Ballina gets set to light up for Christmas

Santa Claus will be taking time out of his busy schedule to pay a visit to Ballina later this month to turn on the Christmas lights.

A series of wonderful events are planned for Sunday, November 23, to help ring in the festive season in the town. The day will begin with a Sensory Hour at the Jackie Clarke Collection, organised in conjunction with Let There Be Light, a local group of volunteers who came together to reimagine Christmas lighting in Ballina.

Santa Claus will be there to tell stories and meet the children until around 4.30pm when the big man will take a tour of the town accompanied in convoy with a light show from tractors, fire engines, motorbikes and more. Three lucky local schoolkids will accompany Santa in his sleigh up town to the Market Square and will help him turn on the Christmas lights.

The party will have already started at the Market Square from 3pm where local musicians will play Christmas songs to create a festive atmosphere.

The Let There Be Light committee have urged people to come out in force to support the event.

“The people of Ballina have really bought into our message about our town’s Christmas lights,” said committee member David Murray. “We want to see a big crowd out for this special event and we also want to stress this is an all-weather event, so be prepared for all kinds of weather,” he added.

The committee has also confirmed that Christmas Markets with over 30 stalls will be taking place at the Innovation Quarter on December 12, 13 and 14 with times to be confirmed.

Mr Murray said Let There Be Light’s recent Pumpkin Patch event for Halloween proved a huge success and helped fund the committee's Christmas plans.

“Over 6,000 people went through the Pumpkin Patch and it was a huge success. We want to thank people for their support and to thank our volunteers.”

The Pumpkin Patch will return next year on October 24, 25 and 26.