Watford Town Centre will come alive with colour, music and light on Sunday 1 November 2026, as Watford Town Centre BID and its event partners invite everyone to enjoy a day of Diwali celebrations.
Welcoming people of all backgrounds, the programme will bring families, friends and communities together across Harlequin Charter Place, Watford High Street, Pondside and Watford Palace Theatre.
This year’s celebrations are supported by headline sponsor P2M, whose contribution helps bring the Festival of Lights to the heart of Watford. With a Watford branch and expertise spanning property sales, lettings and investment, P2M is helping make this celebration of the town’s diverse communities possible.
The festivities begin with free Diwali crafts at Harlequin Charter Place from 11:00am to 4:00pm, including diya making, followed by cultural performances from 4:00pm to 5:00pm.
At 5:00pm, the Festival of Light Parade will travel from Harlequin Charter Place to Pondside, where visitors can enjoy the Rangoli Lighting Ceremony from 5:30pm to 6:30pm.
The celebrations continue at Watford Palace Theatre with a Community Curtain Raiser from 7:00pm to 7:30pm, followed by the separately ticketed production, When strings speak – a journey across rhythm, voice and dance, from 8:00pm to 9:30pm.
Kara Mesiano, CEO of Watford BID, said:
“Diwali is a wonderful opportunity to bring people together and celebrate the cultures, creativity and community spirit that make Watford such a special place. We’re looking forward to welcoming families and visitors into the town centre for a day filled with colour, entertainment and shared experiences.
“A heartfelt thank you to our headline sponsor P2M and every partner, sponsor, performer and volunteer helping bring these celebrations to life. Their support makes a real difference, and we encourage everyone to join us, explore the festivities and enjoy everything our town centre has to offer.”
Elected Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said:
“Watford is a town that celebrates its diversity, and Diwali is a fantastic example of how different cultures enrich our community. I encourage everyone to come along, enjoy the celebrations and share in the joy, friendship and sense of togetherness that Diwali brings.”
A special thank you goes to all event partners and sponsors: Bhaktivedanta Manor, Harold Benjamin, Harlequin Shopping Centre, Indradhanushkids Academy, P2M, Pandav Vidhya Shala, Pump House Theatre, Salters Residential, Sigma, Watford & Three Rivers Trust, Watford Borough Council, Watford Council of Hindus, Watford Indian Association, Watford Museum, Watford Palace Theatre and Watford Town Centre BID.
Everyone is welcome to join the celebrations. For the full programme and a link to tickets for the evening theatre show, visit watfordtowncentre.com/event/diwali-celebration-2026.