On Saturday 16 December, a very special festive concert will take place at The Queen’s Hall, Newtownards.

For fans of the popular Friday Night Live music series and from the team that brought you the sell-out success Rumours Re-told, “It’s Chriiiiistmas!!” will be a fun and nostalgic music homage to the festive season.

From Bing Crosby and Dean Martin to Mariah Carey, The Pogues, Wizzard and Wham!, expect all your favourite Christmas Crackers recreated by artists including VerseChorusVerse, Susie Coyle, Ellen Weir and Becky Baxter.

With fairy lights, tinsel, a dance floor and fabulous Christmas songs, join us for what promises to be a Christmas No.1 for real music lovers.

Tickets cost £10 and are on sale at www.ardsarts.com. Book early to avoid disappointment!

Children from all over the Ards and North Down borough are taking an Environmental Family Pledge whereby they are encouraged to deliver on a promise made through an innovative initiative that Ards and North Down Borough Council are rolling out this November/December.

 

The initiative, called C.L.E.A.R, associates community, learning, environmental, awareness and responsibility, to the environment through a series of 5 workshops set in the Risk Avoidance Danger Awareness Resource (RADAR) centre.

Ards and North Down Borough Council have partnered with RADAR and a voluntary beach cleaning group, North Down beach cleaners, to develop this be-spoke programme which has been financed from the Recycling Community Investment Fund, raised by all the re-cycling efforts by the residents in Ards and North Down, accumulating an extensive £1.2 million saving in landfill tax. This has allowed the council to not only minimise any rates increase but also to re-invest this money into new environmental initiatives such as C.L.E.A.R.

These 5 workshops are aimed at all year 8 pupils in the borough and started on Monday 27 November, taking place over a three-week period – 1,800 local pupils will take part. Set in the impressive location of RADAR, a multi-purpose village built within a warehouse, the children will learn about biodiversity, recycling, environmental crime, dog awareness and good citizenship. By educating the next generation of citizens the programme tackles environmental issues in an interactive, innovative and enjoyable way.

Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Robert Adair, stated that “the CLEAR initiative is all about our young people having a unique opportunity to learn key messages about environmental responsibility in a really fun and effective way”.

The team heading the workshops are getting fantastic feedback with encouraging reviews from pupils and teachers.

David Lindsay, Director of Environment in the Council said, “For every child that makes the pledge along with their families the Council will award a bursary to their school, that can then be used to further pupils’ environmental education.  As long as the residents of the borough maintain and improve their commitment to maximising recycling of their household waste, we will continue to reap the financial benefits – and can use the money saved to keep funding important initiatives such as the CLEAR environmental education programme as well as many other projects from our Recycling Community Investment Fund.”

Will you make the pledge? Be environmentally responsible.

 

 

The Market Place Theatre in Armagh will be providing some much-needed respite from the Christmas hustle and bustle this December with relaxing and magical festive performances.

Come and join the exceptional Cara Dillon on Thursday 14 December, for what will undoubtedly be a magical and memorable festive experience. Having recorded her highly anticipated Christmas album, ‘Upon A Winter’s Night’, Cara and her band will be performing classic carols, Celtic hymns and other Christmas songs to celebrate and share in the Christmas spirit. A tradition in the making. If you don’t already know the voice of Cara Dillon, you’re in for a treat. If you are already amongst her legions of admirers around the world, you know you have something special in store. Tickets are priced £22.

Why not treat a loved one to a night of great music at our popular Christmas Jazz Club. Taking centre stage on Saturday 16 December will be the hugely popular Martello Jazz Band who feature a sound reminiscent of the Dixieland bands of 1920’s New Orleans, stamped with their own brand of drive and flair. A great pre-Christmas night out with friends. Admission is priced £15 which includes a glass of prosecco and light refreshments.

Visit the website at www.marketplacearmagh.com for full details and bookings, or contact 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.

Maghera’s Christmas festivities kick off this weekend on Saturday 2nd December

 

Kids Christmas workshops and activities will take place in The Lurach Centre from 2pm – 4.30pm, before Santa arrives by reindeer and sleigh at the Walled Garden.

To visit Santa in his Walled Garden Grotto between 4.30pm and 6pm, please pre-book your child’s spot by calling the Bridewell on 028 7963 1510.

Many babies have celebrated their first Christmas due to the fabulous support available from TinyLife, Northern Ireland’s only premature baby charity. Now TinyLife are holding a jumbo Santa event with a difference, to raise vital funds to help future premature babies celebrate their first Christmases’.

A two-centre bumper festive event has been planned, which includes a Snowstorm Christmas Colour Run in Lurgan Park on Sunday 10 December and a train ride to visit Santa in his wooded-cabin at Peatlands Park (Exit 13 M1 at Loughgall). 9/10 and 16/17 December. Both events have the same cover charge £10 Adult and £5 child.

The festive experience brings something for everyone of all ages, as the colour run offers up a festive drenching by Santa’s elves, a visit to the man in red, snow glasses for every participant and a medal for all finishers; while the Peatlands event package has reserved a special train service to chug along the Park’s narrow-gauge railway to see Santa, which includes a gift, a free make and take craft and refreshments as part of the ticket price.

A bundle-booking system is available if both events are reserved. The Lurgan Park Colour Run remains at full price, but for every ticket purchased for the run (adult/child matched) tickets for the Peatlands event will be eligible for a 10% refund.

For visitors preferring to make the takeaway Christmas craft, a pay on the day charge of £4 is applicable. A timed ticketing system is in place to keep Santa’s nerves intact! Visitors are asked to book where possible online and to arrive 15 minutes before the visit.

Peatlands Park Warden, Martin Hampton said, “Our train is always a huge draw throughout the year bringing visitors face to face with nature. Christmas is a wonderful time for children and families, so it is especially poignant that we can take this opportunity to support the work of such a worthwhile charity, who help transform lives every day. As our train turns into the magical Peatlands Santa Express, we would encourage visitors to hop aboard and escape to the great outdoors while supporting TinyLife – a double feel-good factor!”

Over 1900 babies are born too soon (six babies every day), too small or too sick in Northern Ireland. Some arrive as early as 24 weeks, weighing as little as 1lb/454 grams, the same weight as half a bag of sugar! At this understandably very stressful time for parents, TinyLife is there to provide practical advice, emotional support and to give a helping hand to families who have a baby in a neonatal intensive care unit, with their network of Family Support Officers in every neonatal unit across Northern Ireland, ensuring parents receive optimum support in hospital, at home and within the community, all ably supported by a dedicated team of active volunteers.

Nicola Orlick from Newmills, County Tyrone, is mum to 5-year-old Jacob and more recently gave birth to twins, Emma and Matthew, born on 21 August 2015, at 4lb 10 and 5lb 1oz respectively said, “TinyLife was the only charity that could help me. I had a really good job as a senior manager before the twins were. My husband works 12-hour shifts which include weekends, so although we were delighted with the news that we were expecting twins, the reality of the situation soon hit home.”

“With family members working throughout the day, I tried various charities to find a volunteer but to no avail. They I found out about TinyLife and my world changed.  Janice my local TinyLife Support Officer advised me on the many practicalities, including much-needed financial advice as having given up my job I realised that reduced income was yet another pressure I had to deal with.”

“Former nurse, TinyLife Family Support volunteer, Sylvia is without hesitation on my part, is my rock. From the day and hour, she stepped through the front door, she has become not just a volunteer but family. My twins know her as aunty Sylvia. I was at my wits’ end, depressed, lonely and at one point, fearing for my sanity, too frightened and ashamed to reach out for help. For other families in this situation, my advice is to contact TinyLife today. Don’t wait a second longer. Help is at hand. I haven’t looked back since. TinyLife is a local charity for local people. All fundraising money goes directly back to help premature babies and their families. That’s why I’m supporting the Peatlands Park Santa visit event.”

For more information on fundraising, volunteering or this and forthcoming events, visit tinylife.org.uk, buy tickets at buytickets.at/tinylife or connect on Facebook and Twitter.

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Come and explore the magic of Christmas in the Antrim Forum on Saturday 9 December at 3.30pm.

 

The annual Christmas Carol Service, hosted by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, will be compered by Claire McCollum.

The Education Authority Youth Concert Band will add musical magic to the voices of the children from primary schools throughout the Borough, capturing the true spirit of Christmas through readings and song.

Admission is free however there will be a door collection with all proceeds donated to the Mayor’s nominated charities: Tiny Life, Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice and Sandes.

For more information on the Christmas Carol Concert please T. 028 9034 0073 or carol.shane@antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk

Local families, whose lives have been impacted by dementia, had the chance to enjoy some festive cheer at the exclusive launch of Titanic Belfast’s Magical Christmas Experience.

Families were invited by the Alzheimer’s Society to the World’s Leading Visitor Attraction to see Father Christmas arrive and launch the Magical Christmas Experience. Aware that Christmas can often be a challenging time for families living with dementia, with heightened emotions and feelings of isolation, the event enabled families to kick off the festive season together.

The families had the chance to step through the Old Curiosity Shop to enter into the Elves’ Workshop, join Mrs Claus at her cosy kitchen, hear Christmas tales, enjoy festive games, badge making, look up their names in the naughty or nice list and meet Father Christmas.

Mingling with a host of well-known Northern Ireland faces from the entertainment industry, the families were first to preview this year’s event.

Titanic Belfast’s Director of Operations Judith Owens, commented: “Christmas is a truly magical time of year and our Experience is all about embracing festive cheer and creating unique memories. With over 20,000 individuals and families living with Dementia in Northern Ireland and one in three children knowing someone living with Dementia, we are delighted to be able to support the Alzheimer’s Society to give the gift the joy to its very deserving service users this festive season.”

Bernadine McCrory, Northern Ireland Director at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “We are so grateful to Titanic Belfast for inviting our families to be involved in the Magical Christmas Experience. Some of the best Christmas gifts can’t be wrapped, and hosting a Dementia Friendly event so that families can enjoy Christmas together is a present that will not just build new memories for future generations, but will also allow families to remember and reminisce about Christmases gone by.

“With someone developing dementia every three minutes and no cure in sight, the need to unite in the fight against dementia has never been more pressing , so this Christmas Alzheimer’s Society is celebrating the thousands of people who have united against dementia this year by fundraising, campaigning and volunteering for Alzheimer’s Society, and we are pleased to see some of our amazing volunteers with personal experience of dementia in their family here enjoying the magic of Christmas at Titanic Belfast.”

If you are hosting a family member living with dementia this Christmas, here are a few tips to help you make the day special for everyone:

• Put your decorations up early and slowly
  Introduce Christmas decorations gradually, over the course of a few days or even a week, so that it doesn’t come as a big change to the person’s usual setting.
• Spread out family visits

A large number of guests can be noisy and overwhelming, so spread out visits over the festive period.

• Create a quiet room

If things do get busy, designate one room in your house a ‘quiet room’ where one can relax without loud noise and consider scheduling periods of rest throughout the day.

• Keep the routine

Try to keep meals at the same time and in familiar surroundings so your loved one can relax. Be mindful of food, although people tend to over indulge during the festive season, a full plate can be quite daunting so try not to overload your loved one’s plate.

• Play some familiar Christmas music or reminisce over old photos

This can help your loved one relax and will add a nice touch to the festivities. Or why not try one of Alzheimer’s Society’s Carols by Candlelight taking place from 3rd – 21st December across Northern Ireland.

Titanic Belfast’s Magical Christmas Experience runs until 23 December. To book, visit www.titanicbelfast.com.