Image: Pixabay
Mark your calendars! It’s almost time to kick off the festive season in style, because Folkestone’s Christmas Lights Switch-On is happening on Saturday, November 22nd, 2025, and trust us, you won’t want to miss it!
Food, Fun, and Festivities Galore!
Forget your diet for the day because Guildhall Street is going to be packed with Christmas Food & Drink Stands from 9:00 am right up until 7:00 pm. Grab a tasty treat and soak up the atmosphere!
The main event action is all happening around the Town Hall from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm. We’re talking:
- The Town Mayor doing the official honours and hitting that switch!
- Live tunes to get you dancing, courtesy of the Jason Leigh Band.
- Special guests from the Leas Cliff Hall Pantomime Cast—oh yes, they are!
The Sparkly Parade!
The real highlight? It’s the magical Festive Light & Lantern Parade! It starts assembling at 2:30 pm outside the Clifton Hotel, and then at 3:00 pm, it sets off from Clifton Gardens and winds its way to the Town Hall, finishing around 3:45 pm.
Keep your eyes peeled for:
- Santa himself on his super-festive float!
- Local schools and dance groups showing off their moves.
- More Pantomime stars from Peter Pan.
- Your kids’ favourite animated film characters!
- …and loads more sparkle and festive cheer!
The whole thing is a free family event, and the Town Hall stage will be huge and covered—perfect for the estimated 6,000 people expected to turn up!
A Few Little Notes…
Just a heads-up that with all that fun happening around Clifton Gardens, Sandgate Road, the Town Centre Precinct, and Guildhall Street, there will be some temporary road closures and parking bay suspensions during the day. It’s all to keep everyone safe, but a team will be on hand to keep the disruption to a minimum!
The Town Council is super excited and wants everyone to get involved. If you’re a local business wanting to benefit from the massive crowds (maybe keep your doors open later!) or you want to sponsor, book a stand, or join the parade, they’d love to hear from you! Just get in touch with Vicky Deakin on 01303 257946 or email vicky.deakin@folkestone-tc.gov.uk.
TOWN CENTRE CHRISTMAS LIGHT SWITCH ON EVENT AND
FESTIVE LANTERN & LIGHT PARADE
SATURDAY 22nd NOVEMBER 2025
FOLKESTONE TOWN COUNCIL
Temporary Road Closures
16:00 Friday 21st November – 22:00 Saturday 22nd November 2025
Alexandra Gardens – precinct area
Rendezvous St/Guildhall St – precinct area
Sandgate Road – precinct area
Church Street (open vehicle gate)
Guildhall St – precinct area
Rendezvous Street (open vehicle gate)
West Cliff Gardens (remove traffic bollard)
Saturday 22nd November:
Sandgate Road/Clifton Gardens 14.30 – 15.30
Castle Hill Avenue/Sandgate Road 15.00 – 15.45
Manor Road/Sandgate Road w/bound 15.00 – 15.45
Shakespeare Terr/Sandgate Road w/bound 15.00 – 15.45
Cheriton Place/Sandgate Road 15.00 – 15.45
Cheriton Place/Sandgate Road 15.00 – 15.45
15 West Terrace 15.00 – 15.45
Bouverie Place 15.00 – 15.45
Albion Mews Road 15.00 – 15.45
All road closure points listed above will need to be implemented from 14:30hrs. The
temporary road closure times will vary according to the parade procession speed.
All roads will re-open as quickly as possible after the parade has passed and it has
been identified safe to do so.
The parade will be continuously and dynamically assessed as it makes its journey.
The security staff will be under instruction from the Head of Security and will hold or
delay the procession at any time if safety or security concerns are identified / raised.
PARKING BAY SUSPENSIONS SATURDAY 22nd NOVEMBER FROM 13:30 TO
16:00 HOURS:
CLIFTON GARDENS
Crowd Management – Town Centre
Security and stewards will be positioned within the precinct and key parade
procession points to monitor crowd density and will be a visual presence at all times.
On monitoring crowd size, security staff will communicate accordingly and provide
accessible routes to ensure shoppers can make their way through the precinct
safely.
FOLKESTONE CHRISTMAS 2025 LIGHTS SWITCH ON EVENT AT THE TOWN HALL
SATURDAY 22ND NOVEMBER 2025
ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME – RUNNING ORDER
1.00 – 1.10pm ST MARYS PRIMARY SCHOOL CHOIR (10 MINS)
1.15 – 1.35pm FRIENDS OF THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION COMMUNITY CHOIR (20 MINS)
1.45 – 1.55pm MOREHALL, MARTELLO & FOLKESTONE PRIMARY – TURNER SCHOOLS CHOIR (10 MINS)
2 – 2.15pm KM DANCE GROUP (15 MINS)
2.30pm FESTIVE PARADE MEMBERS ASSEMBLE OUTSIDE THE CLIFTON HOTEL AND PRE-PARADE FESTIVITIES
3.00pm FESTIVE PARADE PARTY DEPART FOR TOWN CENTRE PRECINCT
3.35pm FESTIVE PARADE ARRIVES AT THE TOWN HALL
3.40 – 3.45pm FOLKESTONE TWIRLSTARS – BATON TWIRLING & POM SHAKING PERFORMANCE TO FESTIVE SONGS (5 MINS)
3.50 – 4.10pm VICTORIA BASS VOCALIST (20 MINS)
4.15 – 4.25pm SPECIAL GUEST ‘Q & A’ SECTION WITH PETER PAN AND CAPTAIN HOOK FROM THE LEAS CLIFF HALL PANTOMIME CAST (10 MINS)
4.30 – 4.45pm FESTIVE DANCE PERFORMANCE – CHLOE SCOTT DANCE COMPANY (15 MINS)
4.50 – 4.55pm WORSHIPFUL TOWN MAYOR OF FOLKESTONE’S CHRISTMAS CARD COMPETITION – WINNERS PRESENTATIONS (5 MINS)
5.00 – 5.15pm FESTIVE DANCE PERFORMANCE – STUDIO SIX (15 MINS)
5.35 – 5.50pm FOLKESTONE ACADEMY BAND & SINGER (15 MINS)
6.10 – 6.50pm JASON LEIGH BAND (40 MINS)
6.55pm BIG SWITCH ON – TOWN MAYOR WITH FATHER CHRISTMAS, JASON LEIGH BAND AND LEAS CLIFF HALL PANTOMIME CAST
7.00pm TOWN CENTRE EVENT ENDS