Lighting up Kew since 2005
It started with a few of us wanting the village to feel like Christmas. Nineteen years later, half of Kew turns out for it.
Claire Cree , Committee Member
Our Story
Kew Sparkle began with a simple idea: that a village feels different when it comes together. The first event was a handful of stalls and a set of lights. Nineteen years on, it draws people from across the borough into Kew Village for one Friday evening each December.
Everything about the night is local. The market stalls are run by traders and residents, the choirs come from Kew's schools, and shopkeepers stay open late to be part of it. A committee of volunteers plans it through the year, and the money raised keeps the village Christmas lights up through winter and supports a local cause chosen each year.
Nobody is paid. The lights that go up in November are there because people in Kew put them there.
19 / Years Running
Every December since the very first Sparkle
40+ / Market Stalls
Local traders, makers and community groups
£2,000+ / Raised in 2025
For Small Steps, supporting disabled under-fives
Our Mission
To keep Kew Village lit through the darkest weeks of the year, and to give the village one night that belongs to everyone.
The Christmas lights are funded entirely by the people who live and work here — resident donations, local business contributions, school appeals and the money raised at Sparkle itself.
Each year we also choose a local charity to support with a share of what we raise, keeping the money close to the community that gave it.
Where the Money Goes
In 2025 we raised over £2,000 for Small Steps, who work with disabled children under five and their families across West London.
Previous years have supported many worthwhile causes in the Kew area.
Alongside the charity donation, funds cover the installation, maintenance and running of the village lights each winter.
Sparkle Through the Years
Follow us for event news and lights updates — @kewsparkle