Santa Claus to parade through Longford Town at 'Christmas on the Square' this Sunday

You can enjoy all the Christmassy feels in Longford Town this coming Sunday, November 30, from 1pm-8pm, when Christmas on the Square gets underway.  

Best of all, the star of the season, Santa Claus, will be making an exclusive appearance in the town to officially switch on the Christmas lights at 6pm! Prior to the big switch-on, Santa will first parade through the town on his sleigh, before then being joined by Mrs Claus at the Market Square grotto where he will meet children and hear their Christmas wishes.

The event will also mark the official start of the #ShopLongford festive season, which will coincide with Black Friday weekend and will see customers benefit from a variety of local shopping offers. Free off-street parking will be available throughout the festive season, starting with Black Friday weekend (November 28-29), continuing on December 6, and daily from December 13-31.

From 1pm on Sunday, Pig Market Lane will transform into a vibrant craft market showcasing locally made gifts, treats, and artisan creations, while across the road at Market Square, families can enjoy a full day of entertainment and festive activities.

There will be festive storytelling by Will Govan and music by Aishling O’Reilly at Athena Gallery Café. Throughout the event  there will be lots of family entertainment with puppet shows, face-painting and bubble displays.

Artist Anna Wiercioch will be holding fun, hands-on workshops where children can craft their own festive decorations and handmade wooden ornaments. This is an ideal activity for children aged 4-12 years however booking is required, which you can do HERE. 

When Santa carries out his duties that evening, he will unveil a spectacular Christmas lights projection on the Market Square building above the Longford Tourism Office. This display will run nightly from 5-7pm, December 19-23.  

There will be music on the day too. In Pig Market Lane, there will be live performances by Emily Doyle and Firbolg. On the gig rig over in Market Square, there will be performances throughout the day by the LEDJs. From 4pm, the crowd can enjoy performances from the Longford County Choir and soprano Eimear Reynolds, while from 6pm, the Bula Bula Samba Band and Sugar & Spice will be taking to the stage. 

Speaking about the event, Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Councillor Garry Murtagh said, "Christmas on the Square is about bringing our community together to celebrate the magic of the season. It’s a wonderful opportunity to support local businesses and enjoy festive fun in the heart of Longford Town."

Chief Executive of Longford County Council, Paddy Mahon said, "We are proud to deliver events that boost the local economy and create memorable experiences for families. By shopping local, we keep money in our community and strengthen Longford for the future."

Christmas on the Square is organised by Longford County Council through Longford Municipal District, Longford Tourism, Longford Night-Time Economy, and the Local Enterprise Office. The Christmas projection is led by Longford Tourism in collaboration with Longford Arts Service.

Funded by the local democracy reporting scheme