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Shaun Keenan

Christmas plans for Derry's festive season agreed by council - here's the details

Derry's Christmas programme has been agreed and is returning to the city centre once again this year.

Derry City and Strabane District councillors on the Business and Culture Committee met to discuss the programme on September 13. While not all of the details have been agreed just yet, the festivities will get underway from November 26.

Visitors will be able to pick up Christmas gifts for loved ones and enjoy a variety of festive food and drink throughout the four-week of plans.

Read more: When Derry man Paddy 'Bogside' Doherty met new King Charles III

As usual, there will be a selection of stalls at Derry's Christmas market and guests can expect things like Christmas gifts, including personalised decorations, glass baubles, photo prints and jewellery.

According to the council report, the official date of the Christmas market has not been decided with dates of December 9-11 and December 16-18 the options on the table. A further update on this will be brought in October.

Meanwhile, In terms of spending, it's understood that the council will spend at least £70,000 on the Christmas programme. Derry's Christmas Light Switch on will cost £22,500, while £18,000 will be spent on marketing for this year's planned events.

  • Guildhall Craft Fair

The Guildhall Craft Fair is also set to return after a two-year break due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This event traditionally kickstarts the festive season for Christmas shopping in the City and Council's Christmas Campaign.

The event will showcase a wide range of bespoke craft items created by craft designer-makers and artists throughout Ireland and is an opportunity.

  • Mayors Community Christmas Programming

As with previous years, it's understood that the Events Team will work with the Mayor’s Office to work out a series of activities that will enable the Mayor to deliver a weekend of fun and festive delight in Derry and Strabane with all kinds of Christmas characters spreading yuletide cheer.

  • Christmas Lights Switch On

The Christmas Lights Switch On in Derry will take place on Sunday, November 27th. In 2021, the Christmas Lights Switch On Event changed the format to accommodate Covid restrictions in place at that time and used multiple streets across a wider area of the City and town centres.

Santa’s Switch On Procession will consist of festive characters, NI Fire and Rescue Service, panto characters and beautiful bespoke Christmas-themed mobile installations.

Members of the public attending the Switch On events will be able to view Santa switching on the Christmas Lights from a series of City and Town Centre streets which will allow for the maximum number of people to safely line the routes.

  • Christmas in the Communities

After the success of the Christmas Community activity over the last number of years, officers have made contact with the various representatives in the five neighbourhood renewal areas to work up a programme that would complement the overall Christmas offer.

Meanwhile, council officers have recommended that a maximum of £3,000 grant from the overall Christmas budget will be awarded to each of these areas to provide complementary programming.

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