Perth's Christmas Lights Switch-On Weekend

Yes! All stage entertainment, Santa's Grotto, the Christmas Parade and many other activities are completely free. Charges apply to funfair rides and purchases from the Festive Market and The Handmade Show.

The big Christmas Lights Switch-On takes place at 6pm on Saturday 21 November, from the main stage on Tay Street, beside the Royal George Hotel. Please note, this is further along Tay Street than usual.  The countdown will be followed by a fireworks display over the River Tay. There will be additional screens with audio along Tay Street.

For 2026, Perth's annual Christmas Parade has moved from Saturday to Sunday 22 November. The parade begins at 1pm, leaving Thimblerow Car Park and making its way through the city centre to Tay Street via Old High Street and High Street.

Yes. An autism-friendly Santa session is scheduled for Friday 20 November, from 7pm to 8pm, at Horsecross Plaza on Mill Street. Further details about access arrangements and what families can expect will be provided.

There are three entertainment stages on Saturday and two on Sunday, featuring live music, local performers and family entertainment. 

Saturday Tay Street Stage: Hosted by Lionel Vinyl and Stephen Mulhern

• QFX
• Pitbull UK
• Red Hot Chilli Pipers + special guest
• The Kevon Bennett Band

Radio Tay presenters will be joining the celebrations on King Edward Street and Mill Street over both days.

• Saturday: Gregor and Lindsay hosting the Mill Street stage, and Amber hosting the King Edward Street stage
• Sunday: Amber will host the Mill Street stage, and Lynne Hogan will be joining the fun on the King Edward Street

For full line-ups and performance times of all three stages, visit our dedicated Saturday and Sunday programme pages, coming very soon.

There's something happening across all three days, from Santa's Grotto and the festive market to live entertainment, parades, family activities and the Sunday evening drone show. Explore our Friday, Saturday and Sunday event listings for full details of activities, locations and timings.

See the Christmas Lights Switch-On Weekend category in our Events Listings Calendar.

Perth city centre has a fantastic selection of independent cafés, restaurants, pubs and bars, perfect for everything from a quick coffee and cake to a family lunch or evening meal. See our Business Directory's Food and Drink listings for inspiration. 

You'll also find festive food and drink stalls throughout the Christmas market. 

Parking

Parking in Perth city centre is generally easy and offers an abundance of choice. However, as this is a busy event with road closures planned, we do recommend trying the Park and Ride or using Public Transport.  

See the Perth and Kinross Council parking pages for details.

Park & Ride

The main park and ride facility in Perth is located at Broxden Roundabout (PH2 0PX). 

• Location: Glasgow Road, Broxden Roundabout, Perth, PH2 0PX (accessible via the A9, A90, M90, and A85).
• Parking Spaces: 400 free spaces with a 72-hour maximum stay.
• Facilities: CCTV monitoring, electric vehicle (EV) chargers, a waiting room, public toilets, a staffed desk, an adjacent petrol station, and restaurants/hotels within 200 meters.
• Connections: To get from Broxden Park and Ride to Perth city centre, take the Stagecoach 7/7A/7B bus (running every 30 minutes) for a 7-to-11-minute trip costing about £1–£3. Or grab a local taxi for a 6-to-7-minute ride costing £7–£10.

Road Closures

Some city centre roads will be closed to accommodate the entertainment stages, Christmas Parade and other activities. Visitors are encouraged to plan their journey in advance. Full details of road closures will be available here ahead of the weekend.

Public transport options are also available. See next FAQ for details.

Perth's central location makes arriving by public transport super easy, with both Perth Bus Station on Leonard Street and Perth Railway Station just along the road, offering local electric bus routes, regional coaches, and direct train links across Scotland.

For residents, please use your local service. Details below.

Remember: Eligible Scottish residents under 22 or over 60 years old travel free with a valid National Entitlement Card.

Buses to Perth

• Perth Bus Station: Located on Leonard Street (an 8-minute walk from the main High Street), it handles local and regional bus services operated primarily by Stagecoach.
• City Centre Stops: Key roadside stops are located at South Street, Scott Street, Canal Street, and York Place.

Trains to Perth

• Perth Railway Station: Situated on Leonard Street (next to the bus station), managed by ScotRail.
• Connections: Offers direct and connecting services to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Inverness, and Aberdeen, as well as the Caledonian Sleeper.
• Facilities: Features a staffed ticket office, step-free access across platforms, waiting areas, and a Costa Coffee with Trainlines shop.

Local Routes

Find more details on the Perth & Kinross Council bus services page. 

• Local Perth Routes: Services connect the city centre to residential areas including Letham, Tulloch, Scone, Craigie, and North Muirton.
• Perth and Kinross Regional Routes: Services connect Perth to towns and villages such as Pitlochry, Dunkeld, Crieff, Blairgowrie, Auchterarder, Aberfeldy, and Kinross,
• Electric Fleet: Stagecoach runs near-silent electric single-deck buses on core local routes (such as Services 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9) equipped with contactless payment and USB charging.

We want everyone to enjoy Perth's Christmas celebrations. Accessible viewing arrangements, toilet facilities and additional support provisions are being planned for the weekend. Full accessibility information, including locations and facilities, will be published before the event.