This year’s Holywood Christmas Switch On is taking place on Saturday 24th November and will include an action packed programme with entertainment for all the family in Holywood Town Centre.
The highlight of the day will be Santa arriving on a Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service fire engine led by The Friendship band to help The Mayor, Councillor Wesley Irvine switch on the lights at 4.30pm. The switch on will be taking place at the Christmas tree outside Holywood Library. They will be joined by local choirs who will be performing some traditional carols by candle light to add to the Christmas spirit.
There are a host of other things happening throughout the day too. Come along and enjoy The Christmas Market which is taking place this year along Sullivan Place. From 11am, over 30 unusual stalls, from local traders, will be selling their Christmas themed wares with plenty of delicious food on offer too. Also placed at the bottom of the market will be the Love Food Hate Waste demonstration kitchen and you will be guaranteed to pick up some great tips and advice to help you eat, drink and be merry this Christmas with Love Food Hate Waste.
Also situated at Sullivan Place, there will be a giant inflatable snowman which kids can enter and enjoy a disco complete with flashing lights! Guaranteed to be a hit with the little ones!
A static display and demonstrations by 253 Northern Irish Medical Regiment will take place outside Queens Hall where a Battlefield Ambulance and a SimMan will be on display for everyone to explore, you can learn about and practice being a medic and test your first aid skills!
There are activities taking place inside The Library too where The Library & HDCC are running an action-packed programme (from 11am) which will include Magic George and City Reptiles for the kids, Christmas Floral Demonstration, Creating Christmas Cards and Cake Decorating. For more information, please contact the library as booking for these events is essential. Or if your children are craft-minded, head down to The Queen’s Leisure Centre (1pm – 3pm) where there’s a host of children’s crafts and face painting on offer.
Adding to the festivities, choirs will be dotted around the town, singing at key locations on the High Street and will come together at the library at 3.30 pm to join forces and create a big choir for a community sing-song of carols by candlelight until the switch on at 4.30 pm.
Commenting on the event, North Down Borough Council’s Tourism Manager; “Alison Stobie said: We’re offering a lovely traditional feel to this year’s Christmas celebrations and we’re delighted that so many local groups are taking place. So come along, join in and enjoy a day of good cheer and lots of Christmas shopping and don’t forget the whole event is free!”
For more info contact Bangor Tourist Information Centre on (028) 9127 0069 or visit northdowntourism.com.