Christmas Lights Switch-On in Gosforth 2026

Gosforth has two Christmas lights switch-ons, and neither is run by the council. The first and biggest is at the headquarters of the cancer charity Daft as a Brush on the Great North Road, where the building is covered in lights every year. In 2026 it is on Friday 13 November at 6pm, and it is free. The second is the High Street's #lightupGosforth evening later in the month, which has not yet been given a 2026 date.

The date, the time and the place

The Daft as a Brush Christmas lights switch-on is on Friday 13 November 2026, with the switch-on at 6pm. The charity's provisional programme starts at 5.15pm. It takes place at Daft as a Brush House, Great North Road, Gosforth, NE3 2DR, at Three Mile Bridge on the northern edge of Gosforth.

Entry is free and there is no ticket or booking. The charity says donations are welcome but optional. They help pay for its free transport for cancer patients travelling to and from treatment across the North East.

The charity notes that times and activities may change, so check its Christmas page on the day before you set off.

What happens

The programme announced so far includes festive entertainment from the Harton Harmonisers choir, carol singing, the Salvation Army Brass Band, a welcome and Christmas music building up to the switch-on itself. The charity plans to share the switch-on live on its Facebook and Instagram pages, with details to follow.

This is not a few strings of bulbs. The charity has decorated its building and the garden behind it for years, and in 2021 its founder estimated that more than 200,000 lights covered the building. Families have gathered outside to watch the switch-on since at least 2017.

The lights then stay on every night from 13 November to 24 December 2026. The nightly viewing hours had not been confirmed when we checked on 3 November, so look at the charity's page before making a special trip later in the season.

Best for: Best for families who want a short, free, early-evening outing with carols and a brass band.

The Gosforth Christmas Lights Trail

New for 2026, Daft as a Brush is also running a Gosforth Christmas Lights Trail. It offered a box of 3,000 lights to each of the first 100 Gosforth homes that signed up, and the homes taking part will appear on an interactive digital map. The charity says all 100 places have now been taken, but it is still inviting people to get in touch. Once the map is published, it will be a good excuse for a walk round the neighbourhood after dark.

Getting there and parking

There is no parking on the Daft as a Brush site. The charity asks visitors to park at the City of Newcastle Golf Club next door, which shares the NE3 2DR postcode. Expect it to fill up close to 6pm, so arrive early or walk if you live nearby.

Daft as a Brush House is on the Great North Road, so buses heading north out of Gosforth pass the door. The nearest Metro station, Regent Centre, is a fair walk to the south, so a bus is the easier option if you are coming by Metro. The pavements along the Great North Road are busy with traffic, so bring a torch or something reflective for children if you are walking home after dark.

Food, drink and somewhere warm

The charity says refreshments will be on sale at the golf club, which is the simplest option on the night. For a sit-down meal before or after, The Three Mile Inn is a large family-friendly pub and restaurant just down the Great North Road. On a Friday evening in the run-up to Christmas, booking ahead is sensible.

If you would rather head back into Gosforth, the High Street has plenty of choice, and several places took part in last year's High Street switch-on (see below).

The High Street switch-on (2026 date TBC)

Gosforth High Street has its own lights evening, #lightupGosforth, organised by the estate agent Sanderson Young. Christmas trees are fixed in brackets at first-floor level along the High Street and switched on outside its office on the corner of Hawthorn Road.

It began in 2024. In 2025 it was held on Friday 28 November, and Sanderson Young put the crowd at nearly 1,000. There were 77 trees, children from St Oswald's Hospice pressed the switch and school choirs sang. Several places stayed open late with mulled wine and festive food, including Babucho, Baby Grey, Etto on the Park, Kult and Osters by Lovage.

The 2026 High Street date has not been announced. Both earlier events were on the last Friday of November. The 2024 event was announced only a few days in advance, so keep an eye on Sanderson Young's news page from mid-November. We will update this guide when it is confirmed.

Parking in the centre of Gosforth is easier in the evening, as most car parks are free after 6pm. Our guide to parking in Gosforth has the full list.

Making a season of it

For everything else happening in Gosforth over the festive period, from Santa visits and carol services to the Civic Theatre's December diary, see our guide to Christmas in Gosforth. Our what's on this weekend page keeps track of events across the area.

Know something about this year's line-up, or spotted a change to the timings? Get in touch and we will update this guide.