Lancaster Christmas Events & Things to Do 2025
Your complete guide to the best christmas events in Lancaster and surrounding areas
Lancaster celebrates the Christmas season with Holiday lights reflecting off Lancaster Castle and a lively calendar of holiday activities for visitors and families. From Handel's Messiah - With A Modern Twist to the Garstang Victorian Christmas Festival and Lancaster on Ice, festive events span the city and nearby market squares. Enjoy festive events, browse Christmas markets, take part in parades and winter festivals, and discover plenty of things to do amid historic streets and riverside walks.
Find the best Lancaster Christmas happenings this year!
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Christmas Parties
26 eventsLake District's hottest New Year's Eve party destination.
Christmas Markets
16 eventsAnnual Christmas Fair with parade, markets, and lights switch-on.
Christmas Lights
16 eventsSix miles of free, world-famous light displays.
Christmas Shows
9 eventsInnovative dramatization of Handel's Messiah with theatrical elements
Christmas Activities
32 eventsElf chaotic Christmas craft evening with take-home creations.
Editor's Picks (6)
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Blackpool Illuminations 2025
(Blackpool)
Six miles of free, world-famous light displays.
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East Lancashire Railway Santa Specials
(Bury)
Magical steam train journey with Santa Claus
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Christmas By The Sea
(Blackpool)
Festive village on Tower Festival Headland
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Ambleside Community Christmas Lights & Fireworks
(Ambleside)
Community-driven Christmas lights switch-on with fireworks and Santa cruises.
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BAHA Bowness New Year's Eve Party 2025
(Bowness on Windermere)
Lake District's hottest New Year's Eve party destination.
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Kirkby Lonsdale Christmas Fair
(Kirkby Lonsdale)
Annual Christmas Fair with parade, markets, and lights switch-on.
Events Happening Soon (6)
Lancaster Christmas Events Map
See every Christmas event, light display, and market on one map.
Also Near Lancaster
Lancaster Christmas FAQ
The Christmas Spirit Light Show, Lancaster Central Market holiday events, and the Mayor’s Tree Lighting are among the largest and most popular annual Christmas events in Lancaster.
Lancaster is known for its community-focused traditions like the Mayor’s Tree Lighting, local craft fairs, and festive events at historic venues such as Lancaster Central Market.
Many neighborhoods in Lancaster feature festive displays, with areas near Penn Medicine Park and historic districts often having the most elaborate light setups.
Lancaster Central Market, local event spaces, and pop-up markets at shopping districts are great places to find Christmas markets and local makers in Lancaster.
Free activities include neighborhood light displays, Christmas Tree Lane at Penn Medicine Park, and holiday events at Lancaster Central Market. Many parks also offer complimentary walking trails during the season.
Families with kids enjoy the Christmas Spirit Light Show, Santa visits at Penn Medicine Park, and interactive holiday events at Lancaster Central Market and local parks.