Dublin's Christmas lights don't all come on at once. Shopping centres and town committees schedule their own switch-on afternoons right through to the first week of December, usually with a stage show, a choir or Santa arriving just before the big moment. If you want to see the lights actually come on, rather than just find them lit on your next visit, timing is everything. Here is every date confirmed so far, in order.
Already lit in the city centre
Grafton Street and Henry Street switched on on Wednesday 11 November at 5pm. If you are after the switch-on moment itself, these two are done for the year; everything below is still ahead.
Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November
Liffey Valley, Clondalkin
Santa's Arrival at Liffey Valley
Date: Sat 14 Nov
Location: Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, Dublin
See details
14 November. Entertainment from 1pm; Santa switches on the lights at 4pm. Free.
Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, Dublin 2
Christmas Lights Switch-On at Powerscourt Townhouse
Date: Sat 14 Nov
Location: Powerscourt Townhouse Centre and Tour, Dublin
See details
14 November, 4pm, with live music from The Honeydews. Free.
Blanchardstown Centre
Christmas Lights Switch-On at Blanchardstown Centre
Date: Sun 15 Nov
Location: Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, Blanchardstown
See details
15 November. Family entertainment from 3pm with Doireann Garrihy and Santa; lights switch on at 5pm. Free. Best for: the biggest stage show of the opening weekend.
The Grand Hotel, Malahide
Christmas Lights at The Grand Hotel
Date: Sun 15 Nov
Location: Grove Road, Malahide
See details
15 November, 4.30pm, with James Patrice and Santa. Free, no booking needed.
Late November: 21 to 29 November
Bray: Civic Plaza, Main Street
Bray’s Official Town Centre Christmas Lights Switch-On
Date: Sat 21 Nov
Location: Civic Plaza, Bray
See details
21 November. Free festivities 4.30pm to 5.30pm, with a singalong and Santa arriving by steam train. The organisers haven't published the exact switch-on minute. Best for: the steam-train Santa, a lovely touch for younger children.
Greystones: Burnaby Park
Christmas in Greystones: Santa and the Lights Switch-On
Date: Sat 21 Nov
Location: Burnaby Park, Greystones
See details
21 November, 4.30pm to 7pm. Santa tours the town, family entertainment in the park, and Santa switches on the lights to close the evening. Free.
Wicklow Town: Abbey Street
Wicklow Town Christmas Lights and Santa Parade
Date: Sun 22 Nov
Location: Abbey Street (stage outside AIB), Wicklow
See details
22 November. The Santa parade and the turning on of the lights, with music from 3.30pm on the stage outside AIB. Free.
Russborough House, Blessington
Christmas Tree Lighting at Russborough House
Date: Sun 22 Nov
Location: Russborough House and Parklands, Blessington
See details
22 November. Carols and dance from 4pm; the tree is lit at 4.45pm by a child picked in a prize draw. Register with Russborough in advance.
Blanchardstown village: Main Street
Blanchardstown Village Christmas Tree Lighting
Date: Thu 26 Nov
Location: Main Street, Blanchardstown, Blanchardstown
See details
26 November, 6pm, with the Mayor of Fingal and Blanchardstown Brass Band. The band's own schedule says 5.30pm, so arrive by then to catch the start. Free.
Mulhuddart Village: Blakestown Road
Mulhuddart Christmas Tree Lighting Festival
Date: Fri 27 Nov
Location: Mulhuddart Village, Blakestown Road, Mulhuddart
See details
27 November. Christmas Tree Lighting Festival, 5pm to 8pm; the road is closed to traffic from 3pm. Free.
Naas Courthouse
Naas Christmas Lights Switch-On with Celine Byrne
Date: Sat 28 Nov
Location: Naas Courthouse, Naas
See details
28 November. The lights switch on at 5pm with singer Celine Byrne. Santa is at the library from 11am to 4pm, and choirs perform from noon. Free. Best for: making a whole afternoon of it before the evening switch-on.
Stepaside Village
Santa's Arrival and Christmas Lights Switch-On in Stepaside Village
Date: Sat 28 Nov
Location: Stepaside Village, Stepaside
See details
28 November, 6pm. Santa arrives to switch on the lights. Free.
Clonsilla: Porters Road junction
Clonsilla Christmas Tree Lighting
Date: Sun 29 Nov
Location: Porters Road junction, Clonsilla, Clonsilla
See details
29 November, 5pm. A community gathering and a Blanchardstown Brass Band performance. Free.
Skerries Mills
Christmas Markets at Skerries Mills
Date: Sun 29 Nov
Location: Skerries Mills, Skerries
See details
29 November. The Mills' first outdoor Christmas tree lights up at sunset during its Advent Christmas market. Free.
Early December: 3 to 6 December
Balbriggan: George's Square
3 December. Carols from 5.30pm; the lights go on at 6pm. Free.
Leixlip: Court Yard Hotel
Court Yard Hotel Christmas Market, Leixlip
Date: Sun 6 Dec
Location: Court Yard Hotel, Leixlip
See details
6 December. A free Christmas market from 2pm, with the Leixlip Town Christmas lights switched on during the afternoon. The exact time isn't published yet.
Baldoyle Community Hall
Christmas Comes to Baldoyle: Tree Lighting Show and Craft Market
Date: Sun 6 Dec
Location: Baldoyle Community Hall, Baldoyle
See details
6 December. A craft market from noon and the tree lighting show from 5pm. Everyone welcome.
FAQs
Is there a Malahide village switch-on too?
A village-wide ceremony is usually held, but the 2026 date hasn't been announced; we'll add it once it is. Don't confuse it with the Grand Hotel's own free event (15 November), or with Wonderlights at Malahide Castle, a separate ticketed light trail.
Do I need to book?
No: almost all of these are free, turn-up events. Russborough House is the exception, so register with the venue beforehand.
Is Santa guaranteed to be there?
Most switch-ons include a Santa arrival, but if you want a one-to-one grotto visit rather than a wave from the stage, see our guide to meeting Santa. Those are separate bookings, often paid.
More Christmas in Dublin
- Christmas markets in Dublin and nearby in 2026
- Where to meet Santa in Dublin and nearby in 2026
- Where to go ice skating in Dublin and Wicklow this Christmas
- All Christmas events in Dublin
Spotted an error, a confirmed time or a date we're missing? Let us know and we'll update the guide.
