By Marianne Flood
Derry's Christmas programme will include a festive market and bar, a light procession and a visit from Santa to turn on the lights, it has been revealed.
Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Christmas £110,000 programme will kick off on November 10 and continue until December 23.
On Thursday, November 23 the city’s lights will be switched on and the celebrations will include music, entertainment, animation and the arrival of Santa Claus.
Details of the programme were announced at Tuesday’s meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council, where the council’s Head of Culture, Aeidin McCarter, said the event line up is expected to attract 60,000 people and achieve average 60 per cent occupancy in the hotels in the city and district.
The highlights include the Guildhall Craft Fair from Friday November 10 to Sunday, November 12, the Mayor’s Guildhall Christmas tea dance on Wednesday December 6 and the Christmas Market in the Guildhall Square from Friday December 15 to Monday December 18.
“The Business support team in council will be organising a winter themed Christmas market with bar serving craft and artisan drinks, live music and kids entertainment,” Ms McCarter said.
“The programme emphasis will be on providing family based entertainment while ensuring the safety of the attending crowds of up to 8,000 possible attendees in the city,” Ms McCarter told the meeting.
“The programming is designed to develop a unique offering drawing on the city district’s rich built and cultural heritage through working in partnership with council departments and district wide business and cultural providers.
“It is focused on bringing communities together and creating the space for shared inclusive celebration.”
Ms McCarter said a strong marketing campaign would be put in place to attract as many visitors as possible to the city over the Christmas period.
The festivities will also include a ‘Sound of Light and Christmas Procession’ on Friday December 1 and Saturday December 2, which will go through the historic quarters of the city.
Every Friday and Saturday night in December Christmas projections will light up the wall of St Columb’s Hall with images of iconic Christmas Movies and falling snowflakes.
And on Saturday December 16 and Sunday December 17 people are invited to meet Bjorn the magical animatronic Christmas life size bear and experience his festive show.
Speaking at the meeting SDLP Councillor Martin O’Reilly welcomed the Christmas programme.
“It’s good to see it developing from one single switch on to a festival that runs for the weeks leading up to Christmas and attracts visitors to the city and district,” he said.
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