Santa's Arrival Parade

Santa's Arrival Parade returns to CastleCourt on Saturday 14 November, with the main event kicking off at 12pm. It's one of those Belfast traditions that's been around for a while — CastleCourt has been doing Christmas since 1990, and this parade is its festive signature. The procession sets off from Belfast City Hall and marches through the city centre along Donegall Place until it reaches the shopping centre's Royal Avenue doors.

Cool FM's Pete Snodden hosts the day, and the parade itself brings together a fair few characters. You'll see performers from Waterfront Hall's Snow White cast, the K-Pop Demon Hunters, Disney princesses, superheroes, and more. It's the kind of thing that works best if you're there with the kids, as they're the ones who'll get the most out of seeing the whole lot together.

If you want to make a full day of it, there's more than just the parade. Mall activities start from 11am, with face painting and circus performers around the centre, so you can get the kids sorted before the procession arrives. Once the parade is over, Santa takes up residence in his Grotto on the first floor, right beside the food court, from 2pm on the day. He stays there until 24 December, so if you can't make the 14th, you've still got plenty of time to visit him later in the month.

It's a free event and you don't need to book anything, so you can just turn up. The parade starts at 12pm, with mall activities from 11am and Santa's Grotto opening at 2pm.