Ultimate Christmas Event Guide: Northern Ireland
Your festive roundup of the very best markets, shows, food experiences, light trails, Santa visits and FREE events happening across Northern Ireland this December.
Whether you’re planning family days out, cosy festive dates, or Christmas catch-ups with friends, this guide pulls together everything happening across NI so you can make the most of this magical season.
Christmas Markets
Northern Ireland is full of atmospheric markets this year — from artisan makers to twilight shopping events and seaside festive pop-ups.
• Belfast Christmas Market — Until 22nd December
• Christmas Craft Market at Flowerfield — Until 23rd December
• Newry Christmas Markets — Until 21st December
• Christmas Market at Slieve Donard — 12th – 19th December
• Royal Hillsborough Christmas Market — 12th & 13th December
• Twilight Market at Montalto — 5th & 6th December
• Dundonald Christmas Market — 4th December
• Carryduff Christmas Market — 17th December
• Causeway Speciality Market — 13th & 20th December
• Ballycastle Christmas Market — 14th December
• Made in AND – Christmas Pop-Up Shop — Until 4th January
• Lisburn Twilight Market — 5th December
• Christmas Artisan Market at Castle Ward — 6th – 7th December
• North Block Christmas Market — 7th December
Festive Food & Drink Events
From festive afternoon teas to Christmas cake classes and cosy brunch events, here are the tastiest experiences happening this December.
• Titanic Festive Afternoon Tea — 6th & 7th December
• Festive Showstopper Cake Class — 11th December
• Festive Afternoon Tea & ‘The Holiday’ Screening — 13th December
• Festive Paint & Prosecco — 13th December
• Montalto Baubles Making & Bites — 13th December
• Festive High Tea Dance, Lamon — 17th December
• Christmas Afternoon Tea at Elephant Rock — 4th – 20th December
• Christmas Jazz Brunch, Elephant Rock — 13th December
• The Flavours of Christmas – Slemish Market Supper Club — 13th December
Music, Shows & Christmas Entertainment
Christmas concerts, immersive shows and festive cinema — perfect for families, date nights or getting into the spirit.
• Ulster Orchestra: The Snowman — 6th December
• Ulster Orchestra: Magic of Christmas — 21st December
• All Day Christmas Movies at The Avenue — 24th December
• Cabaret Christmas Variety Show — All December
• Jack Frost at The MAC — Until 1st January
• The Christmas Choir Series — 6th, 13th & 14th December
• Winter Circus by Tumble Circus — 12th December – 4th January
• Christmas Cracker Show at Montalto — 13th December
• The Elf Inspectors, The MAC — 2nd – 24th December
• Jack & the Beanstalk: Family Pantomime — Until 11th January
• A Very Dolly Christmas — 14th December
• Spice Girls Christmas Show — 16th December
• Christmas by Candlelight, Ulster Hall — 16th December
• Christmas Drive-In Cinema — Until 23rd December
Festive Days Out & Christmas Attractions
Light trails, winter wonderlands, immersive Santa experiences, creative workshops and more.
• Lisburn Castle Gardens Light Trail — Until 22nd December
• Antrim Enchanted Winter Garden — Until 30th December
• Jungle NI Christmas Wonderland — Until 23rd December
• Lisburn’s Christmas Pudding Hunt — Until 20th December
• Mission Santa Immersive Experience, Armagh — Until 23rd December
• Santa Cruise, Killinchy — 5th – 21st December
• Christmas Candle Making Workshop — 7th, 13th, 14th & 20th December
• Hinchmas Wreath-Making Masterclass — 7th December
• Murder Mystery: Who Killed Santa? — 8th & 29th December
• Streamvale Magical Christmas Experience — Until 24th December
• Titanic Magical Christmas Experience — Until 23rd December
• Todd’s Leap Winter Wonderland — Throughout December
• Miracle on Market Square Pop-Up Christmas Shopping Experience — Until 31st December
• Santa’s Virtual Reality Sleigh Ride — Until 23rd December
Free Christmas Events
Brilliant free days out — perfect for families.
• Belfast One Santa’s Post Office — Until 21st December
• Castle Gardens Light Trail — Until 22nd December
• Lisburn Light Festival 2025 — Until 24th December
• Christmas Hub, Lisburn — Until 23rd December
• Christmas Character Walkabouts — 6th, 20th & 22nd December
• Rock Around the Christmas Tree Party — 18th December
Santa Experiences Across NI
Everything from magical grottos to Santa cruises and brunch with Santa.
• Santa Sundays at The MAC — Until 21st December
• Santa Paws at Montalto — 14th December
• Santa Brunch, Lamon — 20th – 24th December
• Santa’s Magical Grotto Experience, Dungannon — Until 21st December
• Santa’s Workshop, W5 — Until 23rd December
• Santa’s Victoria Square Express — Until 24th December
• Weekends with Santa, Galgorm — Throughout December
• Santa Stayover, Lamon — Throughout December
• Santa at Hillsborough Castle — Throughout December