Romsey's Winter Carnival and Lantern Parade is Saturday 28 November: gather 5.30pm, procession 6pm from Crosfield Hall round the town centre. Route inside.

Romsey Winter Carnival and Lantern Parade is on Saturday 28 November 2026. Romsey Town Carnival’s own events page gives the time as 5.30pm, with the procession starting at 6pm from Crosfield Hall and winding through the town centre.

The quick answer

  • When: Saturday 28 November 2026, from 5.30pm; procession at 6pm
  • Start and finish: Crosfield Hall, Broadwater Road
  • Route: Broadwater Road, Bell Street, Market Place, The Hundred, then back to Crosfield Hall (route map below)
  • What: lanterns, floats, music and dancing; the carnival calls it “an amazing spectacle of lights”
  • Taking part: free to enter; register by 21 November
  • Parking: Romsey’s council car parks are free after 4pm

Is it on this year?

Yes. The carnival has published the date, the time, an entry form for 2026 and a route map. Last year’s parade was on Saturday 29 November 2025, according to the carnival’s own review of the night, so the 2026 event keeps its slot on the last Saturday of November.

The route

The carnival’s route map shows the procession starting beside Crosfield Hall, heading west along Broadwater Road, turning north up Bell Street past the Town Hall into Market Place, then east along The Hundred past Aldi, before turning south to finish back at Crosfield Hall. It is a short loop, so you can watch from almost anywhere in the town centre.

Floats gather at Crosfield Hall from 5pm, the entry rules say, so the area around the hall is busy well before the start.

Road closures

Romsey Town Carnival has not published road closures, and Romsey Town Council’s road closures page had no entry for the parade when we checked. A procession with motorised floats along Broadwater Road, Bell Street and The Hundred needs those roads shut while it passes; we will add the closure times when they are posted.

Taking part

The procession is free to enter, in three classes: pedestrian, motorised and lanterns. The 2026 entry form goes back to info@romseycarnival.co.uk by 21 November. The rules include:

  • all entries at Crosfield Hall by 5pm, and the procession moves off at 6pm sharp
  • no pyrotechnics and nothing thrown at the crowd
  • motorised floats no longer than 8.5 metres or a 7.5 tonne flatbed, each with a walking marshal in reflective clothing
  • collections only in containers handed out by the carnival committee

The carnival also has a few 3.5 tonne flatbed lorries to lend free to groups who want to build a float, against a refundable deposit.

Before the parade: Romsey Abbey Christmas Fair

The same day, Romsey Abbey’s Christmas Fair runs from 10am to 2pm, with Father Christmas, stalls and mulled wine; entry is £1, children free. Our Romsey Christmas markets page has that and every other market and fair in the town this Christmas.

Getting there and parking

Test Valley Borough Council’s eight Romsey car parks are free after 4pm every day, so a car parked for the parade costs nothing. Crosfield Hall car park sits at the start of the route, so expect it to fill first and expect traffic to be held while the procession passes.

For closures across the district see our roadworks and travel page, and for Andover’s car parks parking in Andover.

After the carnival: the Santa Fun Run

Romsey Town Carnival’s next event is the Romsey Santa Fun Run on Boxing Day, Saturday 26 December 2026, at Romsey Memorial Park: gather at 9.30am for a 10am start. Every runner has to dress as Santa, suits are on sale on the day, and under-14s must be with an adult. Prices are still to be announced. (The carnival’s home page calls it Friday 26 December; Boxing Day 2026 is a Saturday, as its events page says.)

Earlier in November

Romsey’s Christmas lights switch-on is a week before the carnival, on Saturday 21 November, 3pm to 7pm with the lights on at 5pm.

What is still to come

  • Road closures for the procession.
  • The Santa Fun Run entry price.

Everything on this page was checked against Romsey Town Carnival’s own website, entry form and route map, and Test Valley Borough Council’s parking page, on 13 October 2026. Check with the carnival before you travel.

Sources