Last updated 14 October 2026. Every date below is checked against the organiser's own page. Where a 2026 date has not been announced yet, we say so rather than guess.
Runnymede's Christmas is a run of small evenings, one town at a time: a tree here, a switch-on there, and one proper day out in Chertsey with the Goose Fair. With Windsor Great Park on the doorstep, there is a light trail too. Here is what is confirmed for 2026.
The Chertsey Christmas Goose Fair
Guildford Street and the High Street, Chertsey KT16 9BA · Saturday 5 December 2026, 10am to 3pm, procession at 11am · Free
A free family Christmas fair with a funfair, face painting, crafts and, by the organisers' own promise, snow. The procession at eleven is the moment to be there. The organisers say the detailed programme will be updated nearer the day.
Virginia Water Community Christmas Tree
Virginia Water · Friday 27 November 2026, 5pm · Free
The grand lighting of the community tree, with carols and nibbles, run by the Virginia Water Coronation Playing Field charity.
Carols at Royal Holloway
Royal Holloway Chapel, Egham · Saturday 5 December 2026, 6pm · Free, booking essential
A Festival of Lessons and Carols in one of the most beautiful chapels in Surrey. Tickets are free but you must book, and booking opens at 9am on 2 November. They go quickly.
It falls on Goose Fair day, so the fair in the morning and carols in the evening make a very good Saturday.
Windsor Great Park Illuminated
The Savill Garden · 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 · Last entry 8.30pm
The light trail through the woods near the Savill Garden, about two kilometres and an hour and a half to walk. Adults from £19.80, children from £12.10, families from £56.10, with parking bought alongside your timed ticket. A low-sensory evening with softer lighting runs on Tuesday 24 November.
Close by
Windsor switches on its lights on Saturday 14 November and holds its Peascod Street market on 28 and 29 November: see our Windsor Christmas guide. For Staines, Ashford and Shepperton, see our guides to Staines, Ashford and Shepperton Big Tree Night. Weybridge's Christmas Festival is on Sunday 29 November: see our Weybridge guide.
Expected, but not yet confirmed
These ran in 2025. Runnymede Council's 2026 Christmas listing is not published yet, so please check before you go.
- Chertsey lights switch-on, outside St Peter's Church. Ran on the Friday evening before the Goose Fair last year, at 8pm, with Beomonds car park free.
- Addlestone Festive Fayre and lights, Addlestone One. Ran on Saturday 22 November 2025, 2pm to 5.30pm, with the Mayor switching on at 5pm.
- Egham Christmas tree lighting, Magna Square. Ran on Saturday 6 December 2025, with the tree lit at 5.30pm.
- Egham Christmas Fair, St John's Church and the High Street, with a grotto and children's rides. Ran on Saturday 13 December 2025.
- Englefield Green tree lights with The Egham Band. Ran on 30 November 2025.
- Virginia Water council lights switch-on, Station Approach. Ran at the end of November last year; it may share an evening with the community tree, but that is not confirmed.
- New Haw tree lights and market, The Broadway. Ran on Saturday 22 November 2025.
We will update this page as the dates land. If you would rather be told, the signup at the foot of this page is one short letter a month and nothing else.
Bringing a little of it home
A day at the Goose Fair, an evening in the woods at Windsor. A few things we keep for when you are home again:
- Home for Christmas Gift Set, £24.95. A village wax melt burner and a gingerbread candle that belong together on a mantelpiece.
- Little Woodland House, Light-Up, £14.95. Lit from inside, for the windowsill.
- Home for Christmas Mug and Cosy Socks Set, £17.95. Hot chocolate and warm feet, in that order.
Our Christmas gift guide is grouped by what you want to spend, and the Christmas gifting collection has everything in one place. Delivery in the UK is included.
For the wider area, see Christmas markets near Sunbury-on-Thames, and what to take to a Christmas market.