Event Details
Dates: Saturday 29th November until the New Year
Location: Westbourne, Southbourne, Boscombe Bournemouth Lower Gardens to & Pier Approach in
Coastal BID Brings Christmas Cheer to Our Coastal Towns
The Coastal BID is excited to announce that we will be bringing back our bespoke Christmas lights, sparkly trees and events to our districts once again this Christmas!
Alongside the night twinkle and sparkle we will be putting on a series of festive events across our coastal areas this Christmas season, spreading joy and creating magical memories for families, friends, and visitors. Save the dates and join us for a wonderful Christmas experience in Westbourne, Southbourne, Boscombe, and Bournemouth all the way to pier approach .
Saturday 29th November, 5:30 to 6:30pm
Westbourne is ready to glow once again as we welcome the festive season with our much-loved Christmas Tree Light Switch On.
Join us on Saturday 29th November from 5:30pm to 6:30pm for a joyful community celebration filled with music, smiles and seasonal magic, proudly hosted by Bournemouth Coastal BID in support of our wonderful local traders.
This year we are delighted to welcome true local legend Harry Redknapp along with the Mayor of Bournemouth, who will switch on the Christmas lights and officially usher in the festive season for Westbourne.
The wonderful Funky Little Choir will lead a joyful festive singalong, Santa will be flying in for photos and cheer and the whole evening promises to be a heart-warming, family-friendly celebration with a true community feel.
Thanks to the generosity and Partnership of the local traders, special thanks to Maggie at Baks Menswear for helping bring a true local hero to Westbourne, The Hutch and Warren & the Hare for providing ‘Pines and Needles’ as sponsors of the Christmas Tree, Ete Westbourne for flying in Santa and the commitment of Westbourne’s traders, who have contributed their own money to enhance even more Christmas lights that have been added this year to bring extra sparkle to the high street.
The Westbourne lights now stand as a gift to the community from the traders themselves in partnership with Bournemouth Coastal BID. This event simply would not be possible without the spirit, generosity and pride of the traders who make Westbourne so special.
Bournemouth Coastal BID have activated the marketing campaign across both digital and print media to ensure footfall, and press coverage and visibility for our traders at this time of year. We invite everyone to bring friends, family and theirs best singing voice to help light up Westbourne for Christmas and to enjoy shopping, eating and drinking local.
Saturday 6th December – 10am – 4pm
On Saturday 6th December, Christmas comes to Westbourne in full swing! From 10 am until 4pm, Coastal BID will host a day packed with entertainment, including choirs, opera singers, and a visit from Santa himself hosted by the Westbourne Rotary Club who are raising funds all day for Hope for Food. Children will love meeting the friendly donkeys we will have on the M&S Green, while interactive entertainers will be spreading festive cheer. Every Saturday morning throughout December, Westbourne will also feature live music performances, making each weekend a special celebration.
Southbourne on the Green – Saturday 13th December
Southbourne’s beloved “Southbourne on the Green” returns on Saturday 13th December. This community led event in partnerships with Bournemouth Coastal BID is a highlight of the Christmas season, bringing together everything that makes Southbourne special. This year’s highlight will be international Brass and percussions Band Gugge2000 who will take over the Southbourne Highstreet with their upbeat carnival music made famous by their adaptation of classic rock and pop sounds. Come and be surprised as you hear all-time favourites on instruments you never imagined possible!
Local school Stourfield will also bring their choir singing more traditional songs and Local group ‘ Sounds Like Fun’ will be performing too. Music from 10:30 am, including Santa’s grotto, where children can meet Santa and share their Christmas wishes. Donkeys and The famous Bournemouth goats will be on the Green, adding to the festive atmosphere. It’s a perfect day for families to soak up the Christmas spirit in the heart of Southbourne and support local businesses.
Boscombe Christmas Grotto – Saturday 6th December
Boscombe’s annual Christmas grotto hosted by the Boscombe and Southbourne Rotary will open its doors on Saturday 6th December with support from Coastal BID and the Sovereign Centre with singers and entertainers welcoming visitors as well as face painter to open the doors for the grotto. Coastal BID will be donating some tickets to the magical event to Creative Kids, a local CIC making it a magical start to the festive season.
The grotto will run from Saturday 6th December to Saturday 23rd December, offering a magical experience for children and families throughout the month. The Grotto will be inside the Sovereign Centre at previous location of JD Sports. There will also be a daily projector on the precinct of a magical Christmas story for children to watch near our Christmas Tree for everyone to enjoy.
Christmas in Bournemouth
Coastal BID is proud to bring our Coastal area a new reignited and updated event Christmas in Bournemouth. The dazzling lights, stretching from the Lower Gardens to Pier Approach, have become an iconic part of Bournemouth’s Christmas experience. The display this year will include a Christmas Tree Maze, interactive light colour selections, Santa’s wooden log grotto, a kid’s interactive area, a mini polar express train AND for the first time ever Santa on the RockReef PierZIP.
This event draws visitors from near and far, boosting the local economy, supporting our hoteliers, and creating a must-visit attraction for families and tourists. This year’s installation promises to be even more enchanting, lighting up the town and making Bournemouth a truly magical place at Christmas time.
Celebrating the Efforts of Our Local Traders
Bournemouth Coastal BID recognises the incredible work of our local traders, who go above and beyond to make our coastal districts welcoming and festive. Their beautiful window displays and commitment to creating a joyous atmosphere are at the heart of our Christmas celebrations. We invite everyone to come and see their hard work, enjoy the festive events, and experience the magic of our coastal towns this Christmas. Each area will have their own treats for you to enjoy.
Please follow @lovewesbourne and @visitsouthbourne and @coastalbid for updates!
An Invitation to Experience Christmas by the Coast
Bournemouth Coastal BID’s Christmas events are an open invitation to the public to bring family and friends to enjoy the festive season together. Come and experience the charm, wonderment, creativity, and community spirit of our coastal districts as we celebrate Christmas. Your visit helps support local businesses and adds to the joy and vibrancy of the season.
We can’t wait to welcome you and to celebrate our businesses!
Fiona McArthur, Head of Bournemouth Coastal BID, said:
“We are excited to sponsor and work in partnership with local suppliers Seventa to support Christmas in Bournemouth which in turn draws some wonderful crowds to our coastal towns. Christmas time is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when local businesses and partners come together with a shared vision. Christmas in Bournemouth not only adds festive sparkle to our town but also delivers real economic value driving overnight stays, increasing visitor spending, and supporting the incredible people who make up our hospitality and tourism sectors. Our Coastal Businesses have our support throughout the year with wonderful events and activations that distinguish their uniqueness and this Christmas will highlight local activation and individuality. We’re delighted to play our part and look forward to building on this success in the years to come.”
Pubwatch/Townwatch members
New Years Eve is a busy time of the year and Dorset Police needs to ensure that there are enough police resources to mitigate the risk in the NTE for New Year Eve.
Please could we ask that you take a few minutes to complete the following form to assist us in our planning processes.
Bournemouth Coastal BID have provided a FREE crime reporting App called SentrySIS. The poster below has been delivered to hotels across the Bournemouth area to aid with reporting crime.
When?
- 5 December 2025 – 31 December 2025
- Friday & Saturdays plus New Years
- From 9pm-7am
Where?
The Vanguard Security team will be patrolling the area around all hotels and responding to call outs.
Who to Contact?
If you need assistance call our remote monitoring service who will attend as quickly as possible 08000 886 121
