Wigan Council's Frost Festival is set to be a Christmas cracker
The free events, including a family-friendly Christmas lights switch-on, will take place across the borough from November 14 to January 1, with many remaining free to attend.
This year's programme for Frost Festival, the Wigan Council-backed range of Christmas-themed events across the borough, has been announced!
A chart-topping 90s band will launch Christmas in Wigan town centre this year at a free, family-friendly Christmas lights switch-on event.
The event, on Sunday November 22, will welcome 90s pop and dance music stars D:Ream. The band, who had two top five albums in the UK charts in the mid-90s and are most known for their iconic anthems ‘Things Can Only Get Better’ and ‘U R The Best Thing’, will headline the stage programme in Wigan town centre.
The event will also feature a packed schedule of free music and entertainment, and everyone will be able to enjoy Wigan’s Christmas lights switch-on.
Sunday November 22 is also the last chance to visit Light Night Wigan, a fabulous trail of beautiful light installations across Mesnes Park and town centre venues. Tickets are needed to access the Mesnes Park part of Light Night Wigan.
The Wigan town centre event is sponsored by Glow, the team behind the Grand Arcade’s Santa’s Grotto. Tickets to see Santa in the Grand Arcade will also be available from this date.
Leigh’s much-loved lantern parade, Light Up Leigh, is set to return for 2026. The event will take place on Saturday November 14, bringing together a spectacular evening full of creativity, community spirit and festive magic.
Activities in Leigh town centre will begin from 12pm, with the community parade departing from Leigh Miners Welfare Institute from 5.15pm and lighting up the streets with illuminated lanterns, gigantic puppets and mesmerising performers as it moves through the town centre.
Coun Chris Ready, cabinet portfolio holder for communities and neighbourhoods, said: “We’re proud to be offering such a fantastic programme of family events across the borough to help get everyone in the festive spirit.”
“The cost of living is something we know that lots of people are worried about, especially coming into Christmas, so it’s important to us that many of these events remain free whenever possible for people to attend, and I’d like to thank all the local businesses who have supported these activities.”
Over at Haigh and new for Christmas 2026, there will be an ice rink for all the family to experience (tickets needed). This will open on Sunday November 15, along with the chance to enjoy Haigh’s Christmas lights switch-on.
The free parking offer on Wigan Council owned car parks starts on November 16, and you’ll be able to find out more at www.wigan.gov.uk/carparking from this date.
The offer will include free parking on weekdays from 3pm and all day at the weekends. This offer will run until January 1.
Other festive activities across the borough will include:
- Christmas Book fair at Wigan Library on Saturday November 21
- Golborne Christmas lights switch-on event on Thursday November 26
- Tyldesley Christmas lights switch-on event on Saturday November 28
- Pemberton Christmas markets open on Sunday November 29
- Atherton Christmas markets open on Saturday December 5
- Standish Christmas markets open on Saturday December 4
- Ashton Christmas lights switch-on event on Sunday December 6
For more information on this year’s Frost Festival programme and for links to relevant ticket websites, go to www.visitwigan.com