This year’s festive season officially starts with two days of brilliant family events in the town centre, including the return of the popular Christmas parade.
There is also the excitement of the new ‘Shine On, Boro’ light installation from the creators of Nightfall, and the Christmas Lights Switch On, sponsored by Everyone Active.
On Sunday 23 November, the magical Christmas parade will take a looped route from Middlesbrough Town Hall.
Cheer on Santa, local community groups and schools as they travel from the Town Hall down Corporation Road, turning left onto Linthorpe Road and down the pedestrianised area, before turning left onto Grange Road, and finally onto Albert Road back towards the Town Hall.
On the same day as the Christmas Parade, the Christmas Lights Switch on will be held on Centre Square, proudly sponsored by Everyone Active.
Visitors can enjoy market stalls, fairground rides and a jam-packed stage programme including local dance acts and a pop party with your favourite family-friendly hits.
The programme kicks off at 12.10pm with Club Groovy By Urban Kaos, the fabulously funky disco and theatre much-loved by families across Teesside.
The stage programme will run as follows:
• 12.10pm – 1.45pm: community stage including performances from
Urban Kaos, Tees Dance, Teesside Musical Theatre Youth Company,
and Middlesbrough Youth Theatre
• 2pm – 3pm: break for Christmas Parade
• 3pm – 4.55pm: festive party with dance acts, pop hits, Apollo Big Sing
and the stars of Middlesbrough Theatre’s pantomime
• 5pm: Lights switch on
• 5pm – 18.30pm: Paul Skerritt Band.
Fairground rides and market stalls will operate on Centre Square from 12pm to 9pm.
In an exciting addition to the weekend, the organisers of Nightfall - Stellar Creates - is bringing a brand-new pop-up light festival to the town centre.
Shine On Boro will run across Saturday and Sunday, 4.30pm – 9.30pm, and feature five light installations around Centre Square and Middlesbrough Town Hall. Visitors can also take part in festive creative workshops at MIMA and the Town Hall.
Cllr Philippa Storey, Middlesbrough’s Deputy Mayor and Executive member for Culture, said: “There’s not long to go now – our fabulous real Christmas tree has arrived in Centre Square and this weekend promises to be magical.
“I’m looking forward to magical days in our town centre with fun and happy memories for people of all ages. It is a delight to be able to bring the parade back, it means so much to children and families in Middlesbrough.”
For more information on the weekend’s events, visit Christmas 2025 - We are Middlesbrough
• The Middlesbrough Christmas Parade takes place on Sunday 23 November from 2pm.
• The Middlesbrough Christmas Lights Switch On takes place on Sunday 23 November from 12-6pm, with a stage programme running from 12.15pm.
• Middlesbrough’s festive lights will be switched on at 5pm. Shine On, Boro runs on Saturday 22 November and Sunday 23 November from 4.30-9.30pm.
• Thank you to Everyone Active for sponsoring the 2025 Christmas Lights Switch On.
