The Market Place Theatre in Armagh has just released its new Spring | Summer 2018 programme packed full of the best in entertainment including shows, workshops and exhibitions to keep audiences flooding back time and again. If you’re stuck for the perfect Christmas gift, then why not give the gift of entertainment this year!

January will see The Rock ’N ’Roll Years and Dance Hall Days show back with a brand new show featuring George Jones, Clubsound and four wonderful singers. The show will transport you back to the nostalgic days and incredible music and artistes of 50’s and 60’s, with over forty classic songs. Combining evocative love ballads with the greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll hit songs of the era, this show will carry the audience back to a time when dance halls were full and the youngsters danced, jived and rocked to The Four Seasons, The Shadows, Neil Sedaka, Dean Martin, Patsy Cline, Elvis and many, many more!

For more musical enjoyment, Shane Nolan & The Four Seasons star in ‘Oh What A Night – Jersey Guys’. Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons ultimate homage show celebrates their greatest hits including ‘Oh What A Night’, ‘Sherry’, ‘Walk Like A Man’, ‘Bye Bye Baby’, ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’, ‘Let’s Hang On’, ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’…and many more! This celebration features fantastic vocals, harmonies, dance routines and stars of The West End and leading UK theatre tours.

Jake O’Kane, Northern Ireland’s top comic and star of the BBC panel show ‘The Blame Game’, is back in February with a brand new show. Jake will be casting a satirical eye over the preceding twelve months, combining stories and pictures from The Irish News with the madness of the internet to debunk the great, the not so great, and himself. From Jake feeding his voter registration card to a goat, Martina Anderson having a fit at the European Assembly, or the never-ending RHI scandal, Jake mixes hard news with harder comedy to guarantee a night to remember.

The Ulster Orchestra will be coming right to your doorstep in February with Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, a giant amongst concertos. The Ulster Orchestra is delighted to bring international star Sergey Khachatryan to perform this piece. Renowned as one of the great modern interpreters of this concerto, Khachatryan’s performance will be spell-binding. To open the concert, Ulster Orchestra Music Director Rafael Payare will conduct Brahms’s richly romantic Third Symphony.

Younger audiences will be delighted with ‘Gruff’, the much loved fairy-tale brought to life with a pinch of Banyan magic. As part of the Family Super Saturday series, ‘Gruff’ will include an hour of fun activities including themed craft workshops, face painting, balloon modelling and fancy dress competition.

April will see the staging of ‘We’ll Walk Hand In Hand’, a new play by Martin Lynch marking the 50^th anniversary of the Northern Ireland civil rights struggle. The play charts the story of Vincent and Louise, two young working class kids from Woodvale and the Lower Falls who start Queen’s University on the very day the shocking television images come through of the assassination of Martin Luther King. Becoming embroiled in the heady world of student politics, whilst back home their families see civil rights very differently, Vincent and Louise are confronted with decisions that will mark their lives forever.

Then it’s time for the return of ‘It’s Wine O’Clock’, telling the story of the most whacky and wonderful wedding of the year. South Armagh farmer’s wife, Vera, is thrilled that her son, Seamus, is getting hitched. But – surprise, surprise – not everything is going to plan. A riotous rabble of larger-than-life [yet strangely familiar] characters will be joining Seamus and his blushing bride for a shindig that’s slosh-a-block with champagne and slippery with slap-and-tickle shenanigans. Meanwhile, ‘Keep ‘er Lit’, Ireland’s greatest wedding band [in their own minds, at least] have arrived to provide a tune or two on the dancefloor.

For details of all events can be found online at www.marketplacearmagh.com, and tickets for can be booked by contacting the Box Office on [028] 3752 1821.

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.

Head to Newtownards, Co. Down, on Friday 24 November (2017) for a Christmas light switch on that is sure to mesmerize.

The town will be immersed in rhythm and colour when Spark! leads the popular, annual lantern parade bringing high impact drumming, stunning costumes and fantastic lighting to Ards, and culminating in a spectacular stage finale.

Prior to this, visitors can enjoy a stage programme from 6pm, compered by local favourite, Cool FM’s Pete Snodden, and featuring winners from the recent ‘Web’s Got Talent’ competition.

Face painting and balloon modelling will also keep the ‘little ones’ entertained while waiting for the festivities to begin, starting in Conway Square at 5pm.

The official switch on by Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Robert Adair, takes place at 7pm.

The event is organised by Ards and North Down Borough Council.

For more information on Christmas festivities in Ards and North Down, located right on Belfast’s Doorstep: visitardsandnorthdown.com

Get your Christmas off to a great start at the Christmas Living History event at Sentry Hill, on Saturday 9 December.

 

Bring the family along and learn all about how they celebrated Christmas back in 1900.

Meet Aunt Meg and her niece, Elsie, as they prepare for the big party for the dawning of a new century in1900. Head of the household William Fee McKinney will proudly show you his museum pieces on display.

Get creative in our education room and make some traditional crafts before you enjoy some yummy homemade festive treats, children will also receive a small Christmas gift.

Join us and kick start your Christmas festivities at the award winning Sentry Hill

Tickets for this event are limited, therefore we recommend pre booking your place today T: 028 9083 2363. Tours take place each hour from 11am-3pm.

We look forward to welcoming you to Sentry Hill for a traditional family Christmas get together.

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North Down Museum’s Christmas Craft Market is taking place on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 November.

 

A popular date on the shopping calendar, the market will be packed with local artists and crafters providing an array of handmade goods, ideal for those special stocking fillers.

Come along and browse the stalls which will be dotted around the historical museum building – start your Christmas shopping or even finish it! Live music on both days will add to the Christmas atmosphere.

On Saturday lunchtime, as a treat for younger visitors, Santa will make an appearance! And a special North Pole post box will be situated in Museum reception so don’t forget to bring along your letters!

Coffee Cure, the museum café will be open throughout both days of the event where visitors can enjoy tea, coffee, lunch and snacks.

Speaking about the Christmas Craft Market, North Down Museum Manager, Heather McGuicken said, ‘The Museum’s Christmas Market is an excellent opportunity to purchase unique Christmas gifts for you and your loved ones and to support local craft makers at the same time’.

The market runs from 10am to 4.30pm on Saturday 25 and 12pm to 4.30pm on Sunday 26 November. Parking and admission is free at North Down Museum.

For more information on the Christmas Craft Market and other events and exhibitions, visit www.northdownmuseum.com

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, in partnership with The Junction, present an evening of Inclusive Enchantment at Antrim Castle Gardens.

Northern Ireland’s Premier Christmas Event, Enchanted Winter Garden will host a relaxed evening on Friday 8 December from 6-9pm for adults and children with specific needs including those who are sensitive to noise, lights and crowds.

Attractions and rides will be slowed down, music levels lowered and strobe lighting and other strong lighting will not be used on this evening.

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Councillor Paul Hamill, commented” I am delighted that we are hosting this special Inclusive evening in partnership with The Junction. We hope that our visitors will have a great time and we want to build on the Enchanted Winter Garden Experience to make more of our events inclusive. We have had some great advice from professional organisations in putting together this ‘pilot’ event and our aim is to be able to provide more of these events in the future”.

Leona Barr, Centre Manager from The Junction added” The Junction are honoured to sponsor the Sensory Evening at this year’s Enchanted Winter Garden. This special event is an integral part of our commitment to the local community”.

Tickets go on sale on Wednesday 22 November at 10am and are available from www.enchantedwintergarden.com or in person at Clotworthy House, The Old Courthouse and Theatre at The Mill. Admission £2 Adults & Carers & £1 Children. Please note tickets are restricted to four per family. Charges will apply to some of the attractions ranging from £1 – £3.

Free car parking available at Central Car Park at Castle Mall and other Town Centre car parks. Full T&C’s are available at enchantedwintergarden.com.

It’s the one you’ve all been waiting for! The panto dreams are made of is arriving at Armagh’s Market Place Theatre.

This year’s Christmas spectacular, ‘Sleeping Beauty’, will combine wonderful music, song and dance, colourful costumes, memorable characters, and loads of audience participation, in a lively and sparkling Christmas adventure.

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, a beautiful princess is born. The entire kingdom is delighted, apart from the evil fairy, who places a curse on the Princess, so that she will prick her finger on a poisoned spinning wheel on her 16^th birthday! Who could possibly break such a terrible spell? And who will be brave enough to challenge the evil fairy? And what mad shenanigans will occur in the meantime? Come to The Market Place Theatre this Christmas to find out…

Featuring all your favourite panto characters, ‘Sleeping Beauty’ is guaranteed to be a fun-packed traditional family pantomime for all ages! Fun, frolics and laughter abound in this spectacular take on the thrilling and timeless classic. Audiences will recognise some familiar names in the cast line-up with Debra Hill playing the role of Sleeping Beauty-Full, Michael Lavery as the Prince, Karen Rush as everyone’s favourite baddie Maleficent, and of course, the fabulous Stephen Beggs back in the ‘funderful’ role of Nanny Magee.

Performances will run from Saturday 2 December, right up until Christmas Eve, at a variety of times to suit all ages! Ticket prices range from £10 to £15. Tickets are selling fast, with the best availability remaining on the last week.

To book your tickets for the most exciting pantomime of the season, phone the Box Office now on [028] 3752 1821. The house is sure to be packed to the rafters for this annual festive hit, so don’t be caught napping – book now, before it’s too late! We’d hate for you to snooze out! There are BSL signed, captioned and relaxed performances during the run. Please contact the Box Office for full details.

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.

 

Check out of Christmas stress and into a Northern Ireland hotel

As we start to think about Christmas shopping, the party season and the big day dinner, hotels across Northern Ireland are already in full swing. Geared up to take you in to their cosy rooms and festive restaurants, they are bedecked with baubles and holly, with food and entertainment.

Get the whole family together and let someone else worry about the cooking and washing up with DiscoverNorthernIreland.com’s guide to ten hotels that go big on Christmas.

1. Galgorm Resort & Spa

From the moment you make your way down the winding driveway at Galgorm, you will be transported to a magical winter wonderland with opulent decorations, roaring log fires and festive inspired menus.

Enjoy a luxurious guest experience with extra touches like mince pies and hot chocolate beside your own Christmas tree in your guest room, or bring the kids to visit Santa in his magical grotto where they will receive a gift and hear a tale from Father Christmas. Take a stroll round the Christmas markets where you can join in on everyone’s favourite carols.

Spend Christmas in style at the serene Thermal Village and Spa, then indulge further with a choice of three onsite restaurants serving festive afternoon tea and Christmas lunches.

On Christmas Eve there will be seasonal sounds to enjoy with a lounge singer at afternoon tea, live music in Gillies Pub, mulled wine, hot chocolate and fireside games. Families can head to the Mulberry Garden to toast chestnuts and marshmallows on the open fire. Christmas Day at Galgorm features a sumptuous five-course Christmas lunch, selfies with Santa and receive Christmas gifts by the tree, popcorn and movies or an afternoon of Christmas crafts and games.

2. The Old Inn

One of Ireland’s oldest hotels, The Old Inn feels festive all year round with its thatched roof, roaring open log fires and comfortable chairs to sink into. This Christmas enjoy the ‘Christmas Eve package’, from £105 per person sharing. Relax and unwind with a glass of celebratory Prosecco and freshly roasted chestnuts on arrival, followed by a very special Christmas Eve dinner in Lewis restaurant.

Join the carol singers around The Old Inn Christmas tree for some traditional cheer, before you retire to bed in your bedroom full of character and await Christmas Day with a hearty cooked full Irish breakfast in the morning.  Just a ten-minute walk away is Crawfordsburn Country Park, perfect for a tranquil Christmas Day walk through wooded glens and the long coastal path on the southern shores of Belfast Lough.

3. The Merchant Hotel

Experience this special time of year in Belfast’s most elegant dining room – the Merchant Hotel’s Great Room Restaurant. Dine under the magnificent 150-year-old dome and spectacular Tyrone Crystal chandelier, and admire the  hotel’s iconic Christmas tree, standing at 25ft and adorned with over 300 baubles and 150 metres of fairy lights.

Festive feasts await, from afternoon tea and festive lunches to a lavish nine-course tasting menu and an award-winning cocktail list of encyclopaedic proportions.

Indulge in a little extra luxury with one of the AA 5 Red Star hotel’s Christmas accommodation packages. Envelop yourself in the splendour of a Victorian suite, or check in to one of the unique Art Deco bedrooms inspired by the glamour of the 1920s era.  Guests have exclusive access to Belfast’s only rooftop hot tub, as well as an aroma steam room and rock sauna.

While you wait in anticipation for Santa to arrive on Christmas Eve, let the sound of The Merchant Hotel’s traditional silver band be the perfect afternoon tea accompaniment.

4. Culloden Estate and Spa

 

Experience the joy of Christmas in the luxury of the Culloden Estate and Spa on a two-night residential experience package from Christmas Eve through to Boxing Day, from £545 per person sharing.

 

Check in from noon on Christmas Eve and enjoy a fabulous traditional Afternoon Tea, with spiced festive pastries, delicious mince pies and snow-dusted scones, alongside a selection of sandwiches and savouries. Kick back and relax in the lounge and let Christmas begin.

 

A cocktail reception awaits guests from 5pm, with carol singing from St. Anne’s Cathedral Choir. Guests are then invited to enjoy a divine four-course a la carte dinner in the

beautiful yuletide surroundings of the Mitre Restaurant, with a Celtic harpist creating the perfect Christmas ambiance. Retire to the lounge after an indulgent dessert, and enjoy a selection of fine cheeses, port and Irish coffees with entertainment from the resident pianist.

 

Start Christmas morning with a leisurely breakfast in the Holywood Room with the Culloden’s spectacular Grand Buffet Breakfast. Enjoy a morning stroll around the estate or a visit to the spa before joining in the festive celebrations in the Stuart Suite with a sumptuous

Christmas gourmet buffet lunch.  Have a luxuriously lazy afternoon within the hotel. Relax in front of our roaring open fires with a book, sit back and chat to with family and friends or take a walk within the delightfully manicured gardens overlooking Belfast Lough. Finish a glorious day with a relaxed and light Christmas supper, with live musical entertainment and a selection of board games, before retiring to your luxurious room for the night. A hearty grand buffet awaits you on Boxing Day morning before your departure.

 

5. The Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel

 

If you have children, chances are they won’t want to leave home in case they confuse Santa. But the Killyhevlin pulls the stops out for families throughout December.

 

Stay on a Sunday night from £130 per family, and enjoy one this Fermanagh hotel’s famous ‘Santa Sundays’.

 

Indulge in a delicious carvery lunch with a festive twist, where all the family will be entertained with festive treats, including a children’s disco and face painting, and Santa Claus himself will be on hand to deliver gifts to children.

Available Sunday 3rd, 10th and 17th December.

 

 

 

6. La Mon Hotel

From the roaring open fire in reception to the twinkling candles lighting up their restaurants, a warm welcome awaits families at La Mon this Christmas. Mingle among the glowing seasonal cheer and allow yourself to be tempted by the scent of delicious festive dining.

Check-in with your family from 4pm and await the knock on your door from Santa’s Elf. You and your family will then be guided to the hotel’s Winter Wonderland singing Christmas songs along the journey. The magic will then begin when each boy and girl will write their final letter to Santa and enjoy the photo stops before the big moment. Each good boy and girl will get to visit Santa and receive a special treat to open before Christmas. Later in the evening before bedtime children are invited to enjoy a Christmas movie with milk and cookies.

Package costs from £140 per family, based on two adults and one child under 12 years old.

7. Lough Erne Resort

For couples or parents looking to truly put their feet up in style, enjoy a Christmas residency at the five-star Lough Erne Resort.

Arrive on Christmas Eve to the magic of roaring open fires and indulge in festive favourites such as mince pies, mulled wine, egg-nog and hot chocolate, before enjoying a good night’s rest. Awake the next morning to a Buck’s Fizz breakfast and the chance for the little ones to open their presents with Santa Claus.

A five-course Christmas lunch featuring the best local ingredients awaits in the award-winning Catalina Restaurant, followed by a relaxed day of board games and Christmas movies on the big screen.

This package is available for a two-night stay from £549 and a three-night stay £649 per person sharing. Children between the ages of 3-13 years can have their own room from £270 for two nights and £315 for three nights.

8. Beech Hill Country House Hotel

Beech Hill Country House Hotel, gloriously set in 32 acres of woodland, lakes and tranquil well-tended gardens, is famed for its warm welcomes and fine food, especially this Christmas time.

Despite its rural location, this imposing Georgian building stands just two miles from the walled centre of Londonderry. This convenient location makes it an ideal spot for Festive Afternoon Tea, which includes mince pies, freshly cut sandwiches, pastries and cakes. Served daily 12:30pm – 4:30pm.

This beautiful Country House has a range of festive offerings including a number of extensive Boxing Day menus, allowing the opportunity to relax in luxury after a busy Christmas Day.

Christmas party nights are also on offer, enjoy the Winter Wonderland Christmas Experience in the pavilion, which will be transformed into a Christmas Wonderland for an evening of great food and quality entertainment. Diners will enjoy a four-course meal followed by a live band playing floor-filling songs, nestled in landscaped gardens next to the main Beech Hill manor house.

With overnight accommodation starting from only £39.95 per person sharing.

 

9. Corick House Hotel

Let Corick House entertain you and your guests in this enchanting four-star hotel with the halls decked out with garlands and decorations and ten Christmas trees.

Their festive lunches and afternoon teas run until 23rd December. During your visit to the hotel, there are three acres of manicured lawns and well-stocked flowerbeds, for a leisurely stroll in the peace and quiet of rural Clogher Valley, along with full use of the relaxing spa facilities.

Corick House Hotel vouchers are available to purchase, making the perfect gift for the friend who has everything.

Enjoy Christmas for the kids at Corick House with Santa Sundays. A four-course festive lunch menu is available from 12.30pm – 3.00pm followed by lots of fun and entertainment for all the kids in Santa’s Grotto with the elves. Including Santa’s sleigh, face painting, a children’s disco, art station, balloon modelling, reindeer food and a Christmas Post Office, where letters are sent directly to the North Pole. Along with this, Santa will visit with presents for all the children.

Extend your visit with a Santa Sunday Sleepover, from only £199 per family, based on two adults and two children. Includes bed and breakfast and a Santa Sunday lunch.

10. Fitzwilliam Hotel

Enjoy a range of luxury offerings this Christmas at the five-star Fitzwilliam Hotel.

Ideally located in the heart of Belfast, The Fitzwilliam is the perfect place to rest weary feet from shopping with a festive afternoon tea. Situated beside the Grand Opera House, the Fitzwilliam is also the location of choice to have your pre-pantomime dinner, with a range of festive dinner options.

They are offering a spectacular ‘Christmas in the City’ package which includes, a Christmas Eve check-in with mulled wine and mince pies followed by a festive-five course gourmet dinner. Then on Christmas Day enjoy a Christmas breakfast, a magical visit from Santa, champagne reception, a five-course gourmet luncheon in the restaurant and an early evening Christmas supper served at in the bar. Enjoy a late Boxing Day breakfast before check out, two-night package from £280 per person sharing.

Alternatively, you can just part-take in the Christmas Day five-course festive lunch served from 12.30pm-3pm for £95 per adult, or £45 per child.

For more short break inspiration or Christmas events, visit DiscoverNorthernIreland.com.