The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) has put together a list of 12 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland over the next week (December 10 – 16).
- Santa’s Grotto and Sleigh Ride, Millers Hill, near Markethill, Co. Armagh, December 5 – 20. Make magic reindeer food, post your letter to Santa in his giant post box, visit his Grotto and enjoy some of Mrs Claus’ shortbread and mince pies.
- Magical Christmas Memories, Springhill House, Magherafelt, Co. Londonderry, December 8 – 16. Visit Santa and Twinkle-Boots in the grotto, receive a beautiful Christmas gift and see the house festively decorated for Christmas with crafts for the children and mulled wine and mince pies for the adults.
- Christmas Carol Concert, Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Cultra, Co. Down, December 11 – 14. Sing traditional carols and listen to seasonal readings in the atmospheric lamp-lit Omagh Meeting House. Supper is available in Ballycultra Tea Room before and after the concert.
- 30s & 40s Music by Swingbella, Runfurly House Arts & Visitor Centre, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, December 12. A close-harmony vocal trio bringing back the sassy sound of the swing era of the 30s and 40s.
- Wireless Mystery Theatre presents ‘A Christmas Carol’, North Down Museum, Co. Down, December 13. The radio theatre troupe will be ‘broadcasting’ their annual Christmas show and will transport the audience into an old-time Ulster radio studio, recreating the 1940 live broadcast of the family classic A Christmas Carol.
- A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Derry Playhouse, Co. Londonderry, December 13 – 15. A fresh interpretation of a Dickens classic– the story of redemption, as Scrooge, a miser haunted by three spirits, seeks to amend the errors of his penny-pinching ways.
- Wrap It Up Christmas Event, Castle Barracks, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, December 14. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon of shopping, mulled wine and mine pies while browsing the shop for Christmas gift ideas including knitwear, jewellery, silverware, ceramics and books.
- Winter Wonderland, Antrim Lough Shore Park, Co. Antrim, December 14. Make sure you don’t miss Santa sailing up the Six Mile Water River by boat before paying a visit to Santa’s grotto, meeting the Christmas animals and enjoying a range of family fun.
- Half Night Paranormal Gaol Tour, Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast, December 15. This tour takes you on a paranormal journey through the prison where 17 men were executed by hanging and their bodies were buried within the prison walls in the unconsecrated ground.
- Christmas Craft Fair at Share, Share Discovery Village, Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh, December 15. Share is hosting an indoor Christmas craft and food fair. Santa will be making an appearance at the event and there will be plenty of activities to take part in including face painting, rock climbing and balloon modelling.
- Santa and the Lost Toys, Bardic Theatre, Donaghmore, Co. Tyrone, December 15 – 16. The perfect alternative to the traditional grotto experience – sing along to your favourite Christmas songs, help solve the mystery of the lost boys, meet Santa and receive a special cupcake treat at this mini-pantomine.
- The Incredible Book Eating Boy, The MAC, Belfast, until January 1. This family show is based on a book by award-winning children’s author Oliver Jeffers. Say hello to Henry, he loves books. Books for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Yes, Henry loves books so much that he eats them and the more he eats, the cleverer he gets.