Dartford's lights go on at 5.15pm on 14 November, Santa's House is nearly sold out and Cinderella opens on 12 December. Updated November 2026.

Dartford’s Christmas starts with the Big Christmas Switch On at 5.15pm on Saturday 14 November 2026, and this page holds every date for the season in one place, from Santa and the carol concert to the bin and train changes. Three things to know first:

  • The lights go on at 5.15pm on Saturday 14 November in Brewery Square, off Market Street. It is free, the stage starts at 1.55pm with the Cinderella cast at 4.35pm, and a market runs on the High Street until 8pm. (Dartford Borough Council)
  • Santa’s House is almost sold out. On 11 November the council’s booking form had eight £5 sessions left, all on 28 and 29 November. Santa’s fire engine tour in December is free and needs no ticket.
  • Cinderella reopens the Orchard Theatre on Saturday 12 December, with Joe Pasquale, and runs to 3 January. Seats start at £21.50 and the theatre has it marked “Selling fast”. (Trafalgar Tickets)

The dates, in order

Every date below was checked on 11 November 2026 against the organiser’s own page.

Date What Where Cost
Saturday 14 November Big Christmas Switch On, lights at 5.15pm Brewery Square and the High Street Free
Weekends to 29 November, then daily from 5 December Winterland funfair Bluewater £3 entry
Saturday 28 November to 19 December, weekends Santa’s House Acacia, High Street £5 a child
28 November to 24 December, selected dates Santa’s Grotto The Green, Bluewater £12 a child
6, 13, 15, 20 and 21 December Santa on Tour, 19 stops on a fire engine Across the borough Free
Wednesday 9 December, 6.30pm Carol Concert Central Park Outdoor Theatre Free
Saturday 12 December to Sunday 3 January Cinderella Orchard Theatre From £21.50
Friday 25 December No trains; bin rounds move from this day Borough-wide

Sources: council events, Winterland Bluewater, Trafalgar Tickets.

See

  • Dartford Christmas lights switch-on: the full stage running order for Saturday 14 November, the road closures from 10am to 6pm and the parking suspension from 10pm on the Friday.
  • Dartford carol concert: Wednesday 9 December, 6.30pm to 7.30pm, in the Central Park Outdoor Theatre, with Dartford Concert Band, Tilly Pantlin and Fleet2 Signing Choir, and free hot chocolate. On 11 November the council had not said whether a free ticket is needed this year.
  • Dartford pantomime: all 38 performances of Cinderella with the cheapest seat at each, the concession trap, and the relaxed, chilled, audio described and signed shows.

Do

  • Santa in Dartford: what is left at Santa’s House, all 19 Santa on Tour stops with times, and three bookable grottos for December: Bluewater (£12 a child), Hawley Garden Centre (£15) and Ruxley Manor in Sidcup.
  • Winterland at Bluewater: the Christmas funfair, open to 10 January, with entry at £3 and ride tokens on top. Weekends only in November, then daily from 5 December except Christmas Day.
  • The ice rink at Bluewater: the covered rink by The Village, open to 3 January and shut only on Christmas Day, with tickets from £13. For the other six rinks within reach, see ice rinks near Dartford.
  • Christmas trees near Dartford: four places selling real trees, from Stonepitts Farm at Seal Chart to a pitch at Blackheath station, with 2026 prices where they are published.

Eat

  • Christmas Day in Dartford: nine pubs, hotels and restaurants open on Christmas Day, from £61.99 at the Bull at Horns Cross to £145 at Rowhill Grange, with the deposit deadlines, which start on 1 December.
  • Christmas dinner in Dartford: nine places with their Christmas Day menus, from £57.95 at the Bear and Ragged Staff in Crayford, plus the festive menus they serve in the weeks before.

Shop

  • Christmas shopping in Dartford: 17 shops and markets away from Bluewater, from the Priory’s Indie Bazaar on Saturday 14 November to the model and toy shops.
  • No separate Christmas market has been announced. The only one confirmed is the High Street market until 8pm on switch-on day. Two old Christmas market pages are still live on the council’s site, for 2023 and for Friday 5 December 2025, so do not be caught out by them. We will add a 2026 date if the council lists one.

Travel and bins

  • Christmas trains from Dartford: no trains on Christmas Day, Boxing Day services still to be published by Southeastern, and no Charing Cross, Waterloo East or Cannon Street on 27 and 28 December or 1 to 3 January. The Bexleyheath line goes over to buses on 27 and 28 December.
  • Dartford Christmas bin collections: Monday to Thursday of Christmas week are unchanged; Friday 25 December moves to Tuesday 29 December, and rounds run late until the week of 11 January.
  • Parking: most council car parks charge £1 for two hours; every tariff is on our parking in Dartford page.

Not announced yet

  • New Year’s Eve: on 11 November no public New Year’s Eve event in Dartford had been announced by the council or a venue. We will add one if it is.
  • A Christmas night market: nothing listed, as above.
  • Dartford Lions Club’s Santa sleigh: the club has posted no sleigh route since 2023.

Frequently asked questions

When are the Dartford Christmas lights switched on in 2026?

Saturday 14 November 2026 at 5.15pm, at the Big Christmas Switch On in Brewery Square, off Market Street. It is free; the stage starts at 1.55pm and a Christmas market runs on the High Street until 8pm.

Is there a Christmas market in Dartford in 2026?

Only the special market on the High Street until 8pm on switch-on day, Saturday 14 November. The council had listed no separate Christmas night market on 11 November; its 2025 one was on Friday 5 December.

What is the Dartford pantomime this year?

Cinderella, with Joe Pasquale and Abbie Budden, at the reopened Orchard Theatre from Saturday 12 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, with seats from £21.50.