northampton, each on its host’s own page: Northampton Christmas Lights Switch On and Beauty And The Beast. Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.

Are there free Christmas events for kids in Northampton?

Yes. One of the 2 events here is free: Northampton Christmas Lights Switch On. Check the listing in case you need to book or register.

Where can kids see Santa this year in Northampton?

Where to see Santa: Northampton Christmas Lights Switch On. Check the listings above for times and booking.

Where are there Christmas story times for kids in Northampton?

Christmas story times on this page: Northampton Christmas Lights Switch On.

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 Northampton

Northampton's town-centre grotto was built by ten carpentry students from Northampton College. The lights go on each November in Market Square, which had a covered ice rink in 2025, and Royal & Derngate stages a panto in December.

Becket's Park in 2023, and a refurbished Market Square in 2024

Northampton's switch-on has moved around. On Saturday 25 November 2023 it took place in Becket's Park from 11am, with the lights going on at 5pm. Santa arrived by sleigh to raise money for the Rotary Club of Northampton Becket, and there was a 12 Days of Christmas family trail round the town centre.

In 2024 it returned to the newly refurbished Market Square on Saturday 23 November. The council said lit spruce trees would also glow in All Saints' Piazza, Guildhall Square, Abington Square and Becket's Park. A grotto at the Grosvenor Centre opened with the switch-on both years.

A covered ice rink on Market Square and carols for 2025

In 2025 the switch-on countdown was on Saturday 22 November from 5pm in Market Square. A week later the grotto at the Grosvenor Centre opened, then ran on weekends through December.

Market Square on Ice opened on Thursday 4 December 2025 and skated on until 4 January. The covered rink measured 14 metres by 22 metres, was built by the team behind Dancing on Ice and Somerset House, and was closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Carols on the Square ran from 2pm to 6pm on 13 December, and Santa met skaters on the ice from 4pm to 6pm on 11 December.

Ten carpentry students built a Santa's house

Northampton's Grosvenor Centre grotto was designed and built by ten Level Three carpentry students from Northampton College. A teacher hand-painted a Christmas scene on its windows, and the organisers expected more than 1,000 families to visit. Booking in advance cost £1, all of it going to charity.

In 2024 the town council's switch-on cast came from the Royal Theatre's Christmas show The Jolly Postman, and in 2026 the Market Square stage hosts a Royal & Derngate cast chat about the Beauty and the Beast panto.

Traditions today

  • Christmas Lights Switch On: Market Square, Saturday 21 November 2026, 12pm to 6pm with the countdown at 5pm. The council describes it as free.
  • Santa's Grotto at the Grosvenor Centre: Listed on the council's 2026 Christmas page in partnership with Northampton BID, but 2026 dates and prices are not confirmed. The first grotto was built by Northampton College students.
  • Royal & Derngate panto: Beauty And The Beast plays at Derngate from 4 to 31 December 2026, with a relaxed performance on 6 December.
  • Christmas Family Silent Disco: Free sessions at the 2026 switch-on, including a SEND session at 12.30pm.
  • Santa's sleigh for the Rotary Club: At the 2023 switch-on Santa arrived by sleigh to raise money for the Rotary Club of Northampton Becket, and a Rotary sleigh is listed again for 2026.
  • Market Square on Ice: A covered rink opened in Market Square on 4 December 2025 and ran until 4 January.

A fact for kids

Ten carpentry students from Northampton College built Santa's grotto for the town centre, and a teacher hand-painted a Christmas scene on its windows.

Questions about Christmas in Northampton

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

The Christmas Lights Switch On is on Saturday 21 November 2026 in Market Square. The event runs from 12pm to 6pm, with the countdown at 5pm and Father Christmas on stage at 4.50pm. It is free.

Who is doing the countdown at the Northampton switch-on this year?

The council's 2026 programme names Chantelle Cameron as special guest for the countdown. The Mayor and Father Christmas go on stage first, at about 4.50pm, and the countdown follows at around 4.55pm to 5pm. A festive finale with The Funk Odyssey Party Band runs until the event closes at 6pm in Market Square.

What can toddlers and small children do at the Northampton lights switch-on?

The 2026 programme includes face painting, a children's funfair ride, Wild Tribe craft workshops, balloon elves and storytelling on the Northampton Transport Heritage Bus with Northants Libraries Service. There is also a free Christmas Family Silent Disco with sessions at 12.30pm (SEND), 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm. Stilt walkers roam Market Square all afternoon.

Is there a free silent disco for families at Christmas in Northampton?

Yes. The town council lists a free Christmas Family Silent Disco, run by The Silent Disco Project, as part of the 21 November 2026 switch-on in Market Square. The first session at 12.30pm is for children with special educational needs and disabilities. Later sessions start at 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm.

Is Santa's Grotto at the Grosvenor Centre running in 2026?

Yes, the Grosvenor Shopping Centre hosts a Santa's Grotto with Northampton BID, but its 2026 dates, times and prices are not out yet. In 2024 it ran 10.30am to 4pm on December weekends, so confirm with the centre before travelling with children.

Who built the Santa's grotto at the Grosvenor Centre in Northampton?

A purpose-built grotto was designed and built by ten Level Three carpentry students at Northampton College, commissioned by Northampton Town Centre BID. A college teacher hand-painted the Christmas scene on its windows. Northampton Town Council part-funded it and provides gift packs for visiting children. Booking ahead cost £1, with all proceeds going to charity.

When is the Northampton panto in 2026?

Royal & Derngate's 2026 pantomime is Beauty And The Beast, running from Friday 4 December to Thursday 31 December. The theatre names a relaxed performance on Sunday 6 December at 1pm, a BSL-interpreted one on Tuesday 15 December at 6pm and a captioned one on Sunday 20 December at 1pm. The Derngate venue is on Guildhall Road.

Is there a relaxed panto performance in Northampton for children who find theatre hard?

Royal & Derngate has a relaxed performance of Beauty And The Beast on Sunday 6 December 2026 at 1pm. Check with the box office about lighting, sound and moving in and out. It also has BSL-interpreted and captioned shows for families who need them.

Where were the Northampton lights switched on in 2023?

In 2023 the switch-on moved to Becket's Park, on Saturday 25 November from 11am to 6pm, with the lights going on at 5pm. Stars from Royal & Derngate's Snow White panto and The Deco Theatre's Cinderella took part. Santa arrived by sleigh to raise money for the Rotary Club of Northampton Becket.

What was the 2024 Northampton lights switch-on like?

It was on Saturday 23 November 2024 in the newly refurbished Market Square, from 12 to 6pm, with the lights on at 5pm. BBC Radio Northampton's Bernie Keith hosted. A cast from The Jolly Postman at the Royal Theatre performed, and Santa and the Mayor joined the stage. A follow-up event was held in Becket's Park on 7 December.

Which trees and squares light up in Northampton at Christmas?

In 2024 the council said lit spruce trees would glow across All Saints' Piazza, Guildhall Square, Abington Square and Becket's Park, as well as Market Square, where the switch-on was held. Families can walk between these spots in the town centre on a winter evening.

Was there an ice rink in Northampton at Christmas 2025?

Yes. Market Square on Ice opened on Thursday 4 December 2025 and ran until 4 January. The covered rink measured 14 by 22 metres, was built by the team behind Dancing on Ice and Somerset House, and sold tickets through The Old Savoy. It was closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

Is the Northampton ice rink suitable for children with additional needs?

In 2025 the Market Square rink ran SEND-friendly sessions at £7.50 a ticket, with parents and carers skating free. Rink dates for 2026 are not out yet, so check Northampton Town Council and West Northamptonshire Council for this year's sessions before booking.

Did Santa visit the Northampton ice rink in 2025?

Yes. In 2025 Santa meet-and-greets on the ice ran from 4pm to 6pm on 11 December, which was also Christmas Jumper Day, with 20 per cent of ticket sales going to Save the Children. A Festive Family Day with free activities followed on 21 December. These are 2025 dates, not 2026.

When were Carols on the Square in Northampton in 2025?

Carols on the Square ran in Market Square from 2pm to 6pm on Saturday 13 December 2025, with a local choir and singers. The same programme also had a Small Business Saturday on 6 December, with a town-wide Grinch takeover. Check the council for 2026 carol dates, as none appear on this year's switch-on page.

What should I do with kids in Northampton before the lights come on?

On 21 November 2026 the afternoon in Market Square starts at 12pm. Children can try craft workshops, face painting and a funfair ride, hear stories on the Northampton Transport Heritage Bus, and catch the Royal & Derngate Christmas show at 4pm. The countdown follows at about 5pm. All of it is listed as free.

Where can children see a panto cast in Northampton for free?

At the 21 November 2026 switch-on in Market Square. The Royal & Derngate panto cast chat about Beauty and the Beast is at 4.15pm, and The Deco Panto cast perform from The Wizard of Oz at 4.30pm. Entry to the day is free. The full panto runs at Derngate from 4 December.

Where can families spend time in Northampton on Christmas Day?

No 2026 family events in Northampton have been announced for 25 December. In 2025 the Market Square ice rink was closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Check the venues' own pages before you plan the day.

Besides the Beauty And The Beast panto, what can kids do at Christmas in Northampton in 2026?

Confirmed so far are the free lights switch-on in Market Square on 21 November, with craft workshops, face painting and a family silent disco, and the Beauty And The Beast panto at Royal & Derngate from 4 to 31 December. Winterfest is also said to launch at the switch-on, so check the council for its programme.

What is Winterfest in Northampton?

West Northamptonshire Council's Winterfest officially launches at the switch-on and runs from Saturday 28 November in Market Square. The same council ran the 2025 ice rink, so check its Winterfest page for this year's programme.

Sources

  1. Christmas in Northampton 2026, Northampton Town Council
  2. Northampton's Christmas lights switch-on returns to the Market Square (2024), Northampton Town Council
  3. Join Saints and panto stars for Northampton's Christmas lights switch-on in the park (2023), Northampton Town Council
  4. Ice rink and festive events Northampton, West Northamptonshire Council
  5. Skate into the festive season as Northampton's new town centre ice rink opens this week, West Northamptonshire Council
  6. Winter ice skating, Northampton Town Council
  7. Purpose-built grotto to be Santa's home for town centre Christmas campaign, Northampton Chronicle
  8. Beauty And The Beast, Royal & Derngate
Kelsey Cecil
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