Diwali - Celebrating 25 years of Northampton's Winter Festival of Lights
2025-10-18 10:00 - 20:00 (Europe/London) | Northampton Market Square
Saturday 18th October 10am – 8pm
Northampton Town Centre – Market Square
This years is the 25th Anniversary of The Diwali Winter Festival of Lights in Northampton, organised by the Indian Hindu Welfare Organisation Northampton, and supported by Northampton Town Council, West Northamptonshire Council, Northampton Town Centre BID, Inspiration Arts, Rost Productions Ltd, Inspiration FM, University of Northampton, Northampton College and Grosvenor Shopping Centre. The event is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
Join the celebrations with cultural food and drink, community stalls, live stage entertainment, henna painting, arts and crafts, saree dressing and the spectacular Diwali lantern procession and magical parade, featuring breathtaking giant puppets including Harminder the elephant.
Stalls open at 10am | Entertainment from 12pm | Parade starts at 6pm
The festival will start at 10am on the Market Square, live stage entertainment from 12pm to 8pm; at 6pm the enchanting parade will make its way through the town centre and finish at the Market Square for further exciting anniversary celebrations.
As 2025 also marks the 350th Anniversary of the Great Fire of Northampton – the theme for Diwali this year will be commemorating this significant milestone in the town’s history and all are encouraged to wear colours of fire – the brighter the better!
Programme
10am – 4pm: Stalls selling cultural food and drinks, plus community stalls
12pm – 4pm: Cultural experiences – traditional cultural game Karom, Arts & Crafts, Henna Painting, Saree Dressing, Exhibitions by local community groups plus more!
Performances from members of Northampton community groups
4pm: Music with Inspiration FM’s Mark Dean
4 – 4.30pm: Welcome Dignitaries & Candle lighting by Dignitaries
4.30 – 5.30pm: Performances by young people from local organisations
5.30pm: Preparation for Diwali lantern parade
6 – 7pm: Diwali lantern parade (see route map below)
7 – 8pm: Raj Tilak – Welcoming back of Lord Ram, short speeches by Dignitaries, Switching on of the lights to mark the celebration of the Festival of Lights PLUS Fireworks Finale!The evening will finish with bhangra music & plenty of dancing!
