Worthing Borough Council champions shopping local with free Christmas events
Released: Wednesday, 11 November 2026
Worthing town centre is set to be the stage for two free Christmas events organised by Worthing Borough Council.
Starting in November, we will bring the community together, encourage town centre footfall and support local businesses with two major events - a Christmas tree lights switch-on and a festive market.
This year's town centre Christmas tree, which has been funded by Hemiko, will be unveiled and lit-up at a free event on Friday 20th November 2026.
The evening will start at 5pm with an opening by Bob Smytherman, Worthing's town crier, followed by the official Christmas tree lights switch-on at 5:30pm. Festivities, live entertainment and Christmas music will continue through to 7pm.
Officially opened in September this year, Montague Gardens will be the stage for spectacular performances by Heene Sign Choir, Andy's Angels Choir, a sing-along with local singer Laura Vane, and an appearance from the cast of this year's pantomime Puss in Boots.
On Friday 18th December there will be an evening festive market with a variety of food & drink and gift stalls on Portland Road and live music from folk singers, local youth bands and DJs also taking place at Montague Gardens from 4:30pm to 8pm.
As well as the two events, last year's stunning knitted Christmas installation by community organisation Storm's Make n Munch group of knitters and crocheters will be back on display at Worthing Town Hall by the end of November. There are also plans for Christmas-themed screen printing workshops in collaboration with Worthing business Hello DODO.
The festive events form part of our Pride in Worthing initiative to bring together council teams, partners, businesses, community groups and residents behind one shared ambition - creating a cleaner, greener Worthing that reflects the pride people already have in the town.
Councillor Caroline Baxter, the leader of Worthing Borough Council, said:
“One of my priorities as leader is to make Worthing a place we can all be proud of, with a lively town centre where people want to spend time and support local businesses.
“That's what Pride in Worthing is all about. The opening of Montague Gardens showed how this new space can bring people together and breathe new life into our town centre. I'm delighted we're building on that with free Christmas events this year.
“A huge thank you to Hemiko for sponsoring our Christmas tree and helping bring some festive magic to Worthing. It's fantastic to see local businesses working hard to make Christmas special, and we're pleased to support Worthing BID's work promoting our town centre businesses throughout the festive season.”
For full information on the Christmas tree lights switch-on event and for more details about the festive market and other events to be announced soon:
You can find out what work is planned as part of Pride in Worthing each week, including events you can get involved with, by visiting:
(PR26-100)
Page last updated: 11 November 2026