Southend Doubles Up On Christmas as Two Festive Trees Return for 2026!
Southend city centre will see the return of two spectacular Christmas trees set to bookend the High Street and create a magical experience for residents and visitors.
A huge 40-foot Norwegian spruce will once again take pride of place in Victoria Circus, close to where the Christmas Lights Switch On stage will be, while a second Norwegian spruce will return to Royals Square, creating festive focal points at both ends of the city centre.
The trees will be installed in early November ahead of the much-anticipated Southend Christmas Lights Switch On held on Saturday 14th November 2026.
The return of the second tree has been made possible thanks to Costa Coffee, whose sponsorship of the South Tree has helped bring this much-loved festive feature back to the city.
Southend City BID Manager, Suzanne Gloyne, commented:
"We're delighted to be bringing back two Christmas trees this year, helping to create a festive journey through the city centre and adding to the magic of the season.
"Events like the Christmas Lights Switch On are only possible through the support of our sponsors, businesses, and partners. We're particularly grateful to Costa Coffee for helping secure the return of the South Tree, ensuring visitors can enjoy an even bigger and better festive experience in Southend."
David Gabsi, Area Manager for Costa Coffee in Southend-on-Sea, said:
“Christmas is such a special time for local communities, so we’re delighted to help bring the South Tree back to Southend city centre this year.
Costa Coffee is proud to be part of the Southend community, and we hope the tree gives people another reason to come together, enjoy the festivities and make special memories with family and friends this Christmas.”
The trees will complement the festooned lighting scheme throughout the city centre.
The full Christmas lights display will be switched on during the city’s biggest festive celebration, with the official countdown taking place at 6pm on Saturday 14th November.
Organised by Southend City BID, the Switch On event will feature a full day of entertainment, performances, and festive fun with markets from 9am and activities from 12pm.
For further information and event updates, follow @ChristmasSouthend on Instagram and Facebook. A full programme of festive events taking place across the city can be found at VisitSouthend.co.uk, while tickets for seasonal shows and entertainment from Headline Sponsors, Southend Theatres, are available via trafalgartickets.com/southend-theatre.
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