All tickets have been allocated for the event
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Belfast this weekend!
The countdown to Christmas will begin in the city with the annual lights switch-on at Belfast City Hall on Saturday, November 15.
All tickets have now been allocated for the Christmas Lights switch-on, but there are plenty of other festive events taking place throughout the weekend to enjoy.
READ MORE: Belfast Christmas Lights switch-on tickets, times, entertainment and moreREAD MORE: Belfast Christmas Market set to attract one million visitors to the grounds of City Hall this festive season
If you are attending the event on Saturday evening, we have rounded up all the handy information you may need to know before heading into Belfast City Centre.
When do gates open for Belfast Christmas light switch-on?
The event starts at 6.30pm and will end at approximately 7.30pm.
Gates open at 6pm. The event will take place outside City Hall along Donegall Square North and Donegall Place.
Who is performing at Belfast Christmas light switch-on event?
The Lord Mayor of Belfast Councillor Tracy Kelly will be joined on stage by comperes Pete Snodden, Rebecca McKinney and Paulo Ross from Cool FM’s breakfast show to light up the city for the festive season.
Enjoy a packed programme of festive entertainment for all the family. This year’s event will feature captivating performances and huge talent that you won’t want to miss. The line-up includes:
- Donegall Road Primary School Choir
- Avenue Arts Academy providing heartwarming festive performances
- International Boxing Federation welterweight champion boxer Lewis Crocker
- BA Collective Dance extravaganza
- the Sandy Row Falcons
- singing sensations Philippa and Jolene O’Hara
- a performance from our very own West End leading lady Rachel Tucker, and
- a special finale featuring St Agnes’ Choral Society
Parking suspensions and relocations
From 3am on Saturday 15 November until 3am on Sunday 16 November these measures will be in place.
- Relocation of the taxi rank on Donegall Square North to Donegall Square East.
- Suspension of disabled parking on Donegall Square North.
- Suspension of parking on Upper Arthur Street.
There will also be no on-street parking, including blue badge spaces, from 4.30pm on Donegall Place and Castle Place (between Cornmarket and Royal Avenue).
There is no dedicated parking at the grounds of City Hall but there are a number of 24-hour car parks across Belfast City Centre within a short walking distance of the event.
Parking is available at the below car parks:
- Q-Park Saint Anne’s Square – 24hrs
- Q-Park Victoria Square – 24hrs
- Corporation Square – 24hrs
- Cromac Street – 24hrs
- Corporation Street – 24hrs
- Dunbarr Street – 24hrs
- Exchange Street – 24hrs
- Frederick Street – 24hrs
- Kent Street – 24hrs
Map of Belfast Christmas light switch-on entry points
This map shows the area outside Belfast City Hall where the crowd will gather along Donegall Place and Donegall Square North to watch this year’s event.
The map contains coloured arrows to show how different ticket holders will enter. There is a green arrow to show that green ticket holders will enter the event site via Donegall Place.
There is a blue arrow to show that the blue and wheelchair accessible platform ticket holders will enter via Chichester Street. And there is a red arrow to show that red ticket holders will enter via Wellington Place.
Belfast Christmas light switch-on road closures
From 5am to 10am, Donegall Square North will close for all vehicular traffic except Translink services.
From 4.30pm to 8.30pm closures will be in place at:
- Royal Avenue between Rosemary Street and Castle Place
- Donegall Place
- High Street between Castle Junction and Cornmarket
- Castle Lane
- Callender Street from bollards to Castle Lane
- Castle Place
From 5.30pm to 8.30pm closures will be in place at:
- Wellington Place
- Donegall Square North
- Donegall Square West
Translink will operate a normal service throughout the day on Saturday 15 November, but there may be some diversions before and during the event. For the latest information, check bus stop display screens or visit Translink’s website.
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