CHRISTMAS kicked off in Dún Laoghaire last weekend with a spectacular firework display over the harbour.
The big man himself was also there to help celebrate the opening ceremony of the Dún Laoghaire Christmas Festival as he switched on the town's lights.
The event, organised by the Dún Laoghaire BID company and presented by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, marked the official start to the town’s festive season.
The Dún Laoghaire Christmas market is always a firm favourite with selected vendors selling authentic hand-made gifts and delicious treats every weekend until December 23 at the Pavilion Quarter and dlr LexIcon.
The Christmas Market also boasts hand-crafted gifts and decorations, jewellery, metal art, sculpture and a whole host of gifts and treats that are not mass-produced but hand crafted with love.
The Santa Hat Challenge in aid of Enable Ireland on December 9 promises to be an awesome sight.
The challenge is to get as many people as possible wearing Santa hats in the dlr LexIcon Garden.
A DJ will host the event with face painters, giveaways and festive cheer to entertain the challengers before the ‘Big Count’ at 3.30pm.
All proceeds will go to Enable Ireland which provides services to over 5,000 children and adults with physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities.
Wristbands will be sold on the day and in advance to those who want to take part in the challenge.
The local business community is extending trading hours to shoppers while there is extra parking laid on for free.
Meanwhile, in Dundrum Town Centre, Santa’s Grotto has opened to the public.
Excited kiddies can head over to meet Santa on every day from now until Christmas Eve.
In the city centre, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mícheál MacDonncha and DublinTown CEO Richard Guiney launched the city’s festive season on Sunday.
They then switched on O’Connell Street’s Christmas Tree lights in the afternoon while processions were led through the streets.
