Christmas just doesn’t feel quite the same this year.
While we all have a new appreciation for the small things – health, family, banana bread – I think everyone misses the craic and excitement of all the rushing around to events that we usually do at this time of year. Christmas fun for the kids has been limited to school events, which, while great, are something they experience without us. It’s not so much the nights out as the fun and anticipation that comes with the run up to Christmas. Everyone home for the break, turning on the lights, attending carol services and markets on Christmas Eve...
Covid has changed a lot of things. We can’t be in big crowds like that this year. But there are a few wonderful and innovative events companies and businesses who have adapted and overcome the challenges facing them this year to bring us in-person – yes, in-person – events, modified to be in compliance with Covid guidelines.
Obviously, spaces will be limited, so if any of these events sound like you and your family, book quickly!
Passage West Christmas Market Passage Christmas Market
Tickets €5 – €20
Date And Time
Friday 18th December 2020 4-5pm
Father O'Flynn Park
Passage West
Cork
Find tickets here.
Over 65's have a dedicated time to visit on Saturday & Sunday 12:00-13:00 free of charge. You are of course welcome at any time and can purchase an adult ticket for €10.
Safety measures: Your safety is of utmost importance, it will be mandatory for all aged 12+ to wear a mask for the duration of your visit.
As they have assigned hourly slots, please bring a copy of this ticket on your phone for scanning at entry.
Kilkee Movie Drive-In
Sunday 27th December 6-9pm
Venue: Public Car Park, East End Kilkee
East End
Kilkee
This drive-in movie viewing of the classic comedy Home Alone lets you experience this family classic in a way you never have before!
An evening for all the family to enjoy! Pop on your Pjs and Slippers, bring some cosy blankets and relax in the privacy of your own car and experience a viewing of this great classic family movie, on a large LED 2-sided screen.
Viewing is at the East end car park Kilkee and tickets are limited!! Find tickets here.
Price is per car
Christmas by the Sea brings you this fabulous and unique event to Kilkee for both young and old to enjoy.
Fully licenced and insured event
**event to go ahead subject to weather conditions**
Lucan Library Family Time: Christmas Crafts for Kids!
Monday 21st December 4-5pm
Venue: Lucan Library
Superquinn Shopping Centre
Newcastle Road
Lucan
Celebrate the start of the Christmas holidays with a fun online workshop for children aged 7+!
Join Aoife Munn for this fun online Christmas craft workshop! This workshop is suitable for children aged 7+ and their adults.
Packs for the workshop will be available to pick up from Lucan Library 1 week before the event Please book 1 ticket per child, max 2 tickets per household
A valid email address is required as Zoom links to the event will be emailed to the supplied address by the facilitator.
For events, priority will be given firstly, to people living, working or studying in the South Dublin area, secondly, to people living in Ireland.
Christmas Scavenger Hunt in Collinstown Park by North Clondalkin Library
Saturday 19th December 10:15am – 12:15pm
Venue: Collinstown Park
Collinstown Park
Dublin
Can you find the naughty elves hiding in Collinstown Park? Follow the clues to find the elves and solve a puzzle!
This event will take place in Collinstown park. You will find the starting point near the playground where you will be greeted by staff. Suitable for children aged 5+. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Booking essential here at eventbrite.ie.
Please book for the total number of tickets you require for your group in one booking. Please come to our starting point only at the time you have booked.
Covid 19 Regulations: Events are carried out within government and HSE guidelines. Parents/guardians will need to fill out documents on behalf of all participants prior to this event. This will be emailed to you in advance. All attendees must sanitise their hands at our starting point and all adult attendees must wear a face covering. Details of attendees will be retained for contact tracing purposes.
Carols @ Cooley
Friday 18th December 6.30-7.30pm
Venue: Cooley Farm
Ballymanus Upper
A67 VE42 Glenealy
Christmas carols, lights, festive fun and atmosphere, all from the socially distanced safety of your car.
All are welcome to enjoy Christmas carols, lights, festive fun and atmosphere, all socially distanced. Find tickets here!
1 booking is 1 car.
Christmas At Navan Adventure 2020
Saturday 19th December 11am-12pm
Venue: Navan Adventure Centre
Navan Racecourse
Proudstown Road,
Navan
Customise Christmas Stocking - Make a Christmas decoration - Play life-size snakes & ladders game - Make Christmas slime - Gift from Santa
Come join in for the first ever Christmas Event at Navan Adventure Centre!
This action-packed event will create very special, fun & much needed 2020 family memories!
What's it all about: They have designed this event to get families working together, helping each other while having lots of fun! They have created 4 activity stations you will work your way through before meeting the main man himself!
This is an outdoor social distancing aware event, all activities are under roof and sheltered from the wind so bad weather won't stop the fun, just be sure to wrap up warm!
Activity 1: Customize your own Christmas Stocking (Stocking supplied).
Activity 2: Make a Christmas decoration (all materials supplied).
Activity 3: Check out te life-size Christmas themed snakes & ladders game!
Activity 4: You couldn't put on a Christmas event without letting the kids make their most favourite thing in the world. . .SLIME! Fun glittery Christmas slime of course! Choose red or green slime and our elves will tell you exactly want to do to make the perfect glitter slime to take home!
Activity 5: Meet the main man himself "Santa" in the grotto, show him all you created and tell him what you would like for Christmas, but be careful! Santa may know a lot more about you than you think! So be extra good over the next few weeks! Gift from Santa for every child.
Warning! Watch out for the cheeky Grinch who might pop in from time to time to create havoc! Navan Adventure Centre have received information that the Grinch has heard about our fantastic event and wants to try ruining it for everyone. They of course will not let this happen but keep your eyes peeled and alert one of our elves if you happen to see him!
Running time: Expect to be at the event for 1 hour, you are welcome to grab a hot chocolate or treat from our Christmas treat shop and stay a little longer
Tickets & Pricing:
There needs to be family pods of between 4 and 6 people for the event to run safely and efficiently with reduced numbers as a result of Covid 19. For this reason, there is a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 6 in a family pod booking. If you have 7, 8 or more people you are welcome to buy more tickets in a different transaction but please note you will not be all together for the activities or the grotto but you will not be far away.
Important information:
This is an outdoor event (covered by a roof) where 2 metre social distancing can easily be maintained between family pods. Dress warmly, it may be cold but you will not get wet if it is raining during the event. We have a socially distanced one way system in place for the whole event, start to finish. Your family pot will be kept away from other family pods at all times. Please follow signage, ground markings and staff advice at all times. All equipment handled is sanitised after each family use.
Wheelchair Users: Wheelchair excess is available and all activities are suitable. wheelchair accessible toilet also available.
Find more info here
Meet Santa in His Grotto at the Museum and Family park
Tuesday 15th and 22nd December
Venue: Irish Military War Museum
Starinagh,
Collon,
Co. Meath.
Come Visit Santa When his Train Stops at the Irish Military War Museum. We know it will be a magical snowy evening.
About this Event
Come and meet Santa Claus when he stops on his special Christmas train at the Irish Military War Museum and Family Fun park. Wander through the indoor ice tunnel, pick up some treats like Grandma’s homemade cookies and make your way out to the Christmas village where you can see the elves working away getting ready to stock Santa’s sleigh. Make your way through the snowy scene – Yes, they guarantee there will be snow no matter the weather – check in on the Christmas stable with our Christmas Donkeys, Holly and Ivy not forgetting their sheepish friends.
Make a wish and place it on our wishing tree and hopefully, it will come true maybe even on Christmas morning. See Santa’s sleigh getting loaded and ready to leave but before that, you have to meet the main man himself Santa in his specially adapted Train Station grotto – you can see his train parked outside.
A gift from Santa for every child.
Expect to be at the event for 1 hour, you are welcome to grab a hot chocolate or treat from our Christmas treat shop and stay a little longer
More ticket info here.
This is a partly outdoor event but mainly undercover where 2-metre social distancing can be maintained between family pods. Dress warmly, it may be cold but you will not get wet if it is raining during the event. We have a socially distanced one-way system in place for the whole event, start to finish. Your family pod will be kept away from other family pods at all times. Please follow signage, ground markings and staff advice at all times. All equipment handled is sanitised after each family use.
The Muppet Christmas Carol Drive-In
by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
Saturday 19th December 6-7.45pm
Venue: Ferry Terminal, Dún Laoghaire
Harbour Road
Dún Laoghaire.
The Muppet characters tell their version of the classic tale of an old and bitter miser's redemption on Christmas Eve.
Tickets: € 10.00 per vehicle
Find more information here
COVID-19
The safety of attendees and staff is of paramount importance to us and we will have COVID-19 Safety measures in place for this event. Please adhere to all rules/guidelines and follow the instructions of staff and stewards.
Your ticket will be scanned through your car window, so there's no need to roll down your window.
This is a family event, so please do not attend with anyone from outside your immediate family/household circle. Please stay in your vehicle at all times. If you require the assistance during the movie, please call the phone number which will be displayed on screen at the start of the movie.
There will be no food or beverage outlets at the venue, so please bring your own refreshments to enjoy in the comfort and safety of your vehicle. Hand sanitiser will not be provided, as there should be no reason for you to leave your vehicle.
Drive In Movie Shannon
(Screening Polar Express @ 2pm Elf @5pm Home Alone @ 8pm)
Sunday 27th December 2020
Venue: Shannon Industrial Estate
across from starbucks
Shannon.
Love Shannon in association with Truce Promotions and with thanks to Shannon Commercial Properties present Christmas Drive-In Movies.
The perfect Christmas present to yourselves or family and/or friends. This experience doesn't happen very often in Shannon. With Polar Express, Elf and Home Alone on the menu what better way to spend your day than in the comfort of your car with a mug of hot chocolate some left over goodies, watching a movie at Christmas. All proceeds go towards the cost of the event and the monies made will be added to the cost of future events in Shannon in the coming year (2021) Can't wait to see you there
More info here
Nollaig Beo
19th & 20th December
Venue Athenry Heritage Centre
The Square
H65 WC57 Athenry
Nollaig Beo
Experience a festive treat for all the family to enjoy and discover a Winter Wonderland in the garden of the Athenry Heritage Centre. This outdoor event has been designed for maximum festive cheer, so children of all ages can enjoy this magical time of year.
Due to Level 3 Covid -19 restrictions we cannot provide our usual craft activities and presents from Santa, but he will be there to greet all the boys and girls as they experience a world of lights and elves in the ambient setting of our festival garden. Each 20-minute visit has a capacity of 15 people and we ask adults to wear facemasks at all times and sanitise their hands in the waiting area. This event is designed as a walk through activity and is fully accessible for buggies, wheelchairs and those with disabilities. Please dress for the North Pole or a typical Irish winter's day. All tickets must be booked in advanced and paid through Eventbrite. All tickets include a booking fee.
Please note that the booking contact email address will be kept as a contact tracing log for this event. Children must be accompanied by an adult (over 18) at all times.
The programme is subject to change or cancellation due to adverse weather or increased Covid-19 restrictions.
