Festive events across province to bring seasonal comfort and joy

Here are some of our top festive events taking place in the run up to Christmas.

Tyrone’s Biggest Vintage & Handmade Fair (Sunday 27 November, 12 - 5pm) at the Silverbirch Hotel, Omagh will be the perfect opportunity to browse your way through fabulous stalls of vintage clothing, all things handmade, collectibles, china, antiques, gift ideas galore, art, jewellery and more. Admission is £2.

Meanwhile, the Ballycastle Christmas Artisan Market in the Marine Hotel (Saturday 26 - Sunday 27 November, 11am - 4pm) will be festooned with artisan treats galore, quirky gift ideas and filled to bursting with eclectic treasures, delicious seasonal temptations and quirky handcrafted gifts from the very finest artisans. Admission is free.

Flowerfield Arts Centre's Christmas Craft Market in Portstewart runs from this Saturday 19 November to Thursday 22 December (3 - 4pm daily, closed Sundays). 'The best festive craft market on the North Coast' features the finest local and regional professional makers. So, whether you’re looking for pottery, scarves, stunning jewellery, unique glass homeware, beautiful prints, stocking filler candles or artisan food, you’ll find endless handmade treasures and the perfect bespoke gifts for your loved ones right here. Admission is free.

The Newtownards Christmas Lights Switch On will be an all-day celebration on Saturday 26 November (10am - 7pm: switch on in Conway Square at 5pm) featuring a Christmas Market with food demonstrations, festive-themed entertainment and Santa’s Grotto. You can also explore arts, local produce and handmade gifts at the town centre's local market. There will be entertainment throughout the day in Conway Square, while celebrity chef, Suzie Lee (winner of BBC's Best Home Cook 2020), will be the star attraction at a special Cookery Demo Kitchen in High Street.

Meanwhile Armagh Georgian Festival brings festival fever to venues across ArmaghCity Centre from Thursday 24 - Sunday 27 November (11am - 5pm daily). Step back in time as Georgian Weekend signals the start of the Christmas countdown.

Mr Tumnus will spark younger imaginations with his Tumnus Tales as he takes families with children on a magical adventure exploring the Narnia-themed sculptures around C.S. Lewis Square iEast Belfast this Sunday 20 November (1 - 3pm). Suitable for ages 6+.

The Ardhowen Theatre in Enniskillen is where you can savour the delights of celebrated classical music ensemble, The Fidelio Tri o with Cillian Vallely (this Friday 18 November, 8pm) who will perform a suite of newly commissioned music inspired by the work of one of Ireland's foremost painters and finest uilleann pipers, J B Vallely. With roots in Irish traditional music, these boundary-busting works are vivid musical evocations inspired by Vallely's portraits of traditional musicians. Tickets: £15 / under 25s: £5.

Meanwhile, W5 in Belfast, as you’d imagine, will be a hub of festive activity in the coming days and weeks.

Aside from taking a stoll through the continental market at city hall to sample all manner of culinary delicacies and purchse artisan gifts, family fun is on the agenda at W5 from November 26 where you can enjoy an array of seasonal experiences, including a visit to Sanda, a brand-new immersive theatre show and a magical reading of a Christmas classc.

W5’s fourth floor has been transformed into a magical new kingdom. Take a stroll through the tunnel and be transported to the Santa Square where a series of merry window displays and twinkling lights await. All children that venture through will also get to meet Santa who will have a gift for them. Santa Square is an add-on experience at £10 per child. Visit includes a gift, time to chat with Santa and the option to take your own photos.

Or if you’d prefer, step into W5’s AMAZE space on Level 4 and become immersed in a brand-new theatre show for all ages – The Storyteller’s Winter Tales. W5's storyteller invites you into their frozen world where you can discover how the robin got its red breast, take an imaginary walk through the woods using the magic of sound and see how the mystic northern lights were created.

With an exciting mix of puppetry, engaging soundscape technology and original animation, this captivating experience is sure to leave viewers in a merry mood.

You can also become immersed in a living storybook world in W5’s Over the Hills & Far Away zone. Past the Jungle Book animals and Peter Pan pirates is the Forest Storybook Glen where customers can enjoy a reading of the classic T’Was the Night Before Christmas.

Write your letter to Santa in the magical surroundings of W5 before posting it at the North Pole Post Office. You can also help to spread some Christmas cheer by creating a festive card for someone who may be on their own over the holidays.

Ever wonder what it’s like to have a snowball fight indoors? Well, now you can. W5 will be the stage for a snowball fight over the holidays. It may look like real snow but there is no chance of getting frozen fingers. Warm, dry and soft, this snow is really cool – but not in a cold way. For further information about W5’s Christmas offering, click here.

Dates and times vary.

Click here for Northern Ireland’s what’s on listings website - to keep up-to-date with everything to see, do and enjoy across Northern Ireland this festive season and it is sure be a very merry Christmas indeed.