Press Release - Christmas in Cirencester - Events & Road Closures

Cirencester Town Council announces details of this year’s Christmas in Cirencester Markets.

The main event, the Advent Market and Light Switch-On, will be held on Saturday 28th November between 10am and 6pm, followed by a supersized Advent Market on Sunday 29th November from 10am to 4pm. Road closures will be in place from 5:30pm on Friday 27th November to midnight Sunday 29th November.

The festive programme continues the following weekend with a special Christmas Market on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th December featuring music and street entertainment. There are more Christmas Gift Markets and festive Farmers’ Markets scheduled throughout December and the Monday and Friday Charter Markets will be held as normal, breaking for Christmas after the Monday Charter Market on the 21st December until Monday 4th January.

This year a late-night shopping event has been organised and will be held on Thursday 10th December where participating shops will be open until 8pm.  The hotly contested Christmas window competition, run by the Town Council, will also be held, where any business with a festive window will be appraised by a panel of judges.

Over the two days, the Advent Markets will have over 200 stalls, extending from Castle Street to the top of Cricklade Street and throughout the length of the Market Place and, this year, will include a new addition following feedback from visitors.  A festive bar area behind the church, serving beer, cider, and cocktails along with additional seating will be in place for two consecutive weekends on the 28th & 29th November and the 5th & 6th December. 

On Saturday the 28th there will be live performances in the Parish Church, broadcast on the 3 big screens around Market Place, a Food Plaza, street entertainment and festive stories from Lisa, the Children’s librarian, in the Parish Forum.

The church will be closed from 4:00pm whilst the Light Switch-on ceremony takes place. The ceremony will be broadcast on the big screens, with the ceremony starting at 4:15pm. To celebrate the start of Advent a short, low-noise firework display will follow the Light Switch-on at approximately 4:55pm, kindly provided by Cotswold Fireworks.

The 2026 Snowman Trail also launches on the 28th November and continues until 6th January. Entry forms will be available from the Local Information Centre, Bingham House and at all the businesses hosting a snowman, entries will also be accepted online. Completed entry forms will be submitted into a prize draw offering the chance to win exciting prizes donated by The Cotswold Ice Rink, The Kings Head, Cirencester Skillz, Corinium Museum, Tandem Cake Shed, and Birdland. This year, there are some extra bonuses for all who enter!  More information about the Snowman Trail can be found at www.cirencester.gov.uk and social media channels.

This year, we are delighted to welcome K T Family Solicitors as Headline Sponsor’s for Christmas in Cirencester. The Council is also grateful for the generous support of Watermoor Point who will be sponsoring the town’s Christmas tree, and Wenn Townsend Chartered Accountants for contributing towards event connectivity. This year’s Snowman Trail is kindly sponsored by The Cotswold Ice Rink with additional thanks to the local businesses who will be hosting the snowmen.

We are also incredibly grateful to the team of volunteers who selflessly give their time to help us make the Advent weekend go smoothly by marshalling crowds, setting up, directing, and supporting the market traders, and answering queries from members of the public. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact markets@cirencester.gov.uk.

Road closures, managed by the AA, will be in place in the town centre from 5:30pm Friday 27th November to Midnight Sunday 29th November. The event will take place across the Town Centre including the whole of the Market Place, Castle Street and Cricklade Street.

The following roads will be subject to closures with signed diversions in place. There will be access for residents affected but deliveries and contractors must be arranged outside the closure times.

·         Dollar Street - access only

·         Gosditch Street - closed from Loveday Mews

·         Cricklade Street - closed at Castle Street Junction

·         Castle Street - closed at Silver Street Junction

·         Dyer Street - closed at North Way Junction

·         Blackjack Street - closed at Park Street Junction

Further information about the event and the road closures can be found on the Christmas in Cirencester website on the Town Council’s website: https://cirencester.gov.uk/christmas-in-cirencester and social media pages @cirenmarkets or @cirenTC. An interactive map of the road closures can be found here: https://bit.ly/TownCentreRoadClosures .