Here are all the details of town centre events, Christmas tree, and light switch-ons that you should be aware of.
Rainham is set to be the first town to welcome the festive period, with a Christmas light switch-on arranged for November 14.
The event will take place from 5pm at Harris Academy Sports Hall because of a bad weather forecast., with Mayor of Havering Cllr Sue Ospreay turning on the lights at 6.30pm.
Activities include performing princesses, Christmas carols, entertainment, food vendors and Christmas stalls.
A Santa meet and greet is also available, with free entry.
Hornchurch High Street will see lights switched on at 5pm the following day, on November 15.
Between the hours of 11am and 5pm, it will host the Hornchurch Christmas Cracker.
Activities will include fairground rides, Christmas stalls and a treasure hunt.
In Upminster, a light switch-on event will take place at various locations including Upminster Junior School, Station Road, Upminster Library, and Corbets Tey Road.
These events can be visited between 3pm and 6pm on November 21.
Romford Drum and Trumpet Corp will be in attendance, with a performance by Upminster Baptist Church Choir.
Santa’s Sleigh will be making its rounds as the float of Hornchurch and Upminster Rotary, with children’s rides hosted at Upminster Junior School.
Hilldene Shopping Centre in Harold Hill will be taken over with festivities from 12pm on November 23.
The mayor will switch on the tree lights at 5.30pm.
Market stalls, signers, free children’s rides and more will be available until 6pm, with the chance to meet Santa.
Christmas festivities are scheduled to take place in Elm Park and Collier Row on November 28.
Between 3.30pm and 6pm in Elm Park, a free event will see the area host a carousel, stilt walkers, face painting and more, with the Christmas tree lights to be turned on at 5pm.
From 4pm, Collier Row town centre will host The Grouch Who Stole Christmas.
The event will end at 8pm, before which visitors can see reindeers outside Keys & Lee, take part in a craft trail, stop at market stalls and more.
Stalls will be set up in the North Romford Community Centre and the Ascension Church.
The Christmas tree lights will be switched on at 6pm.
In Harold Wood, Station Road car park will be transformed for the free Light Before Christmas event on November 29.
It will include food vendors, a charity Christmas market, a nativity, and the chance to meet Santa and his elves.
Mayor of Havering, Cllr Sue Ospreay, said: “We are all looking forward to welcoming in the festive period in Havering with the upcoming Christmas events.
“Switching on the Christmas tree lights marks the start of the festivities and it will be great to see so many residents come along to help bring in the festive season in each town centre.
“Thanks to all the sponsors and individual community groups for supporting this year’s events.”
READ MORE: Revealed – which east London borough had the most crime last month?
The council said earlier in the year that it would not be able to fund Christmas festivities, including Romford’s Christmas lights switch-on which was also cancelled in 2024.
Council leader Ray Morgon, said: “We would have been unable to fully fund Christmas lights, trees and events this year because of the continued savings the council needs to make due to year-on-year government funding reductions and the escalating costs in social care and homelessness.
“It’s great that thanks to the generosity of local businesses and community groups that our town centres will be able to uphold our festive traditions in Havering this Christmas.”
