The Big Reveal and the town council switch-on take over the High Street on Saturday 21 November, with the Christmas market on 6 December. Times to come.

East Grinstead’s Christmas lights are switched on Saturday 21 November 2026, on the High Street and London Road, alongside The Big Reveal, when the town’s shops unveil their Christmas windows.

The date comes from East Grinstead Town Council’s own printed events listing for 2026: “The Big Reveal and East Grinstead Town Council’s Christmas Lights Switch on, Saturday 21st, High Street and London Road.” (East Grinstead Town Council, Town Events 2026)

What is confirmed, and what is not

Confirmed: the date, the two streets, and that the switch-on and the traders’ Big Reveal are a single evening rather than two events.

Not yet published: the start time, the switch-on time itself, the entertainment, and the road closure hours. The council’s Christmas lights page simply points readers to its What’s On calendar “for details of the Christmas Lights Switch On this year”, and that calendar has no time against the entry. (East Grinstead Town Council)

For a sense of the shape, the council’s own page for a previous switch-on gives the pattern it has used before: a 4.30pm to 8pm event, the East Grinstead Concert Band from 4.30pm, the mayor switching on the Rotary tree of light and the town council lights together at 5pm, and the High Street and London Road as far as King’s Street closed to traffic from 3pm to 8pm. That was 2023, not 2026, and none of it is confirmed for this year. (East Grinstead Town Council)

We will update this page as soon as the 2026 timings appear.

The lights themselves

The council pays for and installs the display, and replaces the illuminations every fifth year. The current set went up in 2023 on a five-year contract and is, in the council’s words, “twice as energy efficient than the previous LED lighting”. On the same night the Rotary Club lights its tree of light, a separate installation and a separate fundraiser.

The Christmas market, two weeks later

The council’s second festive date is Sunday 6 December, 11am to 3pm, at East Court and Meridian Hall: “Join us for festive fun and Christmas shopping.” East Court is the council-owned Georgian mansion on College Lane, about half a mile from the High Street, with its own parking.

Parking on the night

Mid Sussex District Council’s pay and display charges stop at 6pm Monday to Saturday, so if the event runs into the evening as it has before, the town centre car parks are free for the later part of it. Charges apply up to 6pm on the Saturday itself. (Mid Sussex District Council)

The side streets are a different matter. East Grinstead is the district’s only town with on-street controlled parking zones. Zone A operates 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday excluding bank holidays, and Zone B for two short windows, 10am to 11am and 2pm to 3pm. On a Saturday evening that puts both outside their hours, but the zone map is worth a look before you leave the car. (Mid Sussex District Council)

Our parking page has the charges, and any closures that week will show on our roadworks and travel page.

The rest of the town’s autumn

East Grinstead Town Council’s 2026 listing fixes three other dates worth putting in the diary now:

  • Saturday 17 October: East Grinstead Community Bonfire parade, bonfire and fireworks, a torchlit procession through the town ending at East Court. The society gives a 7pm start on the High Street.
  • Sunday 8 November, 10.30am to 12pm: Remembrance Parade and Service, High Street and London Road.
  • Wednesday 11 November, 11am: Remembrance Day Service at the High Street war memorial, with a two minute silence.

Every confirmed fireworks date across the district is on our Mid Sussex fireworks page, and more of what is on is on our things to do page.

Sources