30/10/2025
Belfast Prepares For 'Wicked' Christmas Lights Switch-On
Belfast City Hall is preparing to host the annual Christmas Lights Switch-On event on Saturday, 15 November 2025, officially kicking off the festive season in the city centre.
The ceremony, which is free to attend, will feature an array of live entertainment and will be hosted by Cool FM's compères, Pete Snodden, Rebecca McKinney, and Paulo Ross, who will join Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Tracy Kelly, on stage for the switch-on.
"I can't wait to switch on the lights and help get everyone into the Christmas spirit. These free tickets will be in high demand, so get ready to snap them up straight away!" said Councillor Kelly.
The programme will include a captivating performance from the acclaimed star Rachel Tucker, alongside Belfast's own world-welterweight boxing champion, Lewis Crocker.
Attendees can also look forward to performances from the Donegall Road Primary School Choir and the Avenue Arts Academy. High-energy entertainment will be provided by the Sandy Row Falcons cheerleaders and the BA Collective Dance Duo, with the O'Hara Sisters and the St Agnes Choral Society also set to perform.
Tickets for the event are available free of charge from visitbelfast.com. They will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, starting from 10am next Tuesday, 4 November 2025. A second release of tickets will be made available at 7pm on the same evening, with a maximum limit of five tickets per booking.
The switch-on event gates will open at 6pm, with the show commencing at 6.30pm and lasting approximately one hour. Attendees are advised that city centre road closures will be in effect from earlier in the afternoon, making public transport the recommended mode of travel.
In addition to the main event, the Belfast Christmas Market will open for business from 12 noon on Saturday, 15 November 2025. This date also marks the start of a six-week free festive entertainment programme hosted at the Winter's Den on 2 Royal Avenue.
Tickets for the dedicated wheelchair accessible viewing platform must be booked separately, either by calling 028 9024 6609 or in person at the Visit Belfast Welcome Centre, from 10am on Tuesday, 4 November 2025. These bookings are limited to two tickets per person.
For full details of the switch-on event and other festive events in Belfast city centre and beyond, visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/christmas
The ceremony, which is free to attend, will feature an array of live entertainment and will be hosted by Cool FM's compères, Pete Snodden, Rebecca McKinney, and Paulo Ross, who will join Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Tracy Kelly, on stage for the switch-on.
"I can't wait to switch on the lights and help get everyone into the Christmas spirit. These free tickets will be in high demand, so get ready to snap them up straight away!" said Councillor Kelly.
The programme will include a captivating performance from the acclaimed star Rachel Tucker, alongside Belfast's own world-welterweight boxing champion, Lewis Crocker.
Attendees can also look forward to performances from the Donegall Road Primary School Choir and the Avenue Arts Academy. High-energy entertainment will be provided by the Sandy Row Falcons cheerleaders and the BA Collective Dance Duo, with the O'Hara Sisters and the St Agnes Choral Society also set to perform.
The switch-on event gates will open at 6pm, with the show commencing at 6.30pm and lasting approximately one hour. Attendees are advised that city centre road closures will be in effect from earlier in the afternoon, making public transport the recommended mode of travel.
In addition to the main event, the Belfast Christmas Market will open for business from 12 noon on Saturday, 15 November 2025. This date also marks the start of a six-week free festive entertainment programme hosted at the Winter's Den on 2 Royal Avenue.
Tickets for the dedicated wheelchair accessible viewing platform must be booked separately, either by calling 028 9024 6609 or in person at the Visit Belfast Welcome Centre, from 10am on Tuesday, 4 November 2025. These bookings are limited to two tickets per person.
For full details of the switch-on event and other festive events in Belfast city centre and beyond, visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/christmas
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.