Christmas Events for Kids in Norwich (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

3 min read

For 2026, we confirmed 2 Christmas events for kids in Norwich. The season opens on 19 November with Festive Lights Switch-on and runs until 3 January with The All New Adventures of Peter Pan Pantomime. 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 Norwich: 2
  • First: Festive Lights Switch-on, Norwich, 19 November
  • Free events: Festive 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 Norwich

Kids’ Christmas events
2 confirmed for 2026
Areas
Norwich
Season
19 November to 3 January
Free events
1
Last checked

Christmas events for kids in Norwich

Listed soonest first: 2 confirmed events in Norwich.

Christmas paradeFree

Festive Lights Switch-on

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The council's switch-on marks the start of Norwich's festive season. It is a free evening for families in the city centre on Thursday 19 November 2026, from 5:30pm to 7:00pm.

Expect live performances, seasonal entertainment, special guests and festive activities, all building to a countdown when the lights come on. No venue within the centre is named yet, and the full programme, timings and accessibility information will be published nearer the day.

Parent tip: The council says the full programme, timings and accessibility details will follow closer to the date.

Host
Norwich City Council (opens in a new tab)
Where
Norwich city centre (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Norwich City Council (opens in a new tab)

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Rally’s Christmas research

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

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Coming up on this page

  • 1 Lights
  • 1 Parades
  • 1 Shows
  • 1 Free

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Panto or Christmas show

The All New Adventures of Peter Pan Pantomime

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Norwich Theatre Royal puts on The All New Adventures of Peter Pan as its 2026 pantomime. The run starts on Saturday 5 December and finishes on Sunday 3 January 2027, with shows on most days over the holidays, including Christmas Eve and Boxing Day.

The theatre advertises tickets from £10, and individual performances are priced from about £30 to £43. Under 18s get £5 off in the first four price bands. Two sensory adapted shows, two BSL interpreted and captioned shows and two audio described shows are scheduled, so check the dates if your child needs a quieter or more supported performance.

Parent tip: Sensory adapted shows are listed for Thursday 17 December at 1pm and Tuesday 29 December at 6pm. One evening show, Wednesday 16 December, is marked for over 15s.

Host
Norwich Theatre Royal (opens in a new tab)
Where
Norwich Theatre Royal, Theatre Street, Norwich NR2 1RL (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Norwich Theatre Royal (opens in a new tab)

New events in Norwich 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 Norwich: questions parents ask

What are the 2026 Christmas events for kids in Norwich?

For 2026, we confirmed 2 Christmas events for kids in Norwich, each on its host’s own page: The All New Adventures of Peter Pan Pantomime and Festive Lights Switch-on. Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.

Are there free Christmas events for kids in Norwich?

Yes. One of the 2 events here is free: Festive Lights Switch-on. Check the listing in case you need to book or register.

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 Norwich

Norwich Market's striped huts inspired a Theatre Royal panto set in 2024. The lights go on each November, and Elm Hill is a medieval street families can walk in winter.

Elm Hill, 20 craft markets and a 130-strong Thursford cast

Norwich does Christmas around what the city already has. Visit Norwich calls Elm Hill the city's most complete medieval street, and the city runs around 20 artisan Christmas markets through November and December. Norwich Market's striped huts even inspired set and costume designs for the 2024 Theatre Royal panto. Out in the county, the Thursford Christmas Spectacular has a 130-strong cast and is billed as the biggest of its kind in Europe. This is the setting families visit before the Peter Pan panto opens on 5 December 2026.

Joe Tracini's countdown and a snowball fight on 20 November

The 2025 switch-on was on Thursday 20 November. Entertainment started at 5:15pm and the lights went on at 7pm, with events at City Hall, Hay Hill and Norwich Market. Joe Tracini, star of the Theatre Royal panto Cinderella, led the countdown with cast members. Children could enjoy a snowball fight and Father Christmas on stage, and the market stayed open late. The lights ran on renewable energy, and calm and quiet spaces were set up near the show. A family-friendly Christmas Crown Trail, organised by VisitNorwich, ran until 5 January. The Festive Lights Switch-on returns on Thursday 19 November 2026.

Delia Smith, Molly Piecrust and a panto set on the Verge

The Theatre Royal's 2024 panto was Aladdin, set in Norwich 'on the Verge', and it ran from 7 December 2024 to 5 January 2025. Its villain's stately home was inspired by places like Holkham Hall and Blickling Estate, and the hunt for the lamp led through Thetford Forest to Grimes Graves. Raised in Cromer, Owen Evans played Widow Molly Piecrust. Delia Smith voiced the Great Spirit of Norwich, a nod to her role with Norwich City Football Club. The set also borrowed from the market squares of North Walsham, Aylsham and Wymondham.

Traditions today

  • Peter Pan at the Theatre Royal: The All New Adventures of Peter Pan runs from Saturday 5 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, with tickets from £10.
  • Festive Lights Switch-on: A free evening in the city centre on Thursday 19 November 2026, from 5:30pm to 7pm, with live acts and a countdown.
  • Christkindl Market: Chapelfield Gardens becomes a winter village from 11 to 20 December 2026, open daily 10am to 9pm, with more than 80 stalls and activities.
  • Norfolk-flavoured panto: The Theatre Royal writes its pantos around local places, from Norwich Market to Thetford Forest and stately homes.
  • Christmas Crown Trail: A family trail run by VisitNorwich ran until 5 January in the 2025 season, with crowns hidden in shop windows and a prize draw for treats from Norwich Castle.

A fact for kids

In the 2024 Norwich panto, the Great Spirit of Norwich was voiced by Delia Smith, and the set copied the striped huts of Norwich Market.

Questions about Christmas in Norwich

When is the Norwich Festive Lights Switch-on in 2026?

The Festive Lights Switch-on is on Thursday 19 November 2026, from 5:30pm to 7pm in Norwich city centre. It is free and described as family-friendly. The council says the full programme, timings and accessibility details will be published closer to the date.

What time did the Norwich lights go on in 2025?

In 2025 the switch-on was on Thursday 20 November. Entertainment started at 5:15pm and the lights went on at 7pm. Events were held at City Hall, Hay Hill and Norwich Market, with lights across the city centre. Joe Tracini from the Theatre Royal panto led the countdown.

Who switched on the Norwich lights in 2025?

Joe Tracini, star of the Norwich Theatre Royal panto Cinderella, led the 2025 switch-on with fellow cast members. Local acts included Triple Threat Theatre, Darby, Norfolk African Choir and ARTS East, and Hellesdon Brass Band played at the late-night market opening on the same evening.

Which panto is on at Norwich Theatre Royal in 2026?

The All New Adventures of Peter Pan runs at Norwich Theatre Royal from Saturday 5 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027. Shows include Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, but there is no performance on Christmas Day itself. The theatre is on Theatre Street, and shows run through December and into January 2027.

How much are Norwich Theatre Royal panto tickets in 2026?

The theatre advertises Peter Pan from £10. Individual performances are priced from about £29.68 to £43.46, depending on the date, and under 18s get £5 off Bands A to D. The theatre's page shows the price for each performance, so check your chosen date before you book your family seats.

Does the Norwich panto have sensory adapted shows in 2026?

Yes. Peter Pan has sensory adapted shows on Thursday 17 December at 1pm and Tuesday 29 December at 6pm. There are also BSL interpreted and captioned shows on 17 December at 6pm and 28 December at 1pm, and audio described shows on 22 and 30 December.

Is the Norwich Theatre Royal panto right for toddlers?

There is no general age guide for Peter Pan, and only one show, Wednesday 16 December at 7:30pm, is marked as an over 15s performance. For under 5s, the sensory adapted shows may suit best, so ask the box office about your child.

Which story did the 2024 Norwich panto tell?

Aladdin was set in Norwich 'on the Verge' and ran from 7 December 2024 to 5 January 2025. The villain lived in a Norfolk stately home, and the hunt for the lamp led through Thetford Forest to the flint mines at Grimes Graves. Places such as Holkham Hall and Blickling Estate inspired the stately homes in the story.

Who voiced the Great Spirit of Norwich in the 2024 panto?

Delia Smith voiced the Great Spirit of Norwich in Aladdin at the Theatre Royal, a nod to her role with Norwich City Football Club. The show ran at Norwich Theatre Royal. Owen Evans, raised in Cromer, played Widow Molly Piecrust in the same show.

How did Norwich Market end up in a panto?

The 2024 Aladdin set drew on Norwich Market, and costume designer Kirsteen Wythe based some designs on the market's striped huts. The set also borrowed from the market squares of North Walsham, Aylsham and Wymondham, so local families could spot familiar Norfolk places on stage.

Is there a Christmas market in Norwich in 2026?

Yes. The Christkindl Market fills Chapelfield Gardens from Friday 11 to Sunday 20 December 2026, open daily from 10am to 9pm. It is German-inspired, with more than 80 stalls and activities for all ages. Check the market's own website before you go.

What was the Christmas Crown Trail in Norwich?

It was a family-friendly trail run by VisitNorwich, part of Norwich BID, until 5 January in the 2025 season. Families hunted for crowns hidden in shop windows, solved a festive puzzle and could enter a prize draw for treats from Norwich Castle.

What can kids do at the Norwich lights switch-on besides watching the countdown?

At the 2025 switch-on, children could join a snowball fight and see Father Christmas on stage, and a Grinch character visited. The late-night market opening also had a DJ set under the Canopy of Light on Hay Hill, plus food and drink.

Can everyone see the Norwich lights switch-on, accessibility included?

In 2025 the council, which holds bronze accessibility accreditation, offered an accessible viewing area that could be booked in advance, plus calm and quiet spaces close to the event. Accessibility details for 2026 will be published nearer the day.

Are the Norwich Christmas lights green?

The council said the 2025 lights were powered by renewable energy. That is the only detail it gave about the power supply. It did not publish the number of lights or their cost. The same news release says the lights are spread across the city centre, with the main show at City Hall, Hay Hill and Norwich Market.

What is Elm Hill and why do Norwich families visit at Christmas?

Visit Norwich describes Elm Hill as Norwich's most complete medieval street. The street was also used as a filming location for a Netflix Christmas film. Norwich has five Park and Ride sites, which helps when the centre is busy with Christmas shoppers.

Where can children meet Father Christmas around Norwich?

Visit Norwich's Christmas guide names Thursford's Santa's Magical Journey, the North Norfolk Pole at Pensthorpe and ROARR's Father Christmas Experience as places to meet him. Dates and prices change each year, so check each host before you set off, and book ahead where the host asks you to.

What is the Thursford Christmas Spectacular?

It is a Norfolk Christmas show with a 130-strong cast, described by Visit Norwich as the biggest of its kind in Europe. Visit Norwich lists it among the county's big seasonal shows for families, so look up the current run dates and ticket prices with the host before you plan a trip out there.

Is anything on for Norwich families on Christmas Day?

Visit Norwich's guide lists no Christmas Day activities, only Christmas Eve opening hours for John Lewis (9am to 5pm) and Jarrolds (9am to 4:30pm). The Peter Pan panto has no show on 25 December, so plan your day at home or check each venue first.

After the lights and the Christkindl Market, where else can Norwich kids go?

Begin with the free Festive Lights Switch-on on 19 November, then the Christkindl Market in Chapelfield Gardens from 11 to 20 December. This page lists dates, prices and venues for 2026 so you can fit them around Peter Pan.

Sources

  1. Festive Lights Switch-on, Norwich City Council
  2. The All New Adventures of Peter Pan Pantomime 2026, Norwich Theatre
  3. Norwich's festive plans unwrapped, Norwich City Council
  4. A very Norfolk panto, Norwich Theatre
  5. All You Need to Know About Christmas in Norwich, Visit Norwich
  6. Christkindl Market, Norwich City Council
Kelsey Cecil
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