Four weekends, one town centre, and a lot of glitter. Christmas in Weymouth starts on Saturday 28th November with an Elf World Record attempt and the Christmas Lights Switch On, and runs right up to Santa’s visit on 19th and 20th December.
In between, steampunks, pirates and faeries take over for the Yuletide Weekend, and Hope Square hosts a Traditional Christmas Weekend in aid of Weymouth Foodbank. You’ll find parades, live music, markets, workshops and Santa visits from New Bond Street and the Esplanade to Hope Square and the harbourside. Our shops, pubs, cafés and charities are joining in all the way through, so make a day of it.
Elf World Record and Christmas Lights Switch On
Saturday 28th November
Weymouth is going for the Elf World Record again, and we want to be the elf capital of the UK. Here’s how the day runs:
- 9am to 4pm: workshops with face-painting and Christmas crafts. No outfit? Pick up hats and ears here.
- 11am to 1pm: register at Weymouth Pavilion to get your wristband and be counted.
- 1pm: the big elf photo and filming.
- 1.15pm to 2pm: Dorset’s Largest Elf Parade sings its way through the streets, led by a marching band and Santa in his sleigh.
- 1pm to 5pm: the main stage on New Bond Street hosts naughty elves, the Panto cast, local choirs, dance groups, bands, street performers, stilt walkers and buskers.
- 5pm: the Mayor, the winner of the Primary Times competition and the Panto cast switch on the town’s Christmas lights, trees and Christmas Elf. Stay for a sing-along with The Hooked.
Some pubs and bars are hosting Elf parties after the Switch On, so the night doesn’t have to end there.
Weymouth Yuletide Weekend
Friday 4th December, 7.30pm to Sunday 6th December, 4pm
All crews. All worlds. Steampunks, pirates, elves, faeries and sci-fi fans bring the magical and the mechanical back to Weymouth for Christmas with a fantasy twist.
Friday night opens with a Steampunk Cabaret of fire, burlesque and more, led by Ana Defuego. On Saturday and Sunday, traders and unusual acts fill the town from 10am to 4pm. Weymouth College students show off their steampunk fashion, and there are two make-your-own workshops in the town centre.
At 4pm on Saturday, a promenade sets off from the Carousel and finishes at the town’s Christmas tree.
Across the weekend you’ll hear music, poetry and history from the Wight Hot Pipes, The Dolmen, The Lady Garden Ensemble, Dukebox, Ana Defuego, Major Blunder and The Antipoet, with the nationally acclaimed Professor Elemental appearing all weekend. Cheese rolling and tea-duelling are back too.
Traditional Christmas Weekend, Hope Square
Saturday 12th December, 11am to Sunday 13th December, 8pm
For something more classic, head to Hope Square. Sticks and Bones hosts an artisan market of local crafters and artists, there’s a fully working Bavarian bar, and Pascals, The Red Lion, Sticks and Bones, Nosh, The Old Rooms and By the Quay are serving mulled wine, mince pies and warming dishes.
There’s traditional dancing and live music on both days. The Rock Choir sings at 4pm on Saturday, and the Salvation Army leads carols at 4pm on Sunday. St Mary’s Church hosts a live Nativity and Christmas crafts from 12pm to 3pm on Saturday (don’t forget a selfie by the stable).
The whole weekend is in aid of Weymouth Foodbank.
Santa Weekend
Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th December
All aboard the brand-new Elf Express, a ride with the Christmas elves full of lights, music and laughter. Board at Hope Square or on the Esplanade opposite the Black Dog. It runs on Saturday only, from 10am to 4pm, and proceeds go to the Will Mackaness Trust.
Santa letter writing runs all day, and Santa pops up around town. Later there’s a light trail, gingerbread houses and marshmallows, with Santa arriving at Sea Life between 4pm and 8pm.
Chase the Pudding
Sunday 20th December
Pull on a Santa suit and chase that pudding 5km from Weymouth Pavilion to the stone groyne at Greenhill. Under-16s can take on Chase the Elf, a 2km run from the Pavilion end of the beach to the Pier Bandstand and back. Both raise money for the Will Mackaness Trust.
More festive fun in town
Keep an eye on the shop windows. Businesses are competing in the Christmas Sparkle competition to be crowned the best-dressed sparkling Christmas window.
There’s live music in pubs and bars across town every weekend. Weymouth Pavilion’s panto this year is Cinderella, running from Saturday 19th December 2026 to Saturday 2nd January 2027. Get your panto tickets here.
Dawn Rondeau-Irvine, Chief Operations Officer at We Are Weymouth, said: “Christmas in Weymouth runs right through December and every year it gets bigger and better. You can be an elf one week and a steampunk the next, then pick up handmade presents in Hope Square or bring the kids to meet Santa. It’s about bringing people into the town centre and supporting the businesses that make it what it is, but it’s also about showing the spirit of Weymouth. Look what we achieve when we all come together, it’s truly spectacular.
“A huge thank you to everyone getting involved, from the businesses dressing their windows to the performers, volunteers and charities. Come down, shop local and make a day of it.”
For the latest updates, follow We Are Weymouth on Facebook. We’ll see you in town.
