Christmas lights switch-on launches enhanced festive fun for Leighton Buzzard
Leighton Buzzard’s popular Christmas Festival is being enhanced for 2026 with extra Saturdays of festive thrills being added to the mix.
The Christmas season will arrive in style with music, market treats and fireworks as Leighton Buzzard’s Christmas Lights Switch-On takes over the town centre on Friday 27 November. And that will be followed by four Saturdays of live music, street theatre and family activities to enjoy in the run-up to Christmas.
From 4pm on Friday 27 November, the town centre will be brought to life with entertainment for all the family. Browse the festive market, take a spin on the funfair, explore the Food Court or catch a local act on the stage. Keep an eye out for Santa, who’ll be making a special appearance with the Leighton Buzzard Rotary Club.
The stage entertainment will start with young performers from PQA Leighton Buzzard, followed by Infinite All Stars Cheerleading, Razzamataz and Leighton Buzzard Children’s Theatre, with The V.I.Peas building the excitement ahead of the big switch-on at 7pm, when the festive illuminations will light up the town centre and a fireworks display will mark the start of the Christmas season.
The entertainment continues with live music, community performances, street entertainers and free family activities, bringing festivities to shoppers in the town centre and market on Saturday 28 November and Saturdays 5, 12 and 19 December, from 10am to 3pm.
Saturday 28 November opens with the Heath Band playing carols, followed by local community choir Somewhere 2 Sing, with LSJ Duo taking to the stage in the afternoon. Throughout the day, Tinsel & Cracker will bring a playful dose of Christmas street theatre, while Happydashery hosts festive crafts for all.
Saturday 5 December brings a lively musical mix, with Leighton-Linslade Concert Band and The Rock Project performing in the morning, and Jazz the Two of Us taking to the stage in the afternoon. Angie’s Festival Funky Hooping brings colour and something different throughout the event, and Woodland Warriors invites younger visitors to get creative with activities inspired by nature.
Saturday 12 December starts with Top Brass bringing a lively take on festive favourites, followed by community choirs Rising Voices and Open Voices. The afternoon will be filled with swing favourites from Lou and Mack. Swank Christmas Party will pop up throughout the day to host their roaming Christmas party, and children can paint their own bath bomb or decorate a tote bag with PopFizz Bath Co.
Saturday 19 December rounds off the festive celebrations with music from the Bedfordshire Band of the Royal British Legion and Glee Club UK Leighton Buzzard in the morning, followed by UkieTooNes in the afternoon. Look out for the Celeb Reindeer, too, and seasonal arts and crafts from LB Art Society.
Free L Route bus travel within Leighton-Linslade will be available on each of the four festival Saturdays, in partnership with Central Bedfordshire Council and Centrebus. Check centrebus.info or download the Centrebus app for routes and schedules.
The festival is a chance to soak up the Christmas atmosphere, catch up with family and friends, and support the independent shops, cafés, restaurants and market traders that make Leighton Buzzard special.