Seaford Christmas Magic, with the lantern parade and lights switch-on, is on Saturday 12 December 2026, two weeks later than last year. What happened in 2025.

Seaford Christmas Magic, the town’s day of markets, Father Christmas and the lights switch-on, will be on Saturday 12 December 2026. Seaford Town Council has confirmed the date on its Christmas Magic page, but not the programme. That is two weeks later than usual: the 2025 event was on Saturday 29 November and the 2024 one on Saturday 30 November.

The quick answer

  • Date: Saturday 12 December 2026, in Seaford town centre. Free.
  • Last year’s shape: stalls and a funfair from 10am, a stage from 11.30am, the Lantern Parade at 4.45pm and the lights switch-on at 5pm.
  • Times for 2026 have not been published. The council says “more details will be revealed nearer the time”.

What the council has said about 2026

The page says the day will bring “festive cheer, entertainment and community spirit to the town centre”, and names the same partners as before: Seaford Town Council, Seaford Chamber of Commerce, Seaford Town Market, local traders and Seahaven FM. It lists the regular features as live entertainment, market stalls, the Father Christmas Grotto and the Lantern Parade.

The council is looking for sponsors, with packages from £100. Traders who want a market or food stall should email Xmasmagicmarket@gmail.com, the address the council gives.

What happened last year, hour by hour

This is the 2025 programme as the council published it before the event on 29 November 2025. Expect a similar pattern in 2026, but check the times once they are out.

Time (2025) What Where
From 10am Christmas market stalls Broad Street, High Street and Church Street
From 10am Father Christmas in his grotto, free, with a gift Cross Way Church
10am to 4pm Free lantern-making workshop for the parade The Mercread Youth Centre
All day Festive crafts and story time Seaford Library
All day Funfair rides Church Street
From 11.30am Entertainment stage hosted by Seahaven FM Town centre
4.45pm Lantern Parade Through the town
5pm Christmas lights switch-on Town centre

The grotto was free in 2025. Paradise Park in Newhaven also runs a Santa’s Grotto, with entry to the park included, and says its tickets are on sale.

Getting there

Seaford station is at the end of the branch from Lewes. Southern’s Christmas timetables are not out yet; we are tracking them on our Lewes Christmas trains and travel page. Road closures for market days appear on our roadworks and travel page, and parking across the district is on parking in Lewes.

Lewes switch-on

Lewes has its own, separate switch-on with late night shopping. Its 2026 date has not been announced; our Lewes Christmas lights switch-on page has the pattern and what we know.

Still to be confirmed

  • The 2026 programme and times, including the parade and switch-on: the council says details come nearer the time. We expect them in November.
  • Where the grotto will be, and whether it stays free.
  • Any road closures for the market and funfair.