Scarborough Lights 2026

See Scarborough sparkle and shine with light installations, illuminations of the town’s iconic landmarks, and take part in free light-based activities for all the family, as Scarborough Lights returns from 12 November – 20 December.

Highlights from this year’s programme include Scarborough: 400 Years and Beyond, at St Mary’s Church. Featuring a series of animated projections showing aspects of Scarborough's history. This wonderful exhibition explores how the 400th anniversary of the first seaside spa town in England fits into the wider context of Scarborough’s history. 

It includes beautiful handmade illuminations and lanterns on themes chosen by the public exploring the town’s history, and also looks forward to what people’s hopes and wishes are for the future.

The finale event – Glow in the Park – promises magical circus acts in Falsgrave Park on 20 December. Be wowed by aerial acrobats and underwater mermaids, marvel at LED jugglers and hula-hoopers, take part in a drumming circle, and experience the wonder of poi - all beautifully lit in this park setting.

The acts will be dotted around the park, with a designated route along tarmac paths to follow. Take your time looking at each act, before moving on to the next. Tickets are priced at just £5/£3 and available at https://scarboroughfair.uk/events/glow-in-the-park/

The night sky also gets a focus at two events, run by Astro Dog, including an Aurora Experience at St Columba’s Church from 16-22 November (not 18 November) with atmospheric lighting, timelapse footage, film screenings, astrophotography exhibition and a science and discovery area.

The second is the opportunity to go Stargazing at Scarborough Castle, at a much-reduced rate of just £10/£8, from 11-13 December. Have a laser-guided sky tour and learn constellation navigation in the open skies of the Castle headland.

The events taking place around the town will include the return of the popular Ships Ahoy illuminations in the harbour and the Dino-bout displays on some of Scarborough's roundabouts.

Catherine Goble, Festival Manager, said:

“We have 28 activities and illuminations as part of this year’s Scarborough Lights programme with a wide variety of events on offer from UV mini-mini golf at Jam Jar Wine and Pinball Lounge and a UV art exhibition in the Market Vaults, to a community-created miniature market light display on the Market mezzanine and the ever-popular dino-bouts on Vernon Road.

“The creativity in this town never fails to astound me, with some wonderful ideas and enthusiasm coming together to create a winter festival of light.”

In addition, as we Countdown to Christmas, there will be three different trails in the town centre.

• Choose Your Own Scarborough takes the methodology of Choose Your Own Adventure books and translates it to an interactive illuminated trail across various locations through the town.
• A Christmas Carol tells the Dickens story through silhouettes in business windows and an installation of the three ghosts in Scarborough Market Vaults,
• Sherbatella’s Seaside Sparkle will see illuminated fairies popping up and a live character appearing in participating businesses.

These will be supplemented with free street entertainment on Westborough on the afternoons of 5, 12 and 19 December.

More information on all these events, and others, plus links to get tickets, can be found at https://www.scarboroughfair.uk/events. 

Keep an eye on @thescarbfair on Facebook and Instagram to find out more about everything that is happening this winter. 

Countdown to Christmas is supported by David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, and funded by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.

The Scarborough Fair is made possible with funding from the Pride in Place programme, which has supported the delivery of all Scarborough Lights events.

Event Diary

Daily Events