Horsham's Christmas Launch Party is Friday 20 November, 4pm to 8pm, with face painting, live music, a silent disco and a market. Updated November 2026.

Horsham’s Christmas lights will illuminate the town from 4pm on Friday 20 November 2026 to mark the start of the free Christmas Launch Party, which runs across the town centre until 8pm. Your Horsham, the town’s Business Improvement District, says “there is no official light switch on, but the town centre will be illuminating from 4pm”.

Overview

  • Friday 20 November, 4pm: the lights are on across the town centre, and the Chair of Horsham District Council and the Chair of the new Town Council welcome guests on the Bandstand.
  • Friday 20 November, 4pm to 8pm: Christmas Launch Party in eight zones from the Bishopric to Park Place, free to attend.
  • Friday 20 November, 4pm to 8pm: the Christmas market at the Forum.
  • Friday 20 November, 3.30pm to 8.30pm: the Carfax, Swan Yard and Park Place are closed to traffic.

Horsham Christmas lights switch-on 2026

The lights come on with the start of Your Horsham’s launch party, which fills the whole town centre for the evening (Your Horsham).

  • When: Friday 20 November, from 4pm.
  • Where: across Horsham town centre.
  • Cost: free, no tickets.
  • Good to know: the lights are on from the start of the launch party, and the Chair of Horsham District Council and the Chair of the new Town Council welcome guests on the Bandstand at 4pm. You can arrive at any time in the evening.

Horsham Christmas Launch Party: the eight zones

Rachael Hughes, the BID manager at Horsham BID, which trades as Your Horsham and runs the evening with support from Horsham District Council, described the night for our readers:

“Horsham Christmas Launch returns on Friday 20 November from 4pm to 8pm, transforming the town centre into a festive celebration for all ages. Enjoy live music, festive markets, roaming entertainment, family activities, a silent disco, a magical snow globe, Father Christmas appearances and much more. With most activities free to enjoy and local businesses joining the festivities, it’s the perfect way to start the Christmas season in Horsham.”

  • When: Friday 20 November, 4pm to 8pm.
  • Where: eight themed zones across the town centre, mapped below.
  • Cost: free to attend. Crafts, face painting, entertainment and the silent disco are free; “some rides etc. will be chargeable locally or suggested charitable donation”, the BID says.
  • Good to know: Father Christmas will be meeting and greeting visitors all around the town centre throughout the evening.
Illustrated map of Horsham town centre showing eight Christmas Launch Party zones: Gift Grotto at Swan Walk, Festive Funzone at the Carfax, Prancer's Place at Piries Place, Feast Street on East Street, Snowflake Square at Market Square, Christmas Courtyard at the Forum, Winter Way on West Street and Disco Dancer at the Bishopric
The Christmas Launch Party map of Horsham town centre, with the eight zones and the car parks marked. Map: supplied by Your Horsham
Zone Where What is there
Festive Funzone The Carfax Face painting, crafts and entertainment
Snowflake Square Market Square A living snow globe
Christmas Courtyard The Forum The market and the Forum stage
Prancer’s Place Piries Place Music, food and snow
Feast Street East Street Food and drink
Gift Grotto Swan Walk Late night shopping
Winter Way West Street Street musicians and shopping
Disco Dancer The Bishopric The silent disco

Swan Walk, the Gift Grotto zone, is fully open again after its roof repairs (our report). It has not published its closing time for 20 November.

Poster for the Christmas Launch Party in Horsham town centre on 20 November 2026, 4pm to 8pm, listing face painting, live acts and music, a silent disco and a market
The Christmas Launch Party poster, with a QR code to the Your Horsham website. Poster: supplied by Your Horsham

Christmas market at the Forum

Food Rocks, which runs the Carfax market, alongside Coden Events is hosting a collection of festive stalls in the Forum for the evening, with art, craft and local produce and “every stall lit and decorated” (Food Rocks, Horsham markets).

  • When: Friday 20 November, 4pm to 8pm.
  • Where: the Forum, the Christmas Courtyard zone.
  • Cost: free to browse.

Christmas Trail and prize draw

Your Horsham’s Christmas Trail sends you round the town’s shops, cafes and businesses with a passport (Your Horsham).

  • How it works: download the trail passport from the Your Horsham Christmas page or pick one up at the event, complete the trail, fill in your details and drop the passport into Santa’s Mailbox.
  • Where to post it: Santa’s Mailbox at Mount Noddy or at Johansson’s Cafe.
  • Prize: completed passports go into a grand prize draw.

Road closures, parking and getting there

On Friday 20 November the Carfax from Blackhorse Way to the Copnall Way junction, including Swan Yard, and Park Place are closed from 3.30pm to 8.30pm, with access only to Blackhorse Way and the Causeway (Horsham District Council road closures). Other closures are on our Horsham roadworks and travel page.

  • BT Exchange, North Street: free after 5pm on weekdays. It is small and will fill.
  • Swan Walk and Piries Place: open 24 hours, with a £2.80 overnight tariff from 8pm, when the launch party ends.
  • Full tariffs: on our Horsham parking page.

For the rest of the season, see our pages on Father Christmas in Horsham, Horsham Christmas markets and the Capitol pantomime.

Last checked 13 November 2026.