‘However you Christmas’, Reading launches its Christmas campaign for 2022

17th November 2022

Reading’s Christmas campaign for 2022 has kicked off, with ‘However You Christmas’ showcasing the many ways visitors can enjoy the festive season in Reading.

The Christmas season in Reading officially gets underway from Saturday 19 November with the turning on of the town centre’s 400,000 Christmas lights, delivered by Reading’s Business Improvement District. There will be a bar selling drinks and coffee, lots of Christmas fayre to get everyone in the mood and live Christmas music from 1:30 to 4:30pm.

REDA is supporting local businesses and championing the national campaign, Small Business Saturday, by running Small Business Christmas, an independent market on 3 & 4 December in Market Place. Offering shoppers some of the very best of our local independent traders as well as live music throughout the weekend, visitors can expect to find some great indie Christmas gifts – from beers to board games, candles to comics.

As well as town centre lights and festive decorations, Reading’s Business Improvement District (BID) is delivering a number festive events to draw visitors across the season, including Reading’s first ever Lantern Parade - Dance of the Fireflies, a brand new live music event Gig in the Gardens and a child-friendly silent disco at the Festive Family Rave. The BID is also sponsoring Santa’s Grotto at Broad Street Mall and Reading Rep’s classic Christmas production, A Christmas Carol.

For those still looking for somewhere to host their office Christmas lunch, you’ll find plenty of choice at Reading’s many hospitality venues, from a 5-star hotels and swanky restaurants to laid back restaurants and festive pubs.

Christmas shopping couldn’t be easier. Mix and match from Reading’s many independent stores to all the famous high street names in The Oracle, Broad Street Mall or in the pedestrianised town centre streets. Pick up your Christmas cheese and new family board game, stocking fillers and love tokens with all the shops within a short walking distance of each other.  

Nigel Horton-Baker, Executive Director, REDA, said: “However you Christmas, Reading is the place to celebrate the yuletide season - from the best Christmas shopping for miles around, to stylish office Christmas lunch and party venues and a fabulous events programme.

“With 400,000 Christmas lights, three Christmas trees, yuletide fayre, lantern parades, festive music and all your favourite stores from big brands to the pick of our independent businesses, why wouldn’t you do Christmas in Reading?” 

However you Christmas, you’ll find lots of ideas to make the most of the festive season at visit-reading.com/Christmas or follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram #ChristmasInReading