Christmas celebrations are returning to South Swindon this November and December, with a packed programme of free family events, festive entertainment, Christmas tree light switch-ons and two weekends of activities in the Town Gardens.
South Swindon Parish Council has confirmed the return of its popular Christmas in South Swindon programme for 2026, following a successful series of events last year.
Residents can look forward to visits from Father Christmas, live music, festive food, children’s activities and a new interactive storytelling trail through the Town Gardens.
Most activities will be completely free, although a small charge will apply to two special children’s experiences.
Three Christmas Tree Light Switch-Ons Across South Swindon
The celebrations will begin with three community Christmas tree light switch-ons taking place over consecutive evenings in November.
Each event will run from 5pm until 7pm, with the Christmas lights being switched on at 6.15pm.
The dates and locations are:
Tuesday 17 November: Broadgreen Community Centre
Wednesday 18 November: Cavendish Square
Thursday 19 November: Badbury Park Community Centre
All three evenings will feature family entertainment, live music, food and drink, with Father Christmas also making an appearance.
Performers will include Rhythmix Goa, Sizzling Stars of Swindon and Emma Doupé, alongside other local entertainers.
Entry and the general activities will be free, while visitors attending the Broadgreen event will also be treated to complimentary samosas and hot drinks.
Santa Story Time Returns to Badbury Park
Families attending the Badbury Park switch-on will have the opportunity to book a place at the returning Santa Story Time experience.
Three sessions have been arranged to cater for different age groups:
5.10pm: Children aged 0–3
5.45pm: Children aged 4–6
6.30pm: Children aged 7 and over
Tickets cost £2 per child and can be booked through the South Swindon Parish Council ticketing website.
Christmas in the Town Gardens Returns for Two Weekends
Following the November light switch-ons, the festive celebrations will move to Swindon’s Town Gardens in December.
Christmas in the Town Gardens will take place across two weekends:
Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December
Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 December
The events will run from 12pm until 4pm each day, with free admission and a variety of entertainment planned throughout the afternoons.
Visitors can expect live music, children’s crafts, festive characters, food stalls and fairground attractions, all set within one of Swindon’s best-known parks.
This year’s programme will also introduce two interactive experiences aimed at younger visitors.
New Storytelling Trail Brings the Town Gardens to Life
One of the new additions for 2026 is Written in the Trees, an immersive sculpture trail and storytelling experience.
The attraction will explore the stories, folklore and cultural connections associated with the trees growing throughout the Town Gardens.
Children will be invited to discover more about Swindon’s history and identity, meeting characters along the way as interactive performers bring the stories to life.
The project has been developed in partnership with Swindon Culture Collective, children’s author Kate Claxton and Prime Theatre.
It promises to offer something a little different from the usual Christmas activities, making use of the park’s natural surroundings to tell stories about the town and its heritage.
Mrs Claus Brings Festive Fun to the Bowl
Another new experience will be Mrs Claus’ Checklist, an interactive performance taking place at the Town Gardens Bowl twice each day.
Children will be able to get involved in festive activities, including decorating Christmas cookies and making reindeer food to take home.
Tickets will cost £2 per child, with bookings available through the Parish Council’s ticketing website.
Live Music, Fairground Rides and Festive Food
The Town Gardens Bandstand will once again provide a setting for live performances from local musicians and community groups.
Among those taking part will be Swindon Hindu Temple, Rhythmix Goa, Swindon Brass and Wroughton Silver Band.
Elsewhere in the gardens, families will be able to enjoy a bubble artist, stilt walkers, circus skills and fairground rides.
Father Christmas will also be making appearances throughout the events.
For those looking for something to eat or drink, a selection of food vendors will be on site, while Fandangos will operate a fully stocked licensed bar.
Although entry to the gardens and much of the entertainment will be free, visitors should expect to pay for food, drinks and any separately charged attractions.
Free Parking Available
South Swindon Parish Council has also confirmed that free parking will be available for visitors attending Christmas in the Town Gardens.
Commonweal School will be opening its car park for the events, helping families travelling from other parts of Swindon to attend without having to pay for parking.
Building on Last Year’s Success
The Christmas programme follows a successful series of events in 2025, which attracted hundreds of residents to community celebrations across South Swindon.
John Firmin, Chair of South Swindon Parish Council’s Events Working Party, said the council was looking forward to bringing the festivities back for another year.
He revealed that more than 400 people attended last year’s Badbury Park Christmas tree light switch-on, while the Town Gardens events also proved popular with families.
This year, the council hopes to build on that response with additional interactive attractions and an expanded programme.
Firmin said the events play an important role in bringing local communities together, while also providing opportunities for local performers, organisations and food businesses to get involved.
A Festive Season for the Whole Family
With Christmas tree light switch-ons taking place in November and two weekends of entertainment planned for December, there will be several opportunities for Swindon families to enjoy the festive season without spending a fortune.
From meeting Father Christmas and listening to local bands to exploring a new storytelling trail through the Town Gardens, the programme offers a mixture of familiar favourites and new activities.
Christmas in South Swindon 2026 – Key Details
Christmas Tree Light Switch-Ons: 17–19 November, 5pm–7pm, with lights switched on at 6.15pm.
Christmas in the Town Gardens: 12–13 and 19–20 December, 12pm–4pm daily.
Admission: Free, with selected ticketed activities costing £2.
Parking: Free parking at Commonweal School for the Town Gardens events.
For full event details, visit the South Swindon Parish Council events website and search for Christmas.
