Stewartstown Amateur Dramatic Society have teamed up with Northern Ireland’s very own Willy Wonka to produce a special pantomime themed bar that will give five lucky winners the chance to win free tickets to this year’s amazing panto at the Burnavon, Cookstown (from 6th – 28th January).

The ‘Willy Wonka: The Pantomime’ chocolate bars, produced by local firm Foster’s Chocolates, are on sale for £1 each in Daly’s Newsagents and Spar supermarket, Stewartstown; Newell Stores in Dungannon and Coalisland and Sheehy’s Newsagents in Cookstown.

Fosters Chocolate have been producing their hand made chocolate and confectionery products in Northern Ireland for over 25 years now, and are well known for chocolate bars and their famous honeycomb. They are pleased to support Stewartstown Dramatic Society in producing the fantastic ‘Wonka Bars’.

There are five golden tickets contained within the specially produced chocolate bars that could be anywhere, and those lucky children (or adults!) that pick one of the winning bars will receive a family pass to the finale night on 28th January.

Pat Smith, Chairperson of the Society, said, ‘This seemed too good an opportunity to miss, and we are delighted that Foster’s Chocolates, such an important local company, are supporting us in this way. We’d also like to thank the stockists of these one-off scrumptious treats who represent the local business community for supporting their local community. It is fantastic that these local businesses are leading the way, investing in the culture of the Mid Ulster area.”

There is a special preview night of the panto on Friday 6th January at 8pm, with tickets priced at £7. All other shows are priced £10 / £8 and a group booking offer – buy 8 tickets, get 2 free is also available.  Friday shows are at 8pm, and Saturday shows are a matinee at 2.30pm and an evening performance at 8pm.

To book your tickets, call into the Box Office at the Burnavon, telephone on 028 8676 9949, or book online at www.burnavon.com

On Friday 25 and Saturday 26 November the Square, Ballyclare will be bursting with Christmas Fayre.

An artisan food and craft market is taking place from 12pm to 8pm on Friday and 11am to 6pm on Saturday. The free family event is being organised by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and everyone is welcome.

Come along for family entertainment including a magician, the playbus, arts & crafts, face painting and amusements.

Bonkers Betty Bizarre Bazaar will be making their debut in Ballyclare with a host of food and craft stalls offering their fantastic goods for sale at the market. With so many stalls over the weekend, it is ideal to pick up a unique Christmas gift.

For more information about the event please contact Karen Steele on 028 9446 3113 ext. 31376 or visit www.antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk/christmas

Ballyclare will light up for Christmas on Saturday 26 November 2016 with an array of family fun activities at the annual Christmas tree switch on.

Come and see Snow White and friends in their Enchanted Forest from 1.30pm in Ballyclare Town Hall 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 Sixmile Leisure Centre 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 work supported by the Mayor’s Charities.

At 2.30pm the free family fun entertainment will kick off with local radio presenters ensuring the crowd get 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 switch on the Christmas tree lights to light up Ballyclare for a magical Christmas!

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

Antrim Town is the place to be on Thursday 24 November from 5.30pm as the Christmas lights switch on ceremony, organised in conjunction with Castle Mall, promises to start the yuletide season with festive fun and entertainment!

The action kicks off in Market Square with musical entertainment hosted by Sonya Mac from Q Radio, who will entertain with hits both old and new. Of course the evening wouldn’t be complete without a visit from Santa who will make his grand entrance with Snow White at 7pm.

One of the highlights is sure to be the special children’s prize draw with great prizes to be won, including a WowWee Chip Interactive Robot Dog. If you haven’t already got your prize draw slip, they are available from the Old Courthouse and can also be picked up at the event.  A spectacular fireworks display at 7.30pm will round off what will undoubtedly be a perfect festive evening.

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

‘Santa’s Magical Solstice Christmas’ will take you on an enchanted Christmas journey to the magical land of Lapland.  Be amazed as day quickly turns to night and the wonder of the Solstice takes place.

In Lapland, Santa has left lots of jobs for his elves.  Some of the elves are happier with their jobs than others and they might need a little help from you!

Santa will be waiting in his wonderful house to meet all the boys and girls, and of course, he has a gift for all the children!

This event begins on 3^rd Dec and continues to 22^nd December with various time slots available.  Booking on-line is essential.

Tickets are just £10.50 per child, £5.30 for Under 1s and £5.30 per adult, this will include a gift for children and a tea-time treat for adults. 10% discount for parties of 12 or more, when made as one booking.

For information on timeslots and booking see www.armagh.co.uk/santa

Navan Centre, 81 Killylea Road, Armagh.  BT60 4LD.  Tel 028 3752 9644 or www.navan.com

At this time of year, many of us are starting to make our lists for Christmas gifts and shopping for the party season. One of the best opportunities to make those purchases will be at a unique ‘Journey to Market’ event which will be taking place on 3^rd December at the Diamond in Coleraine Town Centre.

This specialised Christmas Market will be providing everyone with an early opportunity for obtain those special items while supporting these new entrepreneurs as they go forward into industry.

This bespoke event is open to the public, to view what is proving to be a highly successful programme. It is the fifth programme in the series whereby entrepreneurs from the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough will be showcasing their artisan products for public to purchase. Just some of the items available on the day include: specialised food products for cooking and baking; tasty breads; various types of chutneys; meats; and various crafts.

The ‘Journey to Market’ Programme, funded by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council secured its new selection of candidates back in September and is now supporting them to turn their hobbies into businesses.  This bespoke Programme is delivered by Lara Goodall Consulting Ltd in partnership with Nuala Foley & Associates and was designed for food, arts and craft entrepreneurs. The project opens doors which sometimes new businesses may struggle with, and one of the opportunities will be the event in Coleraine.

To date, four programmes and forty-five businesses have successfully completed their ‘Journey to Market’ and taken their product into the public arena.  Julienne Elliott, Economic Development Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council said, “This Programme provides one to one mentoring to support each participant to develop their ideas and ensure they have the necessary skills to take them forward.

“This particular event will provide valuable experience selling direct to the public, as well as guiding them through business planning, product development, visual merchandising and marketing.

“Lara Goodall Programme Manager, has brought her wealth of specialist advisors and opened some of those difficult doors many of us face when starting a new business.”

Programme Manager and Business Consultant Lara Goodall stated, “The Journey to Market programme fits well with Christmas providing so many opportunities for everyone.  The public can come and enjoy the various arts, crafts and food available on the day, while suppliers get to meet the public as part of their experience. Through this they will learn how to develop their unique product and what is like to answer questions on what they have created and produced.

“Many of those who have completed the previous programmes are doing exceptionally well and already developing new markets for their products.  There are a few more mentoring opportunities and events for the current candidates to complete, but they are all benefiting from the various opportunities being provided.

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council will soon be delving into Santa’s sack to choose the winners in the 12 Gifts of Christmas competition.

But there is still time to be in with a chance of winning a fabulous festive present from our selection box of sensational seasonal gifts before the closing date of Friday 25 November.

Starting on 1 December, for twelve days one lucky winner will be chosen to receive a wonderful prize to bring a little Christmas magic into their lives. All winners will be announced each day on the council Facebook page at www.facebook.com/armaghbanbridgecraigavon

Prizes up for grabs include family tickets for the superb Cinderella pantomime in The Market Place Theatre, Armagh or experience Santa’s Magical Winter Solstice Christmas at Navan Centre and Fort. Get set to swish down the slopes with a super snow-tubing experience with Santa at Craigavon Golf Ski Centre or be prepared for some gravity defying fun at Jumpboxx indoor trampoline park in Banbridge.

Set a course for deep space at Armagh Planetarium and journey back in time to Bethlehem to witness the Christmas story as you have never seen it before in the ‘Mystery of the Christmas Star’ digital theatre show.

Get started on your Christmas shopping list or treat yourself to a special gift with a fantastic £100 voucher for Rushmere Shopping Centre, Craigavon. There’s tasty treats galore in the succulent shape of a luxury hamper from the Yellow Door, (Portadown) or why not tuck in to a delectable dining experience at The Moody Boar (Armagh).

Topping all of these is the grand prize of a £500 shopping spree in the borough, courtesy of Cleary Contracting Ltd, which is guaranteed to bring one lucky winner a sleigh-full of Christmas cheer.

To enter, simply submit your name, address and telephone number via email at competition@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk, post your entry to 12 Gifts of Christmas Competition, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Old Technical School, 3 Downshire Road, Banbridge BT32 3JY or complete the online form at ourstoryofchristmas.com

The competition is open to borough residents aged 18 and over. Only one entry per household will be accepted. Full terms and conditions can be found at ourstoryofchristmas.com. Good luck!

Award winning duo Caroline Curran and Julie Maxwell return to Theatre at The Mill with their Knockout Christmas Comedy ‘Last Orders at the Rough Diamond’ from Tuesday 6 – Saturday 31 December.

Faced with eviction from their beloved home and bar ‘The Rough Diamond’, sisters Holly & Ivy along with the help of some of the rubbered regulars , set out on a mission to save the local dive from being bought by a pretentious landowner and turned into posh apartments.

Meanwhile local boxer short-legged Stuarty Crampton faces his biggest fight to date, should the girl’s place all their hard earned cash and Christmas cheer on Crampton saving them from a Yuletide eviction? Will there be any room in the INN this Christmas.

Join us for the perfect Christmas night out, this hilarious show, which holds no punches will leave you feeling punch drunk.

Tickets available from Box Office: 028 9034 0202 or online www.theatreatthemill.com

Dinner and show packages are available from £32.95. Our New Year’s Eve performance will be followed by an after show party where you will get the chance to mingle with the fabulous cast, whilst bringing in the New Year.