Free things to do in Devon this Christmas 2025

Free Christmas events in Devon

Here’s some free to attend festivities I’ve spotted happening around Devon this November and December: 

Lanterns, Lights and Luminations in Brixham – 21 to 22 November 2025

This popular event in South Devon returns in 2025 with a magical lantern parade, a firework display, live music, street entertainment, and a market.

The event will include the Christmas light switch on, the arrival of Santa and fireworks.

This event is free to attend.

Lanterns, Lights and Luminations, Brixham Harbour.

Candlelit Dartmouth – 28 to 30 November 2025

Expect a spectacular procession with hundreds of beautiful, hand-made paper lanterns and Father Christmas’ boat gliding silently through the moonlit waters of the river Dart.

In 2025 an additional third day will feature carol singing around the Christmas tree. And it’s all free to attend.

More details are still to be released about this year’s event.

Bay of Lights illuminated trail, Torquay, South Devon – 28 November 2025 to 2 January 2026

The Bay of Lights free light trail is returning to Torbay this winter.

Enjoy a 1.5 mile route along Torquay seafront with 18 glittering installations. You’ll also find eight metre tall pixel trees in Paignton and Brixham. These will put on digital light shows between after dark.

Here’s a taster of our experience in previous years.

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Find out more about Bay of Lights in Torquay.

Victorian evening in Newton Abbot – 3 December 2025

See Newton Abbot transformed into a Dickensian Christmas shopping scene with walkabout performances, a chance to meet Santa for free and charity stalls.

Find out more about what’s on in Newton Abbot this Christmas.

Tavistock’s Dickensian Evening – 5 December 2025

A very Victorian Christmas lights switch on awaits visitors to Tavistock. Expect Dickensian costumes and roasted chestnuts as well as vintage entertainment throughout the evening.

The event begins at 5pm and the lights are due to be switched on at 5.45pm.

Find out more about what’s planned for Tavistock’s Lights switch on.

Newton Abbot Lantern Parade – 10 December 2025

See a joyful parade of homemade lanterns through the town alongside free visits to meet Santa, street food and late night shopping.

Find out more about what’s on in Newton Abbot this Christmas.

Santas on a Bike in South Molton – date TBC

The Annual Santa Ride from Taunton to Little Bridge House Children’s Hospice will be visiting South Molton Town Square for the Mayor’s fundraiser for the hospice.

Alongside the Santa ride involving more than 100 bikes, trikes and quads, there will be snow, photo opportunities, carols and Christmas gifts in the Pannier Market.

This event is free to attend.

Find out more on Facebook.

Light Up Axminster parade and light switch on – TBC

Axminster’s Christmas lights will be lit as part of a lantern procession event taking place between 3pm and 9pm in South Street.

There will be food stalls, children’s entertainment and live music.

Find out more on the Light Up Axminster Facebook page.

Christmas Carols at Darts Farm – date TBC

Darts Farm’s annual outdoor Christmas carol service in aid of Exeter Food Action returns this December.

Visitors to Darts Farm can get into the Christmas spirit and join the Darts Farm team and Christ Church Woodbury with the Lympstone Band for carol singing from 7.30pm.

This event in Topsham this free to attend. There is a collection for the charity.

Find out more on the Darts Farm website.

More free things to do in Devon this Christmas 

Here’s some more ideas for free things to do this Christmas around Devon:

Spot the Train of Lights in South Devon – selected dates from

The Train of Lights run by Dartmouth Steam Railway is a magical experience that you can enjoy in the carriages and alongside the track. We did both last year and it’s the trackside experience that my girls are still talking about.

Here’s some of the best places to see the Train of Lights and where you can find them using What Three Words to pin point the location:

• Goodrington South Sands Beach, Paignton – ///purple.spell.poker
• Broadbands Beach, Paignton – ///twee.offshore.blinking
• The South West Coast Path between Broadbands Beach and Goodrington (although this is hilly and could be tricky with children at night) – ///vertical.aunts.afflicted
• The Dartmouth Road bridge at Churston Station – ///meatballs.cautious.character
• The public footpath between Dartmouth Higher Ferry and Kingswear – ///forehand.sting.crisp
• Dartmouth Embankment – ///forgotten.facing.emptied
• The footbridge at Kingswear – ///patching.recount.prospers

The train sets off from Paignton at 5pm, 7pm and 9pm and returns 1.5 hours later. Expect the train to arrive back in Paignton by 6.30pm, 8.30pm and 10.30pm.

The train runs on selected dates from 28 November to 30 December 2025 excluding 1 December, 8 & 9 December and 24 to 26 December 2025.

It does not run at 9pm on 6, 13, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 December 2025.

Soak up the atmosphere at a Christmas market

There’s free to visit Christmas markets with family-friendly entertainment happening across Devon this winter. 

Take a look at my full guide to Devon Christmas markets to discover what’s on and where. 

See Devon’s Christmas lights switched on

Watching Christmas lights being switched on at your nearest town of city is a fun way to start the festive season and the vast majority of events are free to attend.

Take a look at my full guide to where to see Devon’s Christmas lights this year.

Garden Centre Christmas displays in Devon

Otter and Endsleigh Garden Centres have wonderful Christmas displays that are free to browse at this time of year.

Here’s where to find them:

• Endsleigh at Ivybridge
• Otter at Ottery St Mary
• Otter at Bishopsteignton, Teignmouth
• Otter in Plymouth
• Otter in Torbay

Places in Devon to meet Santa for free 

Santa will be popping up around Devon throughout November and December before heading back to the North Pole for his important Christmas preparations.

Most years there’s opportunities to meet him for free. He’ll be magically making appearances at many Christmas light switch ons (see above).

And here’s a few places children can meet him or visit his grotto for free:

Kingsbridge Celebrates Christmas – South Devon – 6 December 2025

Take a trip to Kingsbridge for a thoroughly festive day with market stalls selling scrumptious hot food and gifts ranging from metal garden ornaments to Salcombe Gin.

Father Christmas will also make a special appearance and there will be a free grotto.

Find out more about Kingsbridge Celebrates Christmas on Fore Street.

Breakfast with Santa at Ikea – Exeter – dates TBC

IKEA Family members can meet Santa at IKEA for free on selected dates in December.

Santa, accompanied by his elves, will be handing out an early Christmas present for every child that attends.

Food and drinks will be available to be purchased in the Ikea restaurant.

Places are limited and signing up is essential to receive the Christmas present.

Breakfast and Supper with Santa, Ikea Exeter.

Devon Christmas events for under £10 per family 

Everyone is feeling the pinch right now but not all Christmas activities have to cost a lot. I’ve spotted some seriously cheap Christmas events where you can take your whole family for about £10 or under. 

Obviously, family sizes vary. I’ve based my calculations on a family of four and events that cost about £2.50 per person.

Clovelly Christmas Lights, near Bideford, North Devon – 30 November 2025

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Head to Clovelly from 2pm on 30 November to see the Christmas Lights switched on. The local brass band will lead a procession down to the harbour where there will be carols, a hog roast and other festive refreshments.

Don’t miss a visit from Father Christmas himself and seeing the entire village and harbour lit up.

The grand finale is a firework display to add even more sparkle to this opening event to the Clovelly Christmas season.

Entrance fee: £5 per adult at the Visitor Centre after 2pm. All proceeds to RNLI.

Find out more about Clovelly Christmas Lights.

Christmas activities for under £20

Here’s some more events and activities that have a smaller price tag attached, this time under £20 for a family of four.

Trago Mills – Devon’s cheapest Santa train – dates TBC

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Board the North Pole Express at Trago Mills near Newton Abbot for a ride to Santa’s grotto for under £5 per person.

The special Steam Railway service runs from Riverside Station to Santa’s grotto where you and your family will meet Santa and his elves. All the children will receive an early gift from Santa too.

The train will then whisk you away to Trago Central Station where you will alight for the Trago Mills Model Railway.

Adults also receive a complimentary hot drink from our Staplehill Servery.

Ticket prices are TBC but usually come in at £5 or under. Tickets can only be bought on the day.

Find out more about the Santa Specials at Trago Mills.

More Christmas events in Devon

If you have budget for a special treat check out my other guide to Christmas days out in Devon.

Have you spotted any other free things to do in Devon this Christmas? Let me know and I will add them in to help more families save on the expense of the season.