WGC Events

Events in Welwyn Garden City Town Centre

Who funds the events?

Many of the large-scale events you see in Welwyn Garden City town centre are fully funded by the town centre businesses themselves through the Business Improvement District (BID).

Some events also benefit from additional support through partnerships and sponsorships. For example, the annual Christmas lights receive a contribution from Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council.

Why do businesses invest in events?

In 2017, Welwyn Garden City town centre became a Business Improvement District (BID). This means local businesses work together to invest in the town centre and deliver initiatives that benefit everyone.

The BID has clear objectives, including:

Raising the profile of the town centre
Increasing visitor footfall
Supporting local businesses
Demonstrating ongoing investment
Making the town a great place to live, work and visit

Events play a key role in achieving these goals, helping to create a vibrant and welcoming environment while driving economic activity.

How are events selected?

Every event is carefully planned through ongoing discussions with businesses, partners and stakeholders.

We also carry out thorough evaluations after each event, gathering feedback from both the public and—most importantly—the businesses that fund them.

To be included in the programme, events must:

Align with BID objectives
Deliver strong value and impact
Support local businesses and footfall

Returning favourites for 2026

We’re delighted to welcome back some of our most popular events:

World Food Festival – 9th & 10th May 2026

Our biggest celebration of global food and culture returns, with more traders, activities and entertainment than ever before.

Christmas Lights Event – 21st November 2026

A much-loved community event, with exciting plans already underway to make this year’s celebration truly special.

Christmas Lights Trail – 21st November - 7th January 2027

A much-loved FREE Christmas Lights Trail will return to Welwyn Garden City bringing Christmas Magic to the town centre for people of all ages to enjoy.

Partner and regular events

Vegan Market – Saturday 14th February & Saturday 10th October
Street Food Heroes – Thursday 9th April, 14th May, 11th June, 9th July & 13th September

New for 2026

Dinomania Day – Saturday 8th August (10am–4pm)

A brand-new, free family event featuring:

Three interactive dinosaur shows
An immersive dinosaur museum
Roaming dinosaurs across the town centre
Face painting
Dino-themed treats
Photo opportunities

A fun-filled day designed to inspire and entertain families while bringing visitors into the town centre.

Street Food Superheroes – Saturday 12th September (12pm–7pm, Stonehills Square)

Think Street Food Heroes… but with a superhero twist!

Enjoy a vibrant mix of street food, themed entertainment and a lively atmosphere in Stonehills Square. Expect great food, family-friendly fun and plenty of surprises throughout the day.

Spooktacular Pumpkin Patch – Saturday 31st October (11am–4pm, Stonehills Square)

Get into the Halloween spirit with this fun-filled, family-friendly event featuring:

A mini pumpkin patch
Face painting
Trick-or-treat fun
Fantastic photo opportunities

Perfect for families looking to celebrate Halloween right in the heart of the town centre.

Event programme updates

Screen on the Green

Following feedback and careful review, Screen on the Green will not return in 2026.

While previously enjoyed, the event is resource-intensive and costly to deliver. Feedback from businesses highlighted limited benefit to the town centre, alongside declining attendance.

There were also challenges around film selection. As a public event, screenings must comply with strict licensing rules, meaning films with strong language or adult content cannot be shown. This significantly limits programming options and was reflected in attendee feedback.

By pausing this event, we can focus resources on delivering a more varied and impactful programme.

WGC Vintage Festival

The former Vintage Festival has been reimagined as the WGC Swing Festival, now delivered independently by JiveSwing.

This international two-day, three-evening live music and dance event will take place at Oaklands College. While it will not be held in the town centre this year, it remains an exciting addition to the wider local events calendar.

Full details can be found at: https://jiveswing.com/wgcvintagefest/

2026: WGC BID Renewal Year

What does this mean?

2026 marks an important milestone for Welwyn Garden City town centre, as it is the renewal year for the Business Improvement District (BID).

A BID operates in five-year terms, and this year represents the final year of Welwyn Garden City’s second term. This means local businesses will have the opportunity to help shape a new business plan for the future, and to vote on whether the town centre should continue as a BID.

What happens next?

All eligible town centre businesses will take part in a formal vote.

If the majority vote YES, the BID will continue for another five-year term, allowing us to build on the success of current events and initiatives.
If the majority vote NO, the BID will come to an end.

This would mean the Wonderful WGC brand would no longer operate, and many well-known initiatives would stop, including:

World Food Festival
Christmas Lights Event
Christmas Lights Trail
Floral displays and seasonal installations
Other town centre events and business support initiatives

How can the public support?

While the vote itself is carried out by businesses, the local community plays a vital role in supporting the town centre.

You can help by:

Attending events
Promoting the town centre
Supporting local businesses regularly

Your continued support helps demonstrate the value and impact of the BID, contributing to a vibrant and successful town centre for everyone.