Glengormley will light up for Christmas this year on Saturday 12 November 2016 with an array of family fun activities.

Come and see Snow White and friends in their Enchanted Forest from 1.30pm in Glengormley Pavilion with craft sessions by Jumping Clay for the whole family.  Tickets are required for the Enchanted Forest, which also includes a free child’s visit to Santa’s Grotto.  Tickets for the three sessions at 1.30pm, 2.45pm and 4pm, are available from McMillen’s News, 12 Carnmoney Road, Glengormley, BT36 6HN and cost £3 per person.

Children can also visit Santa’s Grotto at a cost of £2.50 per child which includes a gift from Santa.  Proceeds from the grotto will go to charities supported by the Newtownabbey Rotary Club.

At 2.30pm the free family fun entertainment will kick off with local radio presenters ensuring the crowd gets into the festive spirit.  At 5pm there will be Christmas readings, Carols and music before the much-awaited arrival of the Mayor along with his special guests Snow White, Santa and friends.  Together they will lead the fancy dress parade to the Christmas tree at the Ulster Bank, where they will switch on the Christmas tree lights to light Glengormley up for a magical Christmas!

Further details of the full Christmas programme can be found on our website www.antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk/christmas

From the 26^th November, meet Santa in his icy Christmas cavern and ride W5’s magical miniature train ride, the Winterland Express!

This year, Santa’s Grotto at W5 will give young children a memorable experience as little ones get the opportunity to meet Santa Claus in his icy Christmas cavern. Children will be rewarded with a gift from Santa and parents will have the opportunity to buy a photograph of their child/children, or the whole family!

W5 also invites you to take a journey to the fairytale world of Winterland. Take a trip on the Winterland Express, W5’s magical miniature train ride. Travel through the enchanted forest into the icy cavern to emerge in the courtyard of Winterland Castle, where a few surprises await!

Pre-booking required. For full information and online booking visit www.w5online.co.uk.

With over 10,000 seats already sold, audiences will need to hurry to get a ticket for this year’s pantomime spectacular ‘Cinderella’ running at The Market Place Theatre, Armagh from Sat 3 – Sat 24 December.

The cast were in Armagh today to launch this year’s festive extravaganza in what has to be the most magical story ever told.

The Market Place Theatre in Armagh brings the classic rags-to-riches tale – ‘Cinderella’, with more singing, dancing and jokes than you can shake a magic wand at!

The world’s greatest fairytale has captivated audiences for generations with its spellbinding story, memorable music, and unforgettable characters. Now, the story sparkles as never before as a fabulous cast of larger-than-life characters tell the tale of glass slippers, glistening carriages and glamorous gowns.

Will Cinderella get to go to the ball, will she meet the prince of her dreams and live happily ever after, or will she forever remain in the evil clutches of two of the ugliest [and nastiest] sisters you’ve ever clapped eyes on? Be amazed as a little bit of romance and a lot of magic combine to create mayhem at midnight…

Traditional panto at it’s very best, ‘Cinderella’ promises an unforgettably festive experience coupled with The Market Place Theatre’s renowned reputation for high quality, professional pantomimes that are acclaimed as among the best in Ireland.  Recommended for children aged 5 to 95!

Looking for that unique gift for someone special this Christmas? Look no further than our Christmas Craft Fair at The Courtyard Theatre, Newtownabbey on Saturday 12 November.

Over 40 stalls of bespoke crafts & textiles, handmade jewellery, giftware and homemade foods to ensure there is a Christmas gift for everyone. The children are also in for a treat with free face painting, balloon artist, storytelling with Mr Hullabaloo at 12pm and 2pm, and visits from Santa throughout the day.

The Courtyard Community Choir will get you in the Christmas spirit with a number of everyone’s favourite Christmas Carols.  While Coasters snack bar will provide you with a range of culinary delights, so you can take a break from the shopping, sit back and relax.

The Christmas Craft Fair is open from 10am – 4pm, Admission £1.50 & £1(Concession) Free parking is available on site.

Northern Ireland boasts a unique collection of irresistible places to stay including quirky B&Bs, luxurious spa hotels and hidden gem properties for an ideal short break and Discover NI has selected the best offers of the week for you to choose from.

• Discover County Down, The Old Inn, Co. Down, from £120pps. The four-star Old Inn, Crawfordsburn is an ideal base to discover the wonder and beauty of the castles and gardens of County Down. The Discover County Down package includes a two night in a character ensuite bedroom with breakfast, a three-course evening meal in the Rosette Lewis Restaurant on each evening, a waking guide and map to Crawfordsburn Country Park, entry to the fascinating Ulster Folk and Transport Museum as well as entry to the National Trust’s neo-classical house and celebrated gardens of Mount Stewart. Valid until 30 November.  To book call (028) 91 85 3255
• Titanic Package, Ramada Plaza Belfast, Belfast, from £114 per room. Enjoy an unforgettable visit to Belfast, the birthplace of the legendary RMS Titanic and stay at the four-star Ramada Plaza Belfast. This special Titanic package features two tickets to Titanic Belfast, one night’s accommodation and a delicious buffet breakfast. Includes complimentary parking, WiFi and access to swimming pool and leisure facilities. Valid until 30 November.  To book call (028) 90 923500

• Put a Sperrin in your Step, Silverbirch Hotel, Co. Tyrone, from £89 per room. Celebrate Northern Ireland’s Year of Food and Drink and enjoy the flavour of Tyrone with menus featuring the best in local produce with dinner in Barreta Bar & Grill and stay in a luxury three-star double room inclusive of a hearty full Irish Breakfast. Relax with a local craft beer or gin in Bertha’s Bar. Explore the bustling market town of Omagh, at the foothills of the beautiful Sperrin Mountains. Step into the region’s heritage and history with a trip to nearby Ulster American Folk Park, An Creagan Visitor Centre or get your adrenaline fix at Gortin Forest Park or Todds Leap Activity Centre. Valid until 30 November.  To book call (028) 82 242520

For further information log on to www.discovernorthernireland.com/offers.

*All offers are subject to availability.

Tourism NI has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland next week (November 7 – November 13).

• Twilight Market, St George’s Market, Belfast, November 8 – 9. The award-winning Twilight Market will return from 8 – 9 November at St George’s Market. The Twilight Market will help to bring the Year of Food and Drink 2016 to a close with over 130 local food and drink and arts and crafts traders selling their wares over two evenings. Strictly over 18s after 9pm.

• The Nutcracker, Ardhowen Threatre, Co. Fermanagh, November 12^th. This holiday season, the whole family can experience the beauty and magic of ‘The Nutcracker’, performed by an international cast of world-class dancers. This timeless classic, with beautiful costumes and Tchaikovsky’s beloved and sumptuous score, takes the audience on a wondrous adventure full of quintessential Christmas magic.

• Rackhouse Pilfer, Ranfurly House Arts and Visitor Centre, Co. Tyrone, November 12. Rackhouse Pilfer are a fiery and exciting 6-piece Irish band who have been getting rave reviews with their Roots blend of Irish-Americana. Tickets £12.  Starts at 8pm.

• The Whistlin Donkeys, Millennium Forum, Derry~Londonderry, November 11. After enjoying huge success in the All Ireland Fleadh in 2013 and Clipper 2014, The Whistlin Donkeys have been busy headlining the Saint Patrick Day’s celebrations in Time Square in New York, headlining Memorial Day events in East Durham, the Catskills New York and the Boston Irish Festival. Tickets £15+booking fee.

• Three Sisters, Lyric Theatre, Belfast, until November 12. Chekhov’s masterpiece from 1900 is reset in 1990s Belfast. Three sisters – Orla, Marianne and Erin – dream of a better tomorrow. All three are dissatisfied with their lots in life for different reasons, but finding the resolve to make the life changes that will bring real happiness is hard. Can they break free, or will they be condemned to a life of unfulfilled ambition?

• Boogie Nights, The Market Place Theatre & Arts Centre, Co. Armagh, November 10. Get ready to boogie! Complete with sensational live band and an all-singing, all dancing cast, the hits, the fashion, and the passion from two of the greatest eras of music make this the ultimate party night out in Armagh. Featuring hits from ‘The Jackson Five’, ‘Wham!’ and many more this is a night not to be missed.

• Brick City, Antrim Castle and Gardens, Co. Antrim, until November 27. Brick City is a celebration of some of the world’s favourite buildings and urban icons, recreated solely using Lego bricks. While to many, Lego bricks are ‘just a toy’, to Warren Elsmore they provide a challenging and enjoyable modelling medium. Booking essential.  To book call (028) 94 481338.

• Bronte: A Solo Portrait of Charlotte Bronte, Bronte Church, Co. Down, November 12. Set during a single day in 1849, this play begins as Charlotte, the last surviving Brontë sibling, returns to her father’s home in Haworth in Yorkshire — and sits down to write a letter to her friend Ellen Nussey, called Nell. This provides a biography of Charlotte’s life as she looks into the future alone with her elderly father…but will Arthur Bell Nicholls come calling?
• Set on stage in the old Bronte Church, where her father preached, and taught in the adjoining school this is almost a home-coming.
• Chevalier, Never Centre, Derry~Londonderry, November 10. Athina Rachel Tsangari’s brilliant Chevalier is a film about six friends on an octopus-fishing trip aboard a luxury yacht in the Aegean who compete to determine which among them is “the best in general”. Starts at 7:30pm and tickets are £2.

• Kenny Rogers, SSE Arena, Belfast, November 8. Grammy Award-winning superstar and Country Music Hall of Fame member, Kenny Rogers is bringing his Final World Tour showcase to Belfast with special guests Charlie Worsham and Linda Davis. Tickets £38 – £70.

Please note some of the events require pre-booking. For more details on these and other events click on www.discovernorthernireland.com/events, visit your local tourist information centre or log onto www.facebook.com/discovernorthernireland.

Join Tyrone footballer Cathal McCarron as he discusses his candid autobiography, Out of Control with local journalist Adrian Logan. McCarron’s story is unlike any other written by a GAA player before: shockingly honest and profoundly moving. The book has been shortlisted for Sports Book of the Year in the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards 2016.

In the last 3 years, McCarron has been nominated for a prestigious All-Star twice. However, he hid a dark secret for years, a gambling addiction that almost destroyed him. While on the run, his life had spiralled so viciously out of control that he ended up having sex with a man for a gay porn website. After getting paid, he walked across the road and gambled half his earnings away in a betting shop.

When footage subsequently leaked, McCarron could no longer hide his terrible secret, nor keep running from his past. He slowly began the long road back to rehabilitation. After a year out of the inter-county game with Tyrone in 2014, McCarron made a remarkable recovery in 2015, ending the season with an All-Star nomination.

His story, written with Irish News contributor Christy O’Connor, is a remarkable tale of the hidden demons that often visit and terrorise inter-county players. It also underlines the pressures and expectations so often taken for granted in amateur sport. McCarron recalls his journey with searing honesty, from the depths of depression to the road back to recovery and rehabilitation. He is now studying to be a counsellor, aiming to help people rid themselves of the demons that once almost destroyed his life.

Join McCarron on Wednesday 9th November at the Crescent Arts Centre. Tickets are available at www.Crescentarts.org or by calling our Box Office on 028 9024 2338 and are priced at £8 | £6.

Lisburn & Castlereagh’s highly-anticipated Treat Week launched on Saturday 29^th October with a special Halloween Fest at Inns Market, Newtownbreda with just over 800 local foodies and residents visiting the market to enjoy chef demos, treats from local eateries and producers, and family fun throughout the day.

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council’s newly-launched Treat Week celebrates local restaurants, cafes and gastropubs with 59 eateries cooking up a culinary storm until 5th November across the council area spanning Moira to Dundonald.

Lisburn & Castlereagh features an eclectic choice of eating and drinking experiences with its restauranteurs and café owners tapping into changing lifestyle trends. This is reflected in the emergence of specialist cafes such as Goodness Rocks in Newtownbreda and themed diners and family restaurants from Sugar Ray’s in Dundonald to Del Toro in Lisburn.

Visiting Inns Market on Saturday for Treat Week’s launch event, Mayor Brian Bloomfield, Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, commented on the enthusiastic turn-out. “The enthusiastic attendance at today’s event is a reflection of the growing food culture in our council area.  Lisburn & Castlereagh is lucky to host a wide variety of outstanding and unique eateries, restaurants, and bars spanning the Council Area which cater for all tastes and every occasion”.

Local Councillor John Gallen, who is also Vice-Chair of the council’s Development Committee , added “Treat Week will highlight the diversity and supreme quality of food and drink that is both produced and served across the Council area, and we encourage all residents to support their local eateries – and we would hope to encourage some of those living in the neighbouring towns and villages to come explore what we have to offer.”

In the last 12 months alone, the move towards more casual dining is evident and the prevalence of provenance reflected in the menus of recently launched and refurbished establishments by leading chefs such as Derek Patterson, Stevie Higginson and Danny Millar. With the Michelin trained Chef Chris McGowan choosing Moira as his location of choice following his move back to Northern Ireland, Lisburn & Castlereagh is making its mark in the province’s food scene. Just last week, Hillsborough’s Parson’s Nose and The Plough and Annahilt’s The Pheasant, each retained their position in the leading Michelin’s Eating Out in Pubs Guide for 2017.

“Northern Ireland’s food landscape has undergone a total transformation in recent years, with world class chefs emerging across the province,” said Joanne McErlain, Treat Week organiser.  “The Year of Food and Drink has given us the impetus and confidence to shout about the provincial restaurant and café offerings, rather than hide in the shadows of the eating out scene in Belfast, Dublin or beyond. What has really come to the fore is our chefs’ inherent passion for provenance of the food they serve and they have been true ambassadors for our burgeoning food culture. We look forward to welcoming visitors to Lisburn & Castlereagh during Treat Week to continue to build awareness of the diversity and quality of eateries in our locality.”

Encouraging local people to make the most of Treat Week, Jim McCauley, Service Delivery Manager, Translink said, “We are delighted to come on-board as the official travel partner for Treat Week, and would encourage as many people as possible to make the most of this fantastic initiative. Whether you’re a regular restaurant goer or visiting for the first time, why not hop on-board the bus or train and let us get you there. Translink is always delighted to support local events and provide travel solutions so that passengers can sit back, relax and enjoy the wonderful array of Northern Ireland’s food and drink on offer!”

Throughout the duration of Treat Week, guests can also look forward to experiencing gourmet evenings, and pop up suppers and brunches, in addition to special offers and signature dishes featured throughout the week. Chef demos, masterclasses and village food trails will offer opportunities for exploration and discovery and highlight the fantastic local ingredients and forward-thinking restaurants that push our culinary boundaries right on our doorstep.

Treat Week’s seven days of celebration will culminate at Lisburn Square on Saturday 5^th November from 11pm- 3pm with Kitchen Sessions and Meet the Producers Fair.  Other events to look out for include special chef demos for all ages led by Chef Stephen Jeffers of the recently opened Forestside Cookery School as well as a culinary journey exploring locally produced food served in cafes and restaurants during the Moira Food Trail, on Saturday 5^th November.

For more information or to explore the full line-up of Treat Week events held across Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council visit www.visitlisburncastlereagh.com or follow Treat Week on facebook.com/TreatWeek Twitter @TreatWeek and Instagram @TreatWeek2016.

Shane Richie Junior, star of the Boogie Nights UK Tour and son of Shane Richie & Coleen Nolan will be at The Market Place Theatre in Armagh on Thursday 10 November with ‘Boogie Nights’, the all-singing, all-dancing 70’s and 80’s musical, spectacular featuring hits from ‘The Jackson Five’ to ‘Wham!’

The hits, the fashion, and the passion from two of the greatest eras of music make this the ultimate party night out!

Also on stage that evening is the critically acclaimed production, ‘Your Bard’, written and performed by Nicholas Collett with additional material by William Shakespeare. Professor Nother is giving a talk about Shakespeare authorship in the function room at the Shakespeare pub – but he doesn’t believe the man from Stratford wrote those plays. That’s Will’s cue to kick the door off the hinges and defend his reputation. Come and meet the man himself and take the lid off a legend in your local. He’ll tell you all about his family, what it’s like on tour and the glory days at the Globe.  Queen Elizabeth I, Christopher Marlowe and Ned Alleyn – you’ll meet them too.  Intermingled with a few of his greatest hits – and maybe a sonnet or a song.

The busy weekend continues on Friday night with the Jazz Supper Club featuring a night of great music and food. Taking centre stage will be the hugely popular, talented, and award-winning trumpeter Bruce Adams, ably accompanied by The Gerry Rice quartet.

We’ve something completely different on Saturday 12^th as multi-award winning cameraman, Doug Allan [Blue Planet, Planet Earth, Ocean Giants, Wild Cameraman At Work] introduces his new show – ‘In The Company Of Giants’. What’s it like to face a hungry polar bear and its cubs as they emerge from their den? Or to swim eye to eye with an enormous Southern Right Whale? How do you look for killer whales in vast reaches of the seas around Antarctica? Join Doug for an unforgettable evening of extraordinary animal adventures and unique wildlife film footage. Ask Doug questions about his encounters and travels, and discover what it’s like to be up close and personal with nature’s biggest creatures.

Also on 12 November, you can see Ghostbusters as it was intended to be seen! Thirty-two years after the original release of the film, the award-winning Wireless Mystery Theatre presents ‘Ghostbusters… Retro!’ Imagining how it might have been originally transmitted if it were a 30’s radio play, with live sound-effects, music, and period commercials. The original radio-play from which Harold Ramis largely plagiarised his 1984 film became the surprise hit of the 2014 Belfast Comedy Festival. Prepare for old-time scares.

Sunday 13 November will see a performance with a true legend of the West End stage. From the Scottish Folk Scene of the 1960s to her performance at the Royal Albert Hall, London, Barbara Dickson has captivated audiences with her soulful renditions of material from the traditional songs of her native Scotland to her outstanding musical theatre roles. Now she comes to The Market Place for an evening not to be missed.

Tickets for all performances can be booked through the Box Office on [028] 3752 1821, or online at www.marketplacearmagh.com And to keep up-to-date with the latest news at the Market Place Theatre, you can follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/marketplacearmagh) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/mptarmagh) where you will find all the latest information, special offers and video previews.