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Christmas lights switch-ons across Merseyside 2026

Every Christmas lights switch-on with a confirmed 2026 date, from Southport this Saturday to Ormskirk on 22 November, with event times, when the lights go on and which suit younger children. Towns still to announce are listed with last year's date as a guide.

By FamDays · Checked 5 November 2026An afternoon or eveningAll ages, with early ones for little ones

Christmas lights strung above the street outside the Bluecoat in Liverpool at night
Photo: Bikeboy via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

When are the Christmas lights switched on in Merseyside in 2026?

Eight switch-ons have confirmed dates so far. Liverpool ONE's lights are on from Friday 6 November, Southport's switch-on at The Grand is on Saturday 7 November, and the rest follow through November: Huyton, Prescot, Skelmersdale, Formby, Kirkby and Ormskirk. Every one listed is free to attend.

We only list dates and times published by the council, the organiser or a named news report. Where a town has not announced yet, it says to be confirmed, with last year's date as a rough guide. We update this page as new dates are announced, so check back, and always check the organiser's own page on the day for weather changes and road closures.

At a glance

  • Friday 6 November, Liverpool ONE: lights on from today, with no ceremony.
  • Saturday 7 November, Southport, The Grand on Lord Street: free entertainment from 4pm, then the lights go on with Father Christmas.
  • Friday 13 November, Huyton village centre: 3pm to 7pm.
  • Saturday 14 November, Prescot town centre: 3pm to 7pm.
  • Sunday 15 November, Skelmersdale: stalls and rides in the day, lights on at 5pm.
  • Thursday 19 November, Formby, Chapel Lane: 3pm to 8pm, lights on at 7pm.
  • Friday 20 November, Kirkby town centre: 4.30pm to 7.30pm.
  • Sunday 22 November, Ormskirk: stalls and rides in the day, lights on at 5pm.

Still to be announced: Liverpool city centre (the Church Street tree), St Helens, Earlestown, Crosby, Maghull, Bootle, Moreton, West Kirby, Heswall and Birkenhead.

Liverpool

Liverpool ONE: lights on from Friday 6 November

There is no big countdown here; the decorations simply go live. The headline this year is a new 30 metre Christmas tree at Paradise Place that you can walk through, plus light canopies over Peter's Lane and Keys Court and a giant suspended bauble at Peter's Square. The bauble arch, reindeer and angel wings are back too.

Good for: a festive wander any day from 6 November. Pair it with the free Liverpool ONE Christmas Toy Parade on Saturday 14 November, and see our Liverpool ONE with kids guide for what else is there.

City centre and the Church Street tree: to be confirmed

The city centre lights and the 50ft Church Street tree have not had a 2026 date announced yet. Last year the tree was lit on 20 November, with a tree blessing, a confetti cannon and a school choir between 4.30pm and 5pm. A short, early ceremony like that suits younger children well.

Sefton

Southport: Saturday 7 November, The Grand on Lord Street

Southport goes first. The Grand's free afternoon starts at 4pm, with live music, a comedian, a Christmas choir, children's entertainment, a Christmas show, Father Christmas and his elves, Christmas food huts and face painting, all building up to the moment The Grand lights up for Christmas. The exact switch-on time has not been published, so arrive for 4pm to see it all.

Good for: all ages, and an early start for little ones. The Grand's restaurant takes bookings for lunch and afternoon tea if you want to make a day of it.

This is The Grand's own switch-on. The town's bigger Christmas Spectacular, run by Southport BID, is a separate free event on Saturday 14 November, 11am to 4pm, with Paddington, Buzz Lightyear and Santa's sleigh. It is on our What's on page.

Formby: Thursday 19 November, Chapel Lane

Run by Formby Parish Council. Fairground rides and stalls start at 3pm, live entertainment on the stage from 4pm, and the big switch-on is at 7pm. The event finishes at 8pm.

Good for: families who can stay late. Chapel Lane is usually closed to traffic for the evening, so expect road closures in the village; full details are due nearer the time.

Crosby, Maghull and Bootle: to be confirmed

No 2026 dates yet. Last year Crosby Village switched on on Friday 28 November, 3pm to 7pm, with local performers.

Knowsley

Knowsley runs three separate switch-ons across eight days, all in the late afternoon, which makes them some of the easiest for younger children.

  • Huyton: Friday 13 November, village centre, 3pm to 7pm.
  • Prescot: Saturday 14 November, town centre, 3pm to 7pm.
  • Kirkby: Friday 20 November, town centre, 4.30pm to 7.30pm.

The exact switch-on times and entertainment have not been published yet. Prescot falls on the same day as the Liverpool ONE Toy Parade and Southport's Christmas Spectacular, so it is a busy Saturday for festive plans.

Just over the border: Skelmersdale and Ormskirk

West Lancashire Council runs two switch-ons a week apart, both with street performers, charity stalls, fairground rides and artisan market stalls earlier in the day.

  • Skelmersdale: Sunday 15 November, lights on at 5pm.
  • Ormskirk: Sunday 22 November, lights on at 5pm under the Clock Tower.

Good for: a Sunday afternoon out, with the switch-on early enough for a normal bedtime. Last year Ormskirk ran from 11am, so it is worth arriving well before the lights.

Wirral and St Helens: dates still to come

None of these has announced a 2026 date yet. Last year's dates give a rough idea of when to expect them.

  • St Helens, Church Square: last year on Saturday 29 November, 10am to 6pm, with a market, funfair, street performers and the switch-on with Father Christmas at about 4.45pm.
  • Earlestown: last year on Saturday 6 December, 10am to 6pm, with a Christmas market and the switch-on.
  • Moreton, by the Moreton Cross roundabout: last year on Saturday 15 November, with a Christmas market and live music, and lights on at 5.15pm.
  • West Kirby, the Concourse: late November last year, with rides, stalls, a school choir and Santa, run by volunteers.
  • Heswall, outside Heswall Hall: late November last year, run by the Light Up Heswall volunteers.

Birkenhead has not published anything yet either. As soon as any of these confirm, we will add them above.

Switch-on night with kids: what helps

  • Go for the early ones with little ones. Huyton, Prescot and the Sunday 5pm switch-ons in Skelmersdale and Ormskirk all finish by 7pm. Formby's 7pm countdown suits older children better.
  • Arrive an hour before the lights. The best spots by the stage go early, and most of the fun, from rides and stalls to Santa, happens beforehand.
  • Budget for the extras. The switch-ons are free, but fairground rides, food and Santa visits usually cost money. Bring some cash for smaller stalls.
  • Plan for road closures. Town centres often close streets for the evening, so check the council's page for parking, or go by train or bus.
  • Dress for standing still. You will spend a lot of time waiting in the cold, so pack hats, gloves and a flask.
  • Agree a meeting point. Crowds peak at the countdown, so pick a landmark in case anyone gets separated.

Where these dates come from

Formby Parish Council, Liverpool ONE, The Grand's own announcement and Stand Up For Southport for Southport, and a BBC report on North West switch-ons for Huyton, Prescot, Kirkby, Skelmersdale and Ormskirk. Last year's dates come from St Helens Council and LiverpoolWorld.

The FamDays verdict

For little ones, pick an early afternoon switch-on in Huyton, Prescot or one of the Sunday 5pm ones in West Lancashire. For a big night out with older children, Formby's 7pm countdown on Chapel Lane is the one to wait up for.

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Questions parents ask

When are Liverpool's Christmas lights switched on in 2026?

Liverpool ONE's lights are on from Friday 6 November, with a new 30 metre walk-through tree at Paradise Place. The city centre lights and the Church Street tree have not had a 2026 date announced yet; last year the tree was lit on 20 November between 4.30pm and 5pm.

Which Christmas lights switch-ons are best for toddlers?

The early ones. Huyton and Prescot run from 3pm to 7pm, and Skelmersdale and Ormskirk switch on at 5pm on a Sunday, all early enough for a normal bedtime. Southport's switch-on at The Grand has free children's entertainment, face painting and Father Christmas from 4pm.

Are Christmas lights switch-ons free?

Yes, every switch-on in this guide is free to attend. Fairground rides, food stalls and Santa visits at the events usually cost money, so bring some cash for smaller stalls.

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Local parent insider tips

Before you set off

  • Book the big ones, turn up to the small onesThe safari park, the big soft plays and anything with a timed entry sell out in school holidays. Parks, beaches, most museums and the libraries never do. Every card says whether you need to book.
  • Go early or go lateMost paid attractions are quietest in the first hour and the last two. Free museums in the city centre are busiest between 11 and 2 on a wet Saturday.
  • Train beats car for the coast and the centreMerseyrail stops next to the beach at Crosby, Freshfield and Southport, and under the museums at Liverpool Central. Under 5s travel free and a Saveaway covers the day after 9.30 on weekdays and all day at weekends.
  • How we checkEvery listing is rechecked against the venue's own website every week, and each card shows the date it was last confirmed. If something has changed since, the Tell us link on every page reaches a person who fixes it.

Prices and hours in this guide come from each venue's own website on the day we checked them, and the cards above update every morning. Always check with the venue before you set off.