Preview // 10 Awesome Things To Do In Northern Ireland This Week / 3 – 9 December

The awesome guys at the tourist board know there are stacks of fun things to do across NI, from family days out to gigs and cultural events every week. So here are their top 10 exciting things taking place this week (3 – 9 December)

1. The Twilight Emporium, Larne, 7 December. Celebrating the wealth of talented artisan producers the country has to offer, the Twilight Emporium is a must visit event for fans of locally produced crafts and artisan food, and a great place to begin the festive season.
2. Enchanted Winter Garden, Antrim, 7 – 18 December. Antrim Castle Gardens are transformed into the Enchanted Winter Garden, creating a magical Christmas experience for family and friends. Bigger and better than before, the Enchanted Gardens includes a festive fayre, a Ferris Wheel, a Victorian Helter Skelter, street theatre and much more.
3. Skate with Santa, Dundonald, 1 – 22 December. Take to the ice every Saturday in December and enjoy a jolly skate with Santa himself at Dundonald Ice Bowl. Glide and twirl under twinkling lights to the very best festive music for a truly magical experience.
4. Les McKeown’s Bay City Rollers, Belfast, 6 December. Les McKeown’s Bay City Rollers is a unique voyage back to the 1970s, when Les and his legendary band ruled the world’s pop charts and The Bay City Rollers’ music became the soundtrack for a generation of teenagers. Les brings back all the thrill and excitement of Rollermania in this unique show at the Ulster Hall.
5. The Greatest Snowman, Limavady, 6 – 8 December. Enjoy a fun-filled show for all the family at the Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre this December.  Limavady Drama Club present their 2018 pantomime – The Greatest Snowman. Based on popular family favourites and hits from The Greatest Showman, the pantomime promises to be a magical experience for all the family.
6. A Yuletide Evening in with the Celts, Armagh, 7 December. Experience a peaceful Mid Winter’s evening with the Celts during this period of ritual, reflection and renewal at the Navan Centre and Fort. Listen to stories and learn of Celtic customs associated with this time of year before the customary fire cleansing.
7. The Carol Ship on Strangford Lough, Newtownards, 7 – 8 December. Hear Christmas music from choirs and bands ring out across Strangford Lough as choirs and musicians sing and play on each ferry sailing. See the Strangford ferry decorated with Christmas lights as she sails back and forwards on Europe’s oldest continuous ferry crossing.
8. Ulster Orchestra – Handel’s Messiah – On Your Doorstep series, Derry~Londonderry, 6 December.  A true gift of musical and spiritual expression, Handel’s Messiah is the most single performed piece of classical music, year-on-year, than any other. If you’ve never heard it, don’t miss the opportunity to experience all the glory, celebration and joy of this timeless, inspirational masterpiece at The Guildhall this festive period.
9. Days of Christmas Past, Omagh, 8 – 9 December. This Christmas celebrate the yuletide season at the Ulster American Folk Park at the Days of Christmas Past event. With a range of traditional festive activities, including fireside story readings, sing-a-longs, seasonal treats and visits to Santa and Mrs Claus, it offers something for all the family.
10. Snow Patrol, Belfast, 7 December. Since their 1998 debut, Snow Patrol has racked up an impressive number of critical and commercial accolades, including 15 million global album sales, 1+ billion global track streams, five UK Platinum Albums, and are Grammy, BRIT Award and Mercury Music Prize nominated. Originally from Bangor, hear this incredible band perform live at the SSE arena.