Christmas Market Festival to open this weekend

Offaly's first Christmas Market Festival will open to the public this weekend, incorporating the lighting of the town's Christmas lights. The festival of seasonal spirit will open on Sunday in O'Connor Square in Tullamore, and again on the following three Sundays leading up to Christmas Day. This Sunday's market will open to the public at noon, and remain open until 8pm. At 5.30pm the town's Christmas lights will be turned on by teen athletes Daragh McNamara and Dean Power along with Zuzana Evans, who has been a driving force behind the Tullamore Christmas Market Festival. At the festival will be 30 stalls selling a variety of Christmas products including mulled wine, mince pies, Christmas ornaments, jewellery and more, all from local producers in Offaly. There will also be entertainment, with bands playing on stage and street buskers adding to the atmosphere on festival days. A pet farm will provide yet another reason for the festival to be a family event, while children from local schools will also perform on stage each Sunday. Speaking to the Offaly Independent festival PRO Declan Harvey said Santa is expected to make an appearance on his sleigh this Sunday, while entertainment will be top notch as it's being managed by local man Colin Hughes. Markets will also take place in O'Connor Square on December 9, 16 and 23, with stalls open on each of those days from noon until 8pm.