Christmas in Cirencester - Events & Road Closures
Cirencester Town Council is excited to release details of this year’s Christmas in Cirencester Markets, including the year’s biggest events, the Advent Markets and Light Switch-on.
The main event, the Advent Market and Light Switch-On, will be held on Saturday 29th November between 10am and 6pm, followed by a supersized Advent Market on Sunday 30th November from 10am to 4pm. The festive programme continues the following weekend with a special Christmas Market on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th December featuring music and street entertainment. There are more Christmas Gift Markets and festive Farmers’ Markets scheduled throughout December. The Monday and Friday Charter Markets will be held as normal but will be closed on Friday 26th and Monday 29th December, but will re-open on Friday 2nd January.
Over 200 stalls, extending from Castle Street to the top of Cricklade Street and throughout the length of the Market Place, will be in place over the two days with road closures in place from 5:30pm on Friday 28th November to midnight Sunday 30th November.
This year will feature a Food Plaza on the main Market Place, additional seating areas, stalls, and activities in the area behind the Church, including the ski-lift selfie booth which was so popular last year, and a pop-up food area delivered by the Relish Group.
The Light Switch-On ceremony will be broadcast on 3 big screens situated on the Market Place & behind the Church, 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.
Performances featuring local talent will take place inside the Parish Church on the 29th November, simultaneously shown on the 3 big screens. This year, a one-way system will operate in the church, with entry via the main doors on the Market Place, to ease congestion and the church will be closed from 4:00pm whilst the Light Switch-on ceremony takes place.
The 2025 Snowman Trail also launches on the 29th November and continues until Sunday 4th 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 Gateway Ice Rink, The Barn Theatre and Pickleball from the Town Council. More information about the Snowman Trail can be found at www.cirencester.gov.uk and social media channels.
This year, we are delighted to be working with The Gateway Ice Ink, brought to you by the Relish Group, who are the Christmas in Cirencester Headline Sponsor. The Council is also grateful for the generous support of Trove Gems who will be sponsoring the town’s Christmas tree, and Wenn Townsend Chartered Accountants for contributing towards ski lift selfie area behind the Parish Church. This year’s Snowman Trail is kindly sponsored by KT Family Solicitors 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 28th November to Midnight Sunday 30th 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 .