Christmas at Princesshay
Find Festive Joy this Christmas in Princesshay with our exciting line up of events, stunning Christmas lights and decorations, late night shopping and local bar and market.
JOYful Lights shine bright
Our beautiful, twinkling Christmas Lighting displays will shine bright from Friday 15th November in line with the rest of the city centre of Exeter. There is no official light switch on event on this date but we have a packed programme in the run up to Christmas and further details can be found here.
Expect thousands of warm twinkly lights, beautifully decorated green wreaths, a stunning 20ft Christmas Tree in Princesshay Square and multiple ‘on the ground’ photo opportunities including Santa’s Sleigh, Angel Wings and hugely popular walk through JOY letters. This lighting scheme is our ‘greenest’ ever, made from recycled aluminium, recycled plastics and featuring ultra LED bulbs.
Christmashay Village
Building on the success of 2023, Princesshay will be joined by over 25 local traders as part of the Christmashay Village from the 28th November – 22nd December. 13 Christmas cabins located in Princesshay Square and the main mall will feature a rotating programme of local businesses from jewellers and crafts to candles, bakes, art, pottery and soaps. Positioned around our centre piece Christmas Tree in Princesshay Square, we hope this local offering will add to the visitor experience.
We are delighted to have partnered with Lloyds Lounge to run a Christmas bar in Princesshay Square, serving up warming mulled drinks and freshly fired pizzas for visitors to enjoy during their visit. There will also be a special Christmas cocktail dedicated to the Princesshay charity partner Exeter Leukaemia Fund. £1 from every sale of this cocktail will be donated to ELF! Thank you to Bernaville Nurseries for supporting with the lighting and decorations of the Christmashay bar and cabins.
Find the full programme of traders and opening times here.
SPARK WorldBeaters and more!
To celebrate the launch of the Christmashay Village and the start of late night shopping on Thursday 28th November, we will welcome back SPARK WorldBeaters with performances at 5pm, 6pm & 7pm. This incredible street theatre troupe will feature live music, movement and spectacular lighting.
We have a full programme of festive performances from rollerblading presents and stilt walkers to local choirs and theatre groups. Find all the details here.
Christmas Charity Trees
Celebrating its 12th anniversary, we are pleased to be welcoming back the Charity Christmas Trees Festival on Bedford Street outside the former Debenhams store. 35 Charity Trees will be lit and decorated from 15th November showcasing some of the amazing local charities and their causes.
Above: Charity Christmas Tree Festival & Spark Drummers are back this Christmas!
Santa Sundays
We’re over the moon to announce that Santa will join us every Sunday in December before Christmas. Find him sitting in his golden sleigh under the glass canopy outside Crew and Clarendon Fine Art. Santa will be waving and greeting all passers-by and those wanting to share their Christmas lists and pose for a photo can queue to join him briefly in the sleigh. This activity is in partnership with our charity Exeter Leukaemia Fund (ELF). For each child wanting a photo with the ‘man in red’, we’re asking for a suggested donation of £2.50 each, all of which will go to the life saving work of ELF. Each child that meets Santa will take home a jingle bell to hang on their tree at home.
For further information including opening dates & times click here.
Above: Find Santa and his ELFish helpers in our golden sleigh under the glass canopy on Sundays in December before Christmas
Late Nights
We will be open late on the dates in the lead up to Christmas with shops open until 8pm:
- Thursday 28th November
- Thursday 5th December
- Thursday 12th December
- Thursday 19th December
For our full list of Christmas opening times please click here.
