Christmas in Fermanagh & Omagh

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council will light up Enniskillen and Omagh town centres with a programme of festive family fun on Saturday 25 November 2023. Throughout the day there will be Christmas carols, music and performances by community groups finishing with the Christmas Lights Switch on at 5.30 pm.

Enjoy Christmas ensembles performed by local bands including St Eugene’s Brass and Reed Band, St Mary’s Silver Band and Ballyreagh Silver Band as they get everyone into the festive spirit.

In both towns there will be an Elf trail for families to participate in.  Follow the clues in shops and businesses around the town centre to locate the names of each of the Elves and enter the free draw to be in with a chance of winning a Family Ticket to the Pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk, in Strule Arts Centre or the Ardhowen Theatre in January 2024.

Children can also enjoy festive face painting and interact with the Christmas characters as they stroll through the streets of Enniskillen and Omagh.

Special Guest comperes, Brian Gallagher in Enniskillen and Brain McNamee in Omagh, will extend a warm welcome everyone as we look forward to performances from local schools and community groups as they entertain the crowd with their festive favourites.

In Enniskillen, the popular local band the ‘Hand Me Downs’, and in Omagh, rising star and talented, Andrew Dolan, will also keep you entertained.  There will also be an early appearance by Special Guest Santa who will help everyone to count down to the Christmas Lights Switch on at 5.30 pm.  Following the switch on there will be a short singalong of festive family favourites for everyone to join in, while Santa will make his way to a designated area for families who wish to get a closer look.

Speaking ahead of the Christmas Lights switch-on, Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Thomas O’Reilly, said:

“The switch-on of the Christmas lights in Enniskillen and Omagh marks the beginning of the festive season in both towns.

The Switch on events offer fun for the whole family and I am delighted that local schools, St Joseph’s Primary School Drumquin and St Kevin’s College, Lisnaskea; musicians; and community groups, Skyzdalimit, Omagh and Fermanagh Bright Starz, are taking part this year.

I would like to take this opportunity to encourage residents to shop local this festive season to support our local businesses and ensure that our economy is thriving and expanding.”

An accessible viewing area will be available in both Omagh and Enniskillen to view the Christmas Lights Switch on along with car parking and changing facilities.  For more information or to book a place in the accessible viewing areas in Enniskillen or Omagh email disability@fermanaghomagh.com or contact the Council’s Access  and Inclusion Officer on 0300 303 1777 by 12noon on Thursday 23 November 2023.

The festive programme will continue on Saturdays in December with the Live and Local Street Music programme.  Local artists will perform live and fill the air with heart-warming festive favourites on 02, 09, 16 and 23 December 2023.

There will also be a festive programme of activity in Council venues to include Santa’s Stories, Sensory Friendly Santa Stories, Tom Sweeney’s Christmas Cracker, Little Miss  Muffet’s Christmas Adventure, Christmas Fun with Felting, Christmas Wreath Making and so much more.  For information on the venues or on any of the above visit website https://www.fermanaghomagh.com/events-and-festivals/