Shipston’s Victorian Evening Moves to a Sunday After More Than 25 Years

The Rotary's Christmas event in Shipston-on-Stour will run from 2pm to 6pm on Sunday 29 November, with the lights switched on at 5pm.

By Alex Harrington 1 min read Source: Shipston Town Council
Shops on the High Street, Shipston-on-Stour
High Street, Shipston-on-Stour. Photo: Bikeboy, CC BY-SA 2.0

Shipston-on-Stour’s Victorian Evening is moving to a Sunday afternoon after more than 25 years on a Friday night. This year it will be held on Sunday 29 November, from 2pm to 6pm, in the town centre, with the Christmas lights switch-on at 5pm, Shipston Town Council says.

The Rotary Club of Shipston-on-Stour, which runs the event, decided on the change because the evening has outgrown its old two-hour slot. Rotary President Fay Ivens told the Town Council:

“The size of the event has grown and grown and we felt it was time for a review, with the increase in Shipston’s population and possible further growth in the future. Holding the event on a Sunday will allow a longer shopping and entertainment time for both the stallholders and shoppers, with more events throughout the afternoon and the grand switch on of the town lights and Tree of Life lights at 5pm.”

What changes for visitors

  • Four hours instead of two: stalls and entertainment from 2pm, the lights on at 5pm, and another hour afterwards to look round and shop.
  • No Friday closure: the town centre used to close to traffic on a Friday, so people had to fit their weekend shopping in that morning. That rush goes.
  • The favourites stay: the pig roast, the choir, the Shipston Town Band and Santa in his grotto are all still on.
  • The Tree of Life: its lights, which carry dedications to loved ones in support of Shipston Home Nursing, go on at the same time as the town lights.

The event has raised thousands of pounds for charity over the years. Road closure times for the Sunday haven’t been published yet; we’ll add them when the council issues its notice.

For what to expect on the day and where to eat and drink in Shipston, see our Shipston Victorian Evening guide, and for every other date this season, Christmas in Stratford-upon-Avon 2026.

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Alex Harrington

Alex Harrington grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon and runs What's up, Stratford? as an independent guide to the town.

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