A very Kilkenny Christmas

Kilkenny’s inaugural Christmas festival has been officially launched, with a packed programme of activities lined up for the weeks ahead.

A Very Kilkenny Christmas aims to provide people with incentives to come into the city centre and create an emotional connection to Kilkenny at Christmas. A Christmas train, music on High Street, igloos and a reindeer bronco on the Parade, a poignant candle lighting ceremony, storytelling for children, a Christmas treasure trail, a gathering of Christmas jumpers on the Parade, and even a 12 flavours of Christmas food trail, are some of the events planned.

Local businesses will also get involved in a competition for the most festival window display with Shop Local and Chamber voucher prizes awarded to the best window and the stylist.

“We don’t have the budget or lead-time of other Christmas festivals but what we’ve done with A Very Kilkenny Christmas is tap into everyone’s emotional connection to Kilkenny and celebrate all that is quintessentially Kilkenny at Christmas time,” said festival chairman Gary Graham.

A Very Kilkenny Christmas will kick off on Sunday, November 24, with a turning on of the Christmas lights ceremony at the Parade. The festival will run until Christmas Eve.