Godalming lights go on at 5pm on Sunday 22 November, with BBC Radio Surrey's Mark Carter and choirs from 4pm. Market 28 November; road closure times.

Godalming’s Christmas lights go on at 5pm on Sunday 22 November 2026 at the Pepperpot, Church Street. As in 2025, the switch-on and the Christmas Festival Market are on different days: the market fills the High Street on Saturday 28 November, 10am to 4.30pm. Farncombe has its own market on 21 November and its own switch-on on 4 December. All four are on Godalming Town Council’s Christmas page, which lists the switch-on and the festival market as free.

The quick answer

  • Godalming lights switch-on: Sunday 22 November, 5pm, at the Pepperpot. Free.
  • Christmas Festival Market: Saturday 28 November, 10am to 4.30pm, High Street, Church Street and Crown Court, with a free Santa’s grotto.
  • Farncombe: market Saturday 21 November, 10am to 2.30pm; lights on Friday 4 December at 5pm.

Updated 28 October: the council has published the switch-on programme (entertainment 4pm to 5.30pm, BBC Radio Surrey’s Mark Carter on stage for the countdown) and the road closure times for both Godalming days.

Godalming Christmas Lights Switch-On, Sunday 22 November

The council invites everyone to the Pepperpot on Church Street, GU7 1DP. Its Christmas page, updated on 23 October, gives entertainment from 4pm to 5.30pm and the lights on at 5pm, and entry is free (Christmas Festival 2026).

  • On stage: the Godalming, Guildford and Farncombe Jazz Choir, Godalming Rock Choir, Godalming Band, and Godalming Theatre Group’s Panto Stars singing from their production of Jack and the Beanstalk.
  • The countdown: the Town Mayor, Cllr Tom Kiehl, Santa and the Panto Stars join BBC Radio Surrey’s Mark Carter on stage to count down to 5pm. The council asks people to stay on for festive singing afterwards.
  • The Round Table’s illuminated Santa sleigh will be in town.
  • Godalming Minster is open from 4pm to 6pm for Christmas crafts, light refreshments and a contemporary evening service.
  • Rock Choir concert: Godalming Rock Choir sings for the Shooting Star Hospice at the Wilfrid Noyce Centre from 6.30pm to 7.30pm. Tickets are free, with donations welcome, through the choir’s booking page.

Roads close from 3pm to 6pm for the switch-on, under closures agreed with Surrey County Council (Godalming Town Centre Road Closures).

Christmas Festival Market, Saturday 28 November

The festival market runs from 10am to 4.30pm along the High Street, Church Street and Crown Court (Christmas Festival 2026). The council promises:

  • Stalls selling crafts, decorations, jewellery, festive food and drink, and street food.
  • Entertainment at the Pepperpot, with the Moss Lane Infant School Choir named so far.
  • Children’s funfair rides.
  • A free Santa’s grotto with a gift in the Godalming Museum garden from 10am to 4pm, last entry 3.30pm, entered from the rear off South Street car park. Children can post a wish letter to Reindeer Land. There is face painting at the museum all day.
  • Free parking at Godalming College, by the college’s permission and subject to space.

The town centre roads close for the market from 7am to 7.30pm, the council’s road closure list says; it does not name the streets (Godalming Town Centre Road Closures). Other closures in the area are on our roadworks and travel page. For council car park charges across Waverley, see our parking page.

Farncombe Christmas Market, Saturday 21 November

Farncombe’s market is at the Farncombe station car park from 10am to 2.30pm, with stalls selling gifts, crafts, local honey, gin and rum, candles, baking and jewellery (Farncombe Christmas Market).

Farncombe Christmas Lights Switch-On, Friday 4 December

The switch-on is at the Farncombe Day Centre, St John’s Street. The fun starts at 4.30pm and the lights go on at 5pm, with entertainment, refreshments and a visit from the Round Table’s Santa and his sleigh (Farncombe Christmas Lights Switch-on).

Also in Godalming this season

  • Godalming Town Fireworks, Friday 6 November, at Guildford Rugby Club on Guildford Road. Gates open 6.30pm, fireworks at 8pm. Family ticket (two adults, two children) £25, adult £11, under 16 £6 with an adult. On-site parking is limited and costs £7 (Godalming Town Council events).
  • Remembrance Sunday, 8 November, at the Phillips Memorial Ground from 10.30am (event listing).
  • Beauty and the Beast, the Borough Hall pantomime, 12 to 27 December: times and prices on our Godalming pantomime page.

Farnham’s own switch-on is a week earlier, on Saturday 14 November: see Farnham Christmas lights. Every Santa visit in the area, including the Round Table sleigh’s Farnham routes, is on our Santa in Farnham page.

Still to be confirmed

  • Which streets the closures cover. The council lists the times only.

We will check the council’s Christmas page again in November and update this page.