Havering is getting set to celebrate Christmas this year with various town centre events, Christmas tree, and light switch-ons.
This year’s town-centre Christmas tree and street light decoration displays are possible due to the generous sponsorship of Marlborough Highways, Elm Site Services, AJS, FCC Environment, NC Construction Services and Moss and Coleman Solicitors.
All sponsorship funding has been topped up with Council money from the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) to help our town centres experience Christmas cheer for another year.
Rainham
Friday 14 November 2025, from 5pm
The Rainham Christmas Light Switch-on takes place at Rainham War Memorial, Rainham Village, with the Mayor of Havering, Councillor Sue Ospreay, switching on the lights at 6.30pm.
Activities include Santa meet and greet, performing princesses, Christmas carols, entertainment, food vendors and Christmas stalls. Free entry.
Hornchurch
Saturday 15 November 2025, 11am to 5pm
The ‘Hornchurch Christmas Cracker’ takes place at Hornchurch High Street, with activities including fairground rides, Christmas stalls, performances and a treasure hunt.
The Christmas lights will be switched on at 5pm.
Upminster
Friday 21 November 2025, 3pm to 6pm
Join the free Upminster Christmas switch-on event at various locations including Upminster Junior School, Station Road, Corbets Tey Road and Upminster Library.
Festivities include children's rides (at Upminster Junior School), Hornchurch and Upminster Rotary float/Santa Sleigh, Upminster Baptist Church Choir, Romford Drum and Trumpet Corp.
Harold Hill
Sunday 23 November 2025, 12noon to 6pm
Join in the fun at Hilldene Shopping Centre, Harold Hill, for a free Christmas switch-on event featuring music, singers, dancers, market stalls, free children's rides and meet Santa.
The Mayor of Havering, Cllr Sue Ospreay, will switch on the tree lights at 5.30pm.
Elm Park
Friday 28 November 2025, 3.30pm to 6pm
The Christmas in Elm Park free event takes place across various locations and will feature stilt walkers, carousel, face painting, balloon modelling, a ukulele band, Bedrock Radio, Lightnin Drama, and meet Father Christmas (free tickets can be booked at the Eye Clinic).
The Christmas tree lighting will take place at 5pm.
Collier Row
Friday 28 November 2025, 4pm to 8pm
The free ‘The Grouch Who Stole Christmas’ event will take place at various locations around Collier Row Town Centre and feature carol singers, a reindeer pen (outside Keys & Lee), face painting, craft trail, children’s characters (the Grinch, Elf on the Shelf and many more).
Various stalls will also be located within the North Romford Community Centre and the Ascension Church.
The Christmas tree lights will be switched on at 6pm.
Harold Wood
Saturday 29 November 2025, 3pm to 7pm.
The free ‘Light Before Christmas’ event in Harold Wood takes place at Station Road Car Park, 51 Station Road, and will feature live music, a charity Christmas market, nativity, food venders and meet Santa and the Elves.
Mayor of Havering, Councillor Sue Ospreay, said:
“We are all looking forward to welcoming in the festive period in Havering with the upcoming Christmas events.
“Switching on the Christmas tree lights marks the start of the festivities and it will be great to see so many residents come along to help bring in the festive season in each town centre.
“Thanks to all the sponsors and individual community groups for supporting this year’s events.”
Leader of Havering Council, Councillor Ray Morgon, said:
“Each Christmas event is the perfect opportunity for visitors to come into our local town centres and join in the festivities whilst supporting the local economy – as part of our Keep it Local campaign.
“We would have been unable to fully fund Christmas lights, trees and events this year because of the continued savings the Council needs to make due to year-on-year Government funding reductions and the escalating costs in social care and homelessness.
“So, it’s great that thanks to the generosity of local businesses and community groups that our town centres will be able to uphold our festive traditions in Havering this Christmas.”