Christmas Lights Switch-on

The Lord Mayor of Belfast lights up the city for the festive season on Saturday 14 November, with the switch-on taking place outside Belfast City Hall on Donegall Square from 6.30pm to 7.30pm. It's the official start of Christmas in Belfast, and it's the kind of thing that draws families and visitors right into the heart of the city.

The evening is built around the Lord Mayor on stage with local artists and performers, and it's their collective effort that leads up to the moment the city is illuminated for the winter. It's a relatively short window — an hour on the clock — so the whole thing moves fairly quickly from the performances to the lights coming on.

Beyond the switch-on, the city's winter programme takes shape around the Belfast Christmas Market in the grounds of City Hall, which opens on the same day. That brings together traders, festive food and drink, Christmas gifts and seasonal entertainment in one spot. The annual Winter's Den and Santa's Post Office also return to 2 Royal Avenue as part of the wider seasonal offering, with music and animation across the city centre.

Entry to the switch-on is free, though you'll need a ticket to get in, and those are released by Belfast City Council. It runs from 6.30pm to 7.30pm outside City Hall on Donegall Square.