Belfast's Once Upon a Time themed Christmas season gets underway on Sat 20 and Sun 21 Nov with two enchanted evenings of family fun, fairy tale magic and festive cheer. A dazzling array of street performance, light projection, music, dance and window animation will illuminate the city each night from 6.30pm to 9pm.

Pop-up performances, moves and melodies will cover all sounds from choral classics and roving samba bands to the energetic Absurdist Pipe Band and harmonic Bippity, Boppity and Boo.  And beautifully themed Christmas window displays and extra special in-shop magic will keep those festive feels coming. Laugh-out-loud street theatre, spellbinding performers, fire juggling, LED hoop spinning, acrobatics and pop-up street shows will also see the city centre bursting with energy and seasonal sparkle. 

From Christmas fairies, winter princesses and naughty elves to Mrs Mary Claus herself, locals and visitors will be well and truly enveloped in the festive spirit. Expect lots of fun and heartwarming moments as you enjoy a right old Belfast belly laugh of festive cheer. There may be no lights switch-on event this year but, from 20 Nov, Belfast City Hall will host its big shiny Christmas Tree and bustling Christmas Continental Market, with lights and decorations dazzling the city throughout the festive season. 


And Bright Lights Botanic is a brand new Winter Wonderland experience in South Belfast's Botanic Gardens from Thu 11 Nov to Sun 9 Jan. Visitors will follow a trail of over a thousand illuminated lamps and lanterns past the front of the Palm House, Great Lawn, Band Stand, the Tropical Ravine and the front of the Ulster Museum. 

The event runs nightly from 5-9pm at the upper end of Botanic Gardens with the main entrance at the University Road gates. The Colenzo Parade gates will be closed during the event. The event is ticketed and costs up to £22.35 per adult (discounts for U16 and senior citizens, U2 free). For more info and to book click www.brightlightsbotanic.com.