The Great Grimsby Christmas Festival is set to bring festive cheer, live entertainment and a spectacular Christmas parade to the town centre on Saturday 28 November 2026.
From 12pm to 7pm, the town centre will come alive with live music, the Merry Makers’ Market, family entertainment and the spectacular Christmas Parade, alongside plenty of seasonal food and drink, providing the perfect way to kick off the Christmas season. Events and activities will take place across the town centre, with highlights including:
● The Main Stage at St James’ Square will host an afternoon of live entertainment, including live music, a gospel choir, musical performances and solo artists, before the day reaches its finale with the Christmas tree lighting at 5:45pm, followed by a headline performance from The Rumble Band. The Lincolnshire-based 13-piece Soul and Motown band has more than 40 years of performing experience and has built a strong reputation for their energetic live shows.
● Christmas Market: Visitors can browse a fantastic selection of handmade gifts, crafts and seasonal treats from more than 30 local traders across St James’ Square and Grimsby Minster, with plenty of opportunities to find unique gifts and locally made produce.
The Great Grimsby Christmas Parade is back too!
One of the biggest highlights of the day, the Great Grimsby Christmas Parade will once again make its way through the town centre, bringing spectacular performers, festive entertainment and community spirit to the streets.
Proudly sponsored by Ørsted, this year’s parade will have a Nordic Viking Christmas theme. A spectacular willow lantern longboat will feature alongside the Grimsby Boar and Owl, creating a striking centrepiece for this year’s procession.
“Ørsted are proud to sponsor the Great Grimsby’s Christmas Festival. It sounds like it’s going to be a fantastic day to kick off the festive season. This year has been incredible for Grimsby and what better way to celebrate than everyone coming together – let’s light the streets with our incredible culture and community.” Lauren Little, Senior Stakeholder Advisor at Ørsted.
The festive fun begins before the big day, with families and residents invited to create their own willow lantern to carry in the Christmas Parade.
Free places are now available for a special lantern-making workshop taking place on Saturday 14 November, delivered by local creative organisation What If We Create at their unit People Make Grimsby, in Freshney Place, next door to Next: www.tickettailor.com/events/greatgrimsbyschristmasfestival
Christmas Shop Window Competition
Local businesses are being encouraged to get into the festive spirit by taking part in this year’s Christmas Shop Window Competition.
Grimsby town centre businesses are invited to decorate their shop windows around this year’s Nordic Viking Christmas theme, helping to bring extra festive sparkle to the streets and create a welcoming atmosphere for visitors throughout the Christmas season.
The competition is a chance for local businesses to showcase their creativity, with a £100 voucher for a local restaurant up for grabs for the winning team!
To be eligible, shop windows must be clearly visible from the street and located on the ground floor. To enter, businesses should take a photograph of their decorated window and submit it via the website by Thursday 26 November. Applications to get involved are open now at discovernortheastlincolnshire.co.uk/event/grimsbychristmasfestival2026/
Councillor Bob Callison, Portfolio Holder for Environment, Tourism and Culture, said: “We’re thrilled to bring the festival back for another year.
“It’ll be a day no one wants to miss out on with live entertainment and plenty of other stalls to look at too.”
He added: “I would also like to thanks Ørsted for sponsoring the Christmas Parade which is sure to be one of the main attractions – I’ve no doubt that this will put everyone in the Christmas spirit.”
Whether you’re looking to enjoy a great family day out, get started on your Christmas shopping or simply soak up the festive atmosphere, the Great Grimsby Christmas Festival promises a full day of entertainment and activities for the local community.
The 2026 Great Grimsby Christmas Festival is made possible by North East Lincolnshire Council through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with the generous support from Ørsted, sponsor of the Great Grimsby Christmas Parade.
To keep up to date with all Great Grimsby Christmas Festival news and updates, follow Discover North East Lincolnshire on Facebook, Instagram or visit: grimsbychristmasfestival2026.
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