Christmas in Dawlish 2025

‘Christmas in Dawlish’ - an exciting two-day community event filled with festive cheer is coming to Dawlish Town Centre later this month!

Organised by Dawlish Town Council in partnership with Dawlish Chamber of Trade - a wonderful programme of Christmas events has been arranged to kick start the festive season in Dawlish on Saturday 29th November and Sunday 30th November 2025.  

From 10am on Saturday 29th November, festivities will begin with a full day programme of Live Music performed mostly inside businesses around the town centre, showcasing local talent, whilst revellers enjoy some Christmas shopping in our wonderful Independent Shops.

Also at 10am, The Strand Centre will be opening their doors to an inside Christmas Fair where we hear Father Christmas may be making a visit, alongside stalls, crafts and a Tombola.

This year sees the introduction of the ‘Dawlish Celebration Wall’ where members of the community can purchase a clear fillable bauble from Presents of Dawlish, The Strand Centre and Crafters, to fill with a special wish or message to a loved one and hang it on the railings of The Bowling Green. For every bauble sold 50p will be donated to the Dawlish Mayoral Charities of 2025/26. 

At 12 noon, the main market will open along The Strand, offering shoppers the opportunity to purchase gifts and treats from local suppliers and charities whilst soaking up the atmosphere with a lovely warm mulled wine and perhaps a mince pie too.   

Throughout the day on Saturday there will be free family entertainment on offer including face painting, surprise festive performance artists and a choral performance from a local Teignbridge school.  

As nightfall sets in around Dawlish, the magical Christmas Lights Switch On segment of the programme begins at 4.30pm with a delightful Lantern Parade led by the Dawlish Town Crier and his wonderful Consort, The Mayor, dignitaries, and local people displaying their colourful lanterns, a live nativity hauled by a festively decorated tractor and trailer, and finally Father Christmas, who will be arriving not by a sleigh, but by a vintage Bedford Delivery Van owned by Gay’s Creamery, who are celebrating their 100th anniversary of trading in Dawlish this year.   

Anyone wishing to join the Lantern Parade are very welcome to do so, please bring your lantern to The Bowling Clubhouse for 4.15pm. 

The crowd will gather in front of the Bowling Green just before 5pm to celebrate the switching on of the Christmas Lights; this year the display will be different to usual we don’t want to give too much away but we think it will be a pretty ‘sweet’ spectacle, with snow gingerly expected in the forecast!

Following the light-switch on, a brass band will begin to accompany a large group Christmas Carol Sing-along, probably the biggest that Dawlish has seen in recent years, whilst we bask in the glow of the festive lights twinkling around the town centre.

The Christmas Market and late night shopping will continue into Saturday evening until 7pm, with further live musical performances taking place along The Strand.   

On Sunday 30th November, the Christmas Market opens with a bang at 10am with an exhilarating performance from the newly formed and highly talented Dawlish Town Band – a performance not to be missed!

Traders will line the Strand alongside our fantastic Independent Businesses around the town centre, providing an excellent opportunity to start ticking off items on your Christmas Shopping list. With lots of unique and local products, gifts, clothing, footwear and crafts available, Dawlish is a fantastic place to buy special presents for your loved ones.  

Throughout the day there will be even more festive entertainment to get the whole family in the festive spirit, with a very special opportunity for little ones to chat with Father Christmas in his magical grotto, at no cost.

Across The Brook from 10am-4pm, Annie’s The Salon will be hosting their ‘Winter’s Elegance Charity Bazaar’ where there will be further festive stalls, special treatments, hair tinsel, festive food and drink, toasted marshmallows in the garden and more!  

Local artists performing throughout the weekend are: Monday’s Chyld, Poppy Eliza, Mark Wallington, Frank O’Friel, Steve Jackson & Des, Fireside Rebellion, 2STRANGE, Wrecked Again, and Jamie Cottrell, Elle Chappelle, Dawlish Rockwaves, Crazy Foot Tappers, Sisu, Bob Barclay, Trinity Prep School Choir, Bay Brass and Dawlish Town Band.

Mayor of Dawlish, Cllr Anthony James, said:  "This year's lead up to Christmas celebrations, have got to be the best yet. Both the Traders and the Town Council have been working together for months to bring to you something new and exciting. Only having half the lawn has not dithered those organising this year, it's a challenge they have embraced. Come and join us in the town at our two-day market, the switching on of the lights, live music and of course having a fantastic choice of products in our independent shops".

Neil Salter, Chairman of Dawlish Chamber of Trade, said: "I’m very excited about having one of the biggest Christmas celebrations Dawlish has seen in a long time. We’ve got two fantastic days of Christmas markets, music, and festive fun — something for all the family to enjoy and a wonderful boost for our local shops and community."

The two day event ends on Sunday 30th November at 4pm, however there is plenty of wonderful festive events taking place in Dawlish throughout December including the ‘St Gregory’s Church Christmas Tree Festival’ from 10th – 21stDecember, ‘EAT Festival Christmas’ on The Strand and the Lawn on Saturday 13th December and Cofton Holiday’s ‘Enchanting Santa’s Grotto Experience’ from 5th – 21st December.

Throughout November and December the community can enjoy fabulous town council funded annual Christmas light displays around the town, plus up to 98 lit up Christmas Trees above independent shops, eateries and Jubilee Bridge, courtesy of Dawlish Chamber of Trade and Commerce. 

A huge amount of voluntary effort from Chamber members and the local community goes into wrapping almost a hundred Christmas Trees with lights every year and so we hope to encourage more volunteers to come and join this fun festive group activity in mid-November, ahead of the ‘Christmas in Dawlish’ event. A very big thank you goes to SM Engineering for all the support they provide to the community event each year.

Do take some time over the next couple of months to admire the lovely Christmas window displays in each business, many of which are owned and run by local families and please shop local where possible this Christmas.

Visitors are encouraged to use public transport to access the town centre where possible over this popular event weekend. Additional parking is also available at Dawlish Warren, which is regularly served by buses and trains.

So... If you’re looking for a charming atmosphere and a unique shopping experience this winter, make sure you Discover Dawlish; it truly is the place to be for festive cheer this Christmas!