Oakdown Holiday Park · Sidmouth · East Devon
Local Knowledge – November
Autumn’s grand finale — fireworks, flaming tar barrels then the Christmas markets opening.
November is the month East Devon changes character. The countryside settles into a contemplative mood while the towns start sparking with festive anticipation.
Five events worth travelling for this month, from a free harbourside firework display to one of the strangest traditions in Britain. Below is our pick, with the practical detail you actually need.
On this page
Lyme Regis FireworksOttery Tar BarrelsExeter Christmas MarketLyme Regis lights switch-onWinter Wonderland & theatreGetting aboutYour November base
West Dorset
Lyme Regis Fireworks Display
Watch the fireworks light up the sky over Lyme Regis harbour, with The Cobb providing a spectacular backdrop to this free community display. Lister and Langmoor gardens offer wonderful vantage points for viewing the pyrotechnic delights, while the beach itself draws crowds who gather to watch the explosive night of colour and light.
The display is organised by the Lyme Regis Regatta & Carnival team with all profits going to local good causes. Expect cash donation collectors throughout the evening, or donate online beforehand at lymeregiscarnival.co.uk/donateonline.
Saturday 1st November 2025 · Lyme Regis Harbour — 12 miles, about 25 minutes by car.
Arrive early for the best viewing spots — this popular event draws substantial crowds from across Dorset as well as Devon. After the display, warm up in one of Lyme Regis’s welcoming harbourside pubs or explore the Georgian streets lit by seasonal lights.
East Devon
Ottery Tar Barrels, the famous November 5th tradition
This is genuinely one of Britain’s most extraordinary events — and we mean that quite literally. Every year, for reasons lost in antiquity, flaming tar barrels are carried through the streets of Ottery St Mary to the delight of thousands of spectators. This centuries-old tradition attracts up to 15,000 visitors from around the world.
The event spans the entire afternoon then the evening. Children’s barrels start at 4pm with progressively larger barrels carried by women then men as the night goes on. By midnight the barrels weigh at least 30 kilos, with flames pouring dramatically from the tar-soaked wood as the barrel rollers — all born in Ottery, or business owners there — hoist them onto their shoulders to run through packed streets.
Important practical detail. ★ Evening tar barrels from 7pm are not suitable for small children, people with limited mobility or dogs. ★ The town closes to all traffic from 5pm. ★ Parking at Otter Garden Centre, EX11 1LZ, plus Barrack Road, EX11 1RD, at £10. ★ Glass-free and plastic-free event, so buy a reusable cup or bring your own. ★ If 5th November falls on a Sunday the event moves to Saturday 4th.
Wednesday 5th November 2025 · Ottery St Mary — 15 miles, about 25 minutes by car.
Arrive early, dress warmly in layers then accept you will smell of smoke afterwards. It is not for the faint-hearted, but it is utterly unforgettable.
Exeter
Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market
Devon’s biggest Christmas market returns with over a hundred festive chalets set against the awe-inspiring backdrop of Exeter Cathedral. This atmospheric market combines German-inspired Christmas tradition with Devon’s own character, featuring carefully selected traders showcasing West Country produce alongside international crafts plus seasonal treats.
Wander through twinkling chalets festooned with fairy lights, savour global street food and Devon specialities, sip mulled wine beneath the cathedral spires then shop from handpicked artisans. The market runs 10am to 9pm throughout its month-long stay, which makes for wonderfully atmospheric evenings once the cathedral illuminations come on.
20th November to 19th December 2025 · Cathedral Green, Exeter — 25 miles, about 40 minutes by car.
Visit on a weekday afternoon for more relaxed browsing. Weekend evenings have wonderful atmosphere but bring substantial crowds. Combine your visit with Exeter’s Winter Wonderland ice rink plus the city’s shopping.
West Dorset
Lyme Regis Christmas lights switch-on
Lyme Regis sparkles to life as the town begins its countdown to Christmas. This popular community event draws substantial crowds who gather to watch Santa arrive on his sleigh then switch on the lights that will illuminate the Georgian streets through to early January.
Full afternoon schedule. ★ 2pm, Christmas lantern-making workshop at Pine Hall, Lyme Regis Baptist Church — free, all materials provided. ★ 4pm, judging of lanterns with prizes for different age categories; homemade lanterns welcome. ★ 5pm, lantern parade down Broad Street with performances from Lyme Regis Majorettes, Lyme Morris plus Fitsteps. ★ Evening, Santa arrives on his sleigh for the grand switch-on.
The cross-street lighting displays illuminate as the parade passes underneath, while the Christmas tree lights at Bell Cliff switch on around 5.30pm. The festive atmosphere carries on through the evening with local groups performing as the town turns into a twinkling coastal wonderland.
Saturday 22nd November 2025 · Broad Street, Lyme Regis — 12 miles, about 25 minutes by car.
Exeter
Exeter Winter Wonderland & theatre season
This festive event at the base of Exeter Castle offers something for everyone through the day into the evening. The covered ice rink provides all-weather skating from 10am to 10pm, with advance booking recommended, while the German-themed Alpine bar serves warming drinks plus seasonal refreshments.
Santa’s giant grotto with elf workshop runs 13th to 24th December, Monday to Friday 12pm to 7pm, weekends 11am to 8pm. A family funfair with rides, carousel plus a mini Christmas market completes the experience.
Pantomime season: Exeter Northcott presents Jack and the Beanstalk, 27th November to 4th January 2026, while Exeter Corn Exchange offers The Wizard of Oz, 13th December to 1st January 2026. Manor Pavilion Theatre in Sidmouth has regular entertainment throughout November, just three miles from Oakdown.
20th November to 24th December 2025 · Northernhay Gardens, Exeter — 25 miles, about 40 minutes by car.
The location gives brilliant access to Exeter’s city centre shopping, the cathedral plus the Christmas market, so several festive things fit into a single day out.
Leave the car behind
Getting about in November
The 899 bus stops right outside our gates. It runs throughout the day with flexible stop points — simply wave to the driver when you see it approaching.
Completely free with a bus pass. Many guests do not realise they can use their passes here. Dogs are welcome on board too.
✓ Heated glamping
All glamping accommodation includes integral heating, which makes a real difference to a November evening.
✓ Award winning bathrooms
Deep baths, ideal for warming up after a firework display or a cold afternoon at a market.
✓ Dog friendly
Barrel pods and premier pods welcome dogs, with our free Clean Paws dog wash on site.
✓ On-site comfort
Oak Mead café plus the golf course, for when the weather turns.
Good to know
Make Oakdown your November base
Our family-run holiday park sits in the heart of East Devon’s coastline plus countryside, with modern comforts within easy reach of all of these events. Sidmouth is ten minutes, Lyme Regis twenty-five, the Exeter markets forty.
Event details can change. Please check the official websites before travelling. Pop into reception while you are here for suggestions based on what is actually happening that week — after eighteen years of hosting November guests we genuinely enjoy helping people find the right things for their stay.
Want to see what’s on in other months? Our full Local Knowledge guide covers the whole year near Oakdown.
Autumn’s grand finale
Fireworks, tar barrels then the markets opening. November is a very good month to be here.