Free things to do in Devon this Christmas 2026

Lanterns, Lights and Luminations in Brixham – 20 to 21 November 2026

This popular event in South Devon returns in 2026 with a magical lantern parade, a firework display, live music, street entertainment, and a market.

This event is free to attend and Santa always makes an appearance.

Lanterns, Lights and Luminations, Brixham Harbour.

Candlelit Dartmouth – 27 to 28 November 2026

This community event kicks off Christmas in Dartmouth with Father Christmas arriving in town by Fire Engine on the Friday night. There’s also a market and live entertainment in Royal Avenue Gardens.

On Saturday expect a spectacular procession with hundreds of beautiful, hand-made paper lanterns through the town.

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

Bay of Lights illuminated trail, Torquay – 28 November 2026 to 3 January 2027

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.

What Does it Mean To Be Kind? workshop at Studio KIND in Barnstaple – 5 to 12 December 2026

Join Jane Churchill for a thoughtful art workshop on the subject of kindess at Studio KIND in Barnstaple Pannier Market. This is a free drop in session for families.

Find out more on the Studio KIND website.

Lantern Parade in Newton Abbot – 9 December 2026

See Newton Abbot illuminated by a lantern parade. There will also be live music, a market and a chance to meet Santa for free.

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

Santas on a Bike in South Molton – 12 December 2026

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, which last year included more than 270 bikes and 300 Santas, there will be snow, photo opportunities, carols and Christmas gifts in the Pannier Market.

This event is free to attend.

Find out more about this year’s ride.

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:

Santa arrives in Dartmouth – 27 November 2026

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 – TBC

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 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.

Winter trail at the Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth – daily until February 2027

There’s always a seasonal trail at The Donkey Sanctuary. 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 and Santa in North Devon – 6 December 2026

Head to Clovelly to see the Christmas Lights switched on. The local brass band will 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.

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

Find out more about Clovelly Christmas Lights at Clovelly Village.

Meet Santa at Princesshay in Exeter – TBC

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 at Princesshay.

Either pause for a wave or join the queue to meet Santa in his sleigh.

This is a low cost charity event with a small gift for children.

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.

Trago Mills – Devon’s cheapest Santa train – selected dates from November to December 2026

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Board the Trago Mills Steam Railway for a ride to Santa’s grotto where there’s a gift for every child. The service runs from Riverside Station to the grotto and then on to Trago Central Station for the model railway.

There’s also a drink included for adults and children a the Staplehill Servery.

2026 ticket prices are still to be confirmed but usually cost £5 or under per person and can only be bought on the day. The first train departs at 11am.

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.