There’s no getting away from the fact that the festive season can be expensive. So, let me point you in the direction of some cheap and, even better, free things to do in Devon this Christmas.
If you want to find Christmas light switch ons with family entertainment, free light trails and opportunities to meet Santa without a hefty price tag, read on!
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Free Christmas events in Devon
Here’s some free to attend festivities I’ve spotted happening around Devon this November and December:
Plymouth City Centre Christmas lights switch on – 13 November 2025
The City Centre’s Christmas lights switch-on will include family-friendly entertainment on the Piazza stage. Santa may also be making an appearance.
Find out more about what’s happening during the evening.
Exeter city centre lights and displays – from 14 November to 23 December 2025
See Exeter’s city centre light up for the season from 14 December. There isn’t an official lighting event but you’ll find wreaths, photo props and an 8 metre tree in Princesshay Square.
A collection of 35 charity Christmas trees will also be on display on Bedford Street from 14 November. On 20 November see SPARK! WorldBeaters perform at Christmashay Village at 5pm, 6pm, and 7pm.
Find out more about what’s on in Exeter.
Barbican Christmas lights – 15 November 2025
There will be an afternoon of family fun ahead of the switching on of the Barbican Christmas lights in Plymouth.
Enjoy free entertainment and activities between midday and 6pm.
Find out more about what’s on at the Barbican.
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.
Exeter Winter Wonderland – 21 November to 28 December 2025
Entry is free to Exeter’s winter wonderland with a light trail and plenty of seasonal atmosphere to soak up. Paid activities include an ice rink, Santa’s Grotto and fairground rides.
If you do decide to visit the grotto and ice rink for an additional fee plan ahead and book online as spaces are limited.
Find out more and book tickets on the Exeter Winter Wonderland website.
Newton Abbot’s Christmas lights switch on – 22 November 2025
There will be daytime entertainment and street food in Courtenay Street before Father Christmas does the honours sitting on the town’s lights at 5.30pm.
Find out more about the Christmas lights in Newton Abbot.
Sidmouth Christmas lights switch on – 22 November 2025
Sidmouth’s lights will be turned on at 5.30pm with activities either side of the illuminations.
Find out more about Christmas in Sidmouth.
Dawlish Christmas lights switch on – 29 November 2025
Join in a two day Christmas celebration in Dawlish with a Christmas light switch on event and Christmas markets on the Lawn and Strand in Dawlish.
The lights will be turned on Saturday 29 November and the fun continues on the Sunday.
Check the Dawlish Town Council website for the latest information about this year’s Christmas lights.
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.
Find out more 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.
Here’s a taster of our experience in previous years.
Find out more about Bay of Lights in Torquay.
Light Up Axminster parade and light switch on – 29 November 2025
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.
Exmouth Winter Festival – 29 November 2025
See the Christmas lights switched on alongside an afternoon of music, walkabout entertainment, mulled wine and a lantern parade on The Strand.
Find out more about what’s on in Exmouth this Christmas.
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.
Bideford lights switch on – 7 December 2025
Head to Bideford Quay for an afternoon of festive fun before the lights are switched on.
The event with fairground rides, stalls and music starts at 12pm with the lights switch on at about 6pm.
Find out more about what’s planned in Bideford.
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 – 13 December 2025
The Annual Santa Ride from Taunton to Little Bridge House Children’s Hospice will be visiting South Molton Town Square along its route.
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. Donations can be made online.
Find out more about the ride route and how to donate on the Santas on a Bike 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:
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:
Santa arrives in Dartmouth – 28 November 2025
The Christmas lights in Dartmouth’s Royal Avenue gardens will be switched on at 5.50pm followed by the arrival of Santa by boat. There will be a Christmas market in the gardens all day.
Find out more about Dartmouth’s Christmas lights event.
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.
Supper with Santa at Ikea Exeter – selected dates from 17 to 22 December 2025
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.
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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.
A Forever Home trail at the Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth – daily until 9 February 2026
In this winter season’s fun family trail at the Donkey Sanctuary you are tasked with finding all the things that make their shelter a forever home. Complete the puzzle on your trail sheet as you explore and meet the sanctuary’s lucky residents.
Trail sheets cost £5 each and can be bought in the gift shop. Entry to the sanctuary is free and dogs on leads are welcome.
Find out more about what’s on at the Donkey Sanctuary this winter.
Clovelly Christmas Lights, near Bideford, North Devon – 30 November 2025
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.
Meet Santa for £2.50 per child at Princesshay in Exeter – Sundays from 30 November to 21 December 2025
Santa will be hanging out in Exeter city centre over four Sundays in the run up to Christmas. Find him sitting in his golden sleigh under the glass canopy outside Space NK.
Either pause for a wave or join the queue to meet Santa in his sleigh.
This activity is being run in partnership with Vranch House. There is a suggested donation of £2.50 for each child wanting to meet Santa. They will take home a jingle bell to hang on their tree.
Find out more about Santa Sundays in Exeter.
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.
Santa at Made-well CIC in Hatherleigh, West Devon – 13 December 2025
Made-well’s Santa’s Grotto offers the ideal setting for families and friends to make lasting memories.
For only £5 per person participating, enjoy a meeting with Santa Claus and receive a gift from the big man himself! This grotto is accessible and welcoming for all ages.
Find out more and book online.
Trago Mills – Devon’s cheapest Santa train – dates TBC
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
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.