| From illuminating the city streets with a festive | | | | December 2008. Opening hours on the Saturday |
| flavour to browsing enchanting traditional markets, | | | | are from 9am to 5pm while Sunday is from 10am |
| Belfast has Christmas 2008 all wrapped up - | | | | to 5pm. |
| check out our guide to the top events: | | | | St. George's Market is located on Lower May |
| (1) Christmas Lights Switch-on 2008 | | | | Street and is a bustling fruit, vegetable, meat and |
| Viewed by many as the signal that the Christmas | | | | fish market (along with loads of other local |
| season has officially kicked off, the Belfast | | | | produce) during the year but on these dates a |
| Christmas Lights Switch-on will bring throngs of | | | | whole host of Christmas craft stalls will peddle |
| shoppers and families to Belfast City Hall on | | | | their wares to festive gift-seekers who can enjoy |
| Tuesday 18th November at 7.30pm. | | | | the live entertainment that is being laid on. |
| Various celebrities and world figures have flicked | | | | (4) Christmas Pantomimes |
| the switch on the Christmas lights over the years | | | | If you fancy catching a bit of Christmas |
| including former US President Bill Clinton in 1995 | | | | entertainment in Belfast this year you will be spoilt |
| while recent years have seen members of the | | | | for choice. Popular local favourite May McFettridge |
| pop music industry perform the ever important | | | | brings her unique comedy style to the Grand |
| task. | | | | Opera House pantomime production of "Mother |
| As yet, we haven't found out who will be taking | | | | Goose" from Saturday 29th November 2008 to |
| to the podium for 2008 but the night promises to | | | | Saturday 17th January 2009. |
| be jam packed with amusement and music to | | | | And just across town at the Waterfront Hall, the |
| keep the large crowds entertained at City Hall | | | | much-loved panto figure Dan Gordon leads the |
| while a special preview of the Christmas | | | | cast of "Robin Hood" in a rousing pantomime that |
| Continental Market can be enjoyed from 8.30pm | | | | runs from Saturday 29th November 2009 until |
| until 10pm. | | | | Saturday 10th January 2009. Come along and join |
| (2) Belfast Christmas Continental Market | | | | in the fun and help Robin Hood, Maid Marion and |
| The grounds of Belfast City Hall remain at the | | | | the Girlz from the Wood stop the evil Sheriff Of |
| centre of the city's Christmas celebrations as the | | | | Snottingham. |
| Christmas Continental Market opens for business | | | | (5) Christmas Music Performances |
| on Wednesday 19th November until Saturday | | | | The Waterfront Hall also stages what promises to |
| 20th December 2008. Opening times of the | | | | be a magical performance of the music from the |
| market are Monday to Wednesday from 10am to | | | | animated film "The Snowman". There will be two |
| 8pm, Thursday to Saturday from 10am to 10 pm | | | | shows on Saturday 6th December 2008, one at |
| while Sunday's hours are from 1pm to 6pm. | | | | 2.30pm and one at 5pm - the conductor will be |
| Actually, if you go along to the Christmas Lights | | | | Christopher Bell. |
| Switch-on (see above) on Tuesday 18th | | | | Inspired by the children's book by Raymond |
| November you can get a sneak preview of | | | | Briggs, young and old are sure to enjoy this |
| what's on offer so you can suss out a few | | | | classical feast of music and in particular the |
| market stalls in advance! | | | | Christmas favourite "Walking In The Air". So settle |
| Each year the Christmas Continental Market | | | | down as you join The Boy and The Snowman as |
| attracts a vast array of stalls that sell everything | | | | they embark on their journey through that |
| from traditionally produced crafts, decorations and | | | | eventful Christmas Eve night bumping into a few |
| of course some mouth watering foods and | | | | familiar faces along the way! |
| warming beverages. This is a great place to spot | | | | And why not round off a day of fun and learning |
| a unique Christmas gift and even if you're not | | | | at the interactive W5 by attending "The |
| shopping, we recommend you spend just a few | | | | Nutcracker And The King Of Mice" which runs |
| hours wandering around the market to soak up | | | | from Friday 5th December 2008 until Sunday 4th |
| that festive feeling. | | | | January 2009. Here the classic tale is retold with |
| (3) St. George's Christmas Craft Fair | | | | an enchanting version so be sure to come along |
| Another Christmas market that you should check | | | | and enjoy the strains of the "Dance Of The |
| out is St. George's Christmas Craft Fair on | | | | Sugar Plum Fairy" as Clara and The Nutcracker |
| Saturday 6th December and Sunday 7th | | | | travel to far off lands of magic. |