Santa at South Shields Market is on Saturday 21 November; the lights go on Thursday 19th

Tue 10 Nov 2026 · Written for Visit South Shields from the sources below.

Checked 10 Nov 2026.

We've corrected one date in our Christmas listings. The council's own South Shields Market page puts the free Santa visit in the Market Square on Saturday 21 November, not on switch-on day. (Visit South Tyneside: South Shields Market; checked 10 Nov 2026)

Saturday 21 November: Santa at the market

From 11am to 4pm, Santa and his Elf visit South Shields Market, with songs from the Harton Harmonisers choir and free face painting for children. The Saturday market runs from 9am to 3pm outside The Word. (Visit South Tyneside: South Shields Market; checked 10 Nov 2026)

A listings site, High Life North, still shows these activities on Thursday 19 November. We've gone with the council's page, but check it before you set off. (High Life North listing: Free Family Entertainment, South Shields Market Square; checked 10 Nov 2026)

Thursday 19 November: lights switch-on

The Christmas lights switch-on in the Market Place is still on Thursday 19 November. The council hasn't published a start time yet, so we'll add one as soon as it does. (South Tyneside Council: Free family fun comes to South Shields Market; checked 10 Nov 2026)

The same afternoon, Santa and Mrs Claus are at Hays Travel in the Denmark Centre on Fowler Street from 4pm to 6pm. It's £5 per child, raising money for the Red Bench Project, and tickets are sold in the branch. (Shields Gazette: Santa at Hays Travel, South Shields; checked 10 Nov 2026)

Coming up after that in the Market Square: Westoe Brass Band on Saturday 28 November (11am to 1pm), then Jen Stevens on Saturday 5 December and, with Bubble Play, on Saturday 19 December (both 1pm to 3pm). All free. (Visit South Tyneside: South Shields Market; checked 10 Nov 2026)

More: Panto & Christmas listings, What's on this week and Parking (The Word car park on River Drive is closed from 16 November).