What's On
Whitby at Christmas, 2026
By Jon Cosson · Updated 26 October 2026
Checked 26 October 2026. Details not yet published are marked as such and added as they appear.
Whitby does Christmas in two bursts: the town council's festival and market on the marina in mid-November, then the Krampus Run and the Boxing Day dip in December. Here are the confirmed 2026 dates and times, where to park while the festival takes over the Marina Front car park, and what is open on Christmas Day itself.
The festival and market take over the Marina Front car park, on the west side of the harbour.
Whitby Christmas Festival and market 2026
The Whitby Christmas Festival runs from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 November 2026 at the Marina Front car park on Langborne Road. It is run by Whitby Town Council, with traders in sheds, beach huts and gazebos, food and drink including hot chocolate and mulled wine, live music across the weekend and a fireworks display, though the fireworks time has not yet been published. Opening times are Friday 5pm to 8pm, Saturday 10am to 8pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm.
The festival at a glance
- Dates
- Friday 13 to Sunday 15 November 2026
- Times
- Friday 5pm to 8pm; Saturday 10am to 8pm; Sunday 10am to 4pm
- Venue
- Marina Front car park, Langborne Road, Whitby
- Organiser
- Whitby Town Council
- Cost
- Entry price not published; check the Whitby Town Council listing
- Fireworks
- A display is part of the festival weekend; the time is not yet published
Sources: This is the Coast, Whitby Town Council invites traders to join the 2026 Christmas Festival line-up and The Whitby Guide, Whitby Christmas Festival 2026.
Getting there and parking
The festival occupies the Marina Front car park, so that one is out for the weekend and you should park elsewhere. The nearest alternatives are Marina Back (2hrs minimum £4.90, 4hrs £8.10, 6hrs £10.20, 24hrs £13.10) and Endeavour Wharf near the station (As Marina Back: 2hrs minimum £4.90, 4hrs £8.10, 6hrs £10.20, 24hrs £13.10), with Church Street on the east side for the old town. The Park and Ride off the A171 is seasonal, so check whether it is operating in November before relying on it. Our parking guide lists every Whitby car park with current charges, and the Whitby buses guide covers the Coastliner, X93 and X4 if you would rather leave the car at home.
The Krampus Run and the Boxing Day dip
The Krampus Run is Saturday 5 December: horned, fur-clad figures parade through the town, in past years from the Bandstand along Pier Road to the Whalebones from about midday, with the Wyld Hunt the next day; the 2026 route and time are not yet published. It is loud and crowded, and small children may find the costumes frightening. On Boxing Day the Whitby Lions Dip gathers at the Bandstand, registration from 10am, fancy dress judging at 10.30 and everyone into the sea straight after, £10; 2025 was the club's fiftieth dip and the 2026 listing is not yet up.
Santa trains
The NYMR's Santa Express runs from Pickering, not Whitby: an hour-long round trip to Levisham and back on 28 and 29 November, 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20 December and 22 to 24 December, with four departures a day. The ordinary timetable ends on 1 November, so no Santa trains run into Whitby itself. Our Christmas guide has the full Santa Express dates and prices, and the railway's timetable page explains how the season works.
Christmas dinner and Christmas Day in Whitby
No buses or trains run on Christmas Day, so plan to be where you want to be by Christmas Eve. Pubs and restaurants serving Christmas Day lunch take bookings weeks ahead, and the town is otherwise quiet: the beach and the cliff paths are the day's other venues. Our Whitby food and drink guide lists the town's pubs and restaurants.
Where to stay for a Whitby Christmas break
Whitby's beds book out early for the festival weekend and Christmas week. Our where to stay in Whitby guide covers the cottages, areas and places to stay, and the general where to stay guide compares the coast with the inland villages.
Whitby at Christmas: your questions answered
When is the Whitby Christmas market 2026?
The Whitby Christmas Festival and market runs from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 November 2026 at the Marina Front car park on Langborne Road.
Where is the Whitby Christmas market held?
At the Marina Front car park on Langborne Road, on the west side of the harbour, a short level walk from the swing bridge and the town centre.
What times is the Whitby Christmas Festival open?
Friday 5pm to 8pm, Saturday 10am to 8pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm.
Is there a fireworks display?
Yes, a fireworks display is part of the festival weekend, though the time has not yet been published. Check the Whitby Town Council listing nearer the weekend.
When is the Whitby Krampus Run?
Saturday 5 December 2026. In past years the parade has run from the Bandstand along Pier Road to the Whalebones from about midday, with the Wyld Hunt the next day; the 2026 route and time are not yet published.
Do Santa trains run from Whitby?
No. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway's Santa Express runs from Pickering, an hour-long round trip to Levisham and back, and the ordinary timetable ends on 1 November, so no Santa trains run into Whitby itself.
What is open on Christmas Day in Whitby?
The pubs and restaurants serving booked Christmas Day lunches, and the beach and the cliff paths. No buses or trains run on Christmas Day, and most attractions and shops are closed.
Book the festival weekend early
The festival weekend and Christmas week fill Whitby's beds quickly, so fix a base before you fix the plans.
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