Big weekend of Christmas events set to bring crowds into Exeter

Christmas events across Exeter are set to draw large crowds this weekend as key community festivities take place in the city centre and neighbourhoods.

The annual Magdalen Road Christmas Fair will take place on Saturday 6 December, with the street closed to traffic between 2pm and 6pm. 

Organised by the St Leonard’s Neighbourhood Association, the event will feature market stalls, food and drink vendors, and live entertainment. 

Independent shops along the road are also expected to see increased footfall throughout the afternoon.

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Residents say the fair has become a fixture in the seasonal calendar. 

Emma Lewis, who lives in St Leonard’s, described it as “the moment Christmas properly begins in Exeter,” adding that the event “brings the whole community together.”

On Sunday 7 December, attention will shift to the city centre for the annual Exeter Santa Run, coordinated by City Community Trust. 

Hundreds of participants dressed in Santa suits will complete a 5k route at 9am, followed by a 2.5k run at 9.40am. 

Entries for the event have closed, but organisers expect high spectator turnout along the route.

The weekend’s activities come as the Cathedral Christmas Market and Winter Wonderland in Rougemont Gardens continue to attract visitors in the lead-up to Christmas. 

With fewer than three weeks remaining until the holiday, traders and organisers say these events provide a significant boost for local businesses and community groups.