Franklin Road Christmas Lights 2023

Overview

The warmer weather is here, the evenings are longer and we're all looking forward to a little thing we like to call the festive season — so get ready to celebrate accordingly by counting down to the great comeback of Franklin Road's Christmas lights.

In 2022, the iconic event made its hotly anticipated return after two years of COVID-19 cancellations, and in 2023 it will continue to be the a hallmark of Auckland's festive season. The official Franklin Road Facebook page has advised followers that the switch-on date for 2023 is Friday, December 1, with the lights remain on until Sunday, December 24.

For the uninitiated, all residents of the Ponsonby Street get in on the action, transforming their homes' facades with lights, nativity scenes, giant blow-up festive characters and smatterings of fake snow. The glowing displays remain running all month long, so you have plenty of chances to check them out — or sure, make multiple trips if you're a real Christmas fizzer.

Usually there's also groups of carol singers bringing the vibes and more festive cheer than you can shake a candy cane at, making this the city's most festive inner-city street.