Come enjoy Christmas in Cork as Glow, presented by Cork City Council returns to the Grand Parade and Bishop Lucey Park.  Cork’s Christmas festival, Glow, A Cork Christmas Celebration, runs every Friday-Sunday until December 20th.

There’s so much to see and do in Cork City during Glow from meeting elves at Santa’s Workshop, to soaring high above Cork on a giant Ferris wheel, indulging in food markets and enjoying festive entertainment galore.

‘Santa’s Workshop’ at Bishop Lucey Park, located in the heart of the city on Grand Parade, is the main family attraction and is FREE for all to attend.
Children will truly experience the glow of Christmas as they wander on a magical journey through this lit up park, listening to Christmas songs and watching Santa’s helpers hard at work…and hard at play.

They will enjoy the interactive and live toys on display, such as the North Pole Express toy trains, a giant Jack-in-the-Box and giant candy canes.  Girls and boys can also post their letters to Santa at a special North Pole post-box. Santa’s workshop is indeed a busy place. It’s chilly too, with ice and mist and snow – so visitors should make sure to wrap-up well.

Santa’s Workshop in Bishop Lucey Park, created by Spraoi, opens on Friday November 27th for four weekends, from 4.00pm to 8.00pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.  Please note, on the first evening, the park will not open until 4.30pm. The walk through takes approximately 20 minutes.

There’s plenty more to do as the Glow festival spills out onto Grand Parade, where Ireland’s largest Ferris Wheel, at 30 metres high, will provide stunning views of the city’s skyline.  Here children will also have the chance to ride on the vintage carousel.

A festive seating area near the Ferris Wheel and food markets is the perfect vantage point to sample local and festive produce and listen to carol singers and musicians on a live music stage, performing for various charities.

A visit to Cork’s famous food market, The English Market, across the road is also a must.  Here you can sip hot chocolate and pick up a range of gifts and Christmas nibbles like Tom Durcan’s famous spiced beef, O Connell’s smoked salmon, artisan cheese and delicatessen items.  
Also happening in Cork…
In addition to these food markets, a crafts market will take place at Emmet Place in Cork.  The Goldiefish Festive Market will run during Christmas week, from Saturday 19th to Tuesday 22nd December, adding a wonderful atmosphere to this historic quarter of the City.  There will be a great range of gifts from handmade jewellery, to wood carvings, soaps, woollens, leather goods, knitwear, angel gifts and other beautiful artisan crafts as well as confectionary, cakes and the best of Cork produce. There will also a number of singers and choirs performing over the four days.
For the weekend of the 4th, 5th and 6th of December, the Sugar Cube outside Electric on Grand Parade will be turned into a Santa’s Grotto with a twist.  Instead of receiving a gift from Santa, children will be invited to bring a toy, food or basic toiletries so that Santa can pass the parcel on to a less fortunate child.  As an extra treat, generous children - who will obviously go straight to the nice list - will have the chance to talk to the big man himself and tell him what they want for Christmas.  They will also be given a hot chocolate and a little treat.  This initiative is being run in conjunction with SVP.  The event is free, and donations are welcome.