Christmas at Princesshay 2025
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 shine bright from Friday 14th 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 8m 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 2024, Princesshay is joined by 23 street food and local market traders as part of the Christmashay Village from the 14th November – 23rd December. 17 Christmas cabins located in Princesshay Square, Bedford Street and the main mall feature a rotating programme of local businesses from jewellers and crafts to candles, bakes, art, pottery and soaps. The Christmashay Bar, located in Princesshay square next to a sparkling new Christmas tree, offers the perfect pitstop together with a European festive market vibe.
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 20th November, we welcomed back SPARK WorldBeaters with performances at 5pm, 6pm & 7pm. This incredible street theatre troupe featured 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 13th anniversary, we are pleased to welcome back the Charity Christmas Trees Festival on Bedford Street. 35 Charity Trees are lit and decorated from 14th 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 is joining us every Sunday for the 4 weeks prior to the big day itself. Find him sitting in his golden sleigh under the glass canopy outside Space NK. Santa waves and greets 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 Vranch House. 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 goes to the amazing work of Vranch House. Each child who 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 helpers in our golden sleigh under the glass canopy on Sundays in December before Christmas
Late Nights
We’re open late on the dates in the lead up to Christmas with shops open until 8pm:
- Thursday 20th November
- Thursday 27th November
- Thursday 4th December
- Thursday 11th December
- Thursday 18th December
For our full list of Christmas opening times please click here.