Brightening Up This Christmas in Mid Ulster
This November and December in Mid Ulster are full of festive fun to help you spend time together with friends and family this Christmas. From the lights switch on, to entertainment and festive concerts, there's lots to brighten up the darkest of days!
Cookstown Town Centre is the first to light up this year, on Friday 20 November, from 6.30pm to 8pm. William Street will come alive with entertainment from the Burnavon’s Traditional Music in Schools Programme, Tullylagan Pipe Band and McGarrity, Canavan and Ferrity, finishing with a fantastic Showstoppers Parade to count down to the Lights Switch On by Santa, who'll arrive in style.
On Street Entertainment includes face painting, The Gaming Bus, and Character Walkabouts for those Christmas selfies! The Christmas Lights Switch On will take place at approximately 7.15pm. Road diversions will be in place on William Street from 5pm to 10pm.
Market Square, Magherafelt lights up on Saturday 21 November from 2pm to 8pm with festivities featuring the Children’s Christmas Village, with a variety of children’s shows, musical entertainment, crafts and activities taking place. There’ll be a Christmas Street Party on Broad Street from 6.30pm to 8pm, before Santa arrives at 6.30pm to switch on the Christmas Lights at 7.30pm, immediately followed by a festive fireworks display.
Road closures will be in effect on Market Street from Friday 20 November at 6.30pm to Sunday 22 November at 4am; Broad Street on Saturday 21 November from 4pm to 10pm; and Queen Street / Lawrences Square on Saturday 21 November from 6pm to 9.30pm.
Magherafelt Chamber of Commerce’s Christmas Market will also be open Saturday 21 November from 11am to 5pm.
Maghera Walled Garden and Town Centre has its turn on Saturday 28 November from 3pm to 6pm.
In The Walled Garden, from 3pm to 5pm, you can meet Santa in the Potting Shed (pre-booking essential, opens Monday 16 November, see Council website for details), be entertained as you stroll around the garden, or get crafty for Christmas in the Lurach Centre, where all the family can write their letter to Santa and post it in The Walled Garden post box, make a Christmas Decoration or special reindeer food, or get your face painted.
Mrs Claus storytelling and letter writing will take place in Maghera Library from 3pm – 5pm.
This year, Santa will leave from the Fairhill car park at approximately 5.15pm to make his way to Hall Street for the Lights Switch On at the St. Lurach’s Road Junction at 5.30pm.
There will be a temporary road closure in place from 5pm to 6.30pm from Fairhill Road to Hall Street on the evening of the event.
Market Square, Dungannon is also a hub of festive fun on Saturday 28 November from 6pm to 8pm. Family focussed festive fun will take place in Market Square from 6pm including music to get you in the festive mood from an on-stage DJ. Walkabout characters will entertain, and face painters will be in Ranfurly House, where there’ll also be a Christmas Jumper Swap Shop. Festive food and drinks will be available at Feeney’s Lane.
A Christmas Pageant will make its way through the streets of Dungannon commencing at 6:30pm. The pageant will follow a route starting from Lower Scotch Street Car Park at 6:30pm, passing through Scotch Street, Georges Street, William Street, and Irish Street, Market Square (turn at top), Scotch Street and finishing in Scotch Street Car Park. Santa will arrive along with the Pageant at Market Square at approx. 7:20pm where he will greet the crowds and join the Chair of the Council on stage to switch on the Christmas lights at 7:30pm.
As the Christmas lights illuminate Dungannon, a nine-minute fireworks show will begin simultaneously on the Hill of The O’Neill.
Finally, Coalisland lights up on Sunday 29 November from 5pm to 7pm.
From 5pm to 6.30pm in the main public space, there'll be free face painting, the opportunity to take a selfie with festive characters, or to meet Santa in his grotto.
There’ll be music and entertainment aplenty as an on-stage DJ, live band and Craic Theatre will knock your Christmas socks off on stage from 5pm to 7pm. The Christmas Lights Switch-On will take place at approximately 6.50pm.
For full details of the Christmas programme of activities across Mid Ulster, including information on planning your visit if you have accessibility needs, visit www.midulstercouncil.org/christmas