St Ives is globally renowned for its unique quality of light, a trait that has drawn artists to its shores for over a century. However, as winter sets in and the summer crowds disperse, the town’s relationship with light shifts from the natural to the celebratory. The St Ives Christmas lights display is not merely a municipal decoration; it is a coordinated community event that leans heavily on the town’s maritime heritage, offering a spectacle that is both visually striking and deeply traditional.

The display is the result of year-round planning by the ‘St Ives in December’ volunteer committee, supported by the St Ives Business Improvement District (BID) and funded largely through local donations and business sponsorship. Unlike standard municipal setups, the installation is a hands-on community operation, with volunteers battling the coastal elements to string miles of festoon lighting across the narrow cobbled streets and along the harbour front.

A defining feature of the arrangement is the ‘Fishermen’s Lanterns’, distinctive, handcrafted illuminated shapes that line the pier and harbour walls, which are often sponsored by local families and businesses, serving as a poignant, glittering nod to the town’s maritime heritage amidst the modern festivities.

The defining moment of the St Ives festive calendar is the arrival of Father Christmas. Unlike the reindeer-led sleigh rides seen elsewhere, St Ives utilises its most vital asset: the sea. In a tradition that underscores the town’s connection to the water, Santa makes his entrance aboard an RNLI lifeboat, navigating the dark waters into the harbour.

Watch my video of Father Christmas arriving back in 2023 here.

If you are planning to visit St Ives in the winter, check out my complete guide to St Ives here on my other website, BestinCornwall.co.uk