Search for the Magic, Elf on the Loose, Festive Markets and Santa Claus are all set to make ‘Tralee the Christmas Kingdom’ this year. Tralee Chamber in partnership with Kerry County Council yesterday revealed their Christmas calendar of events.
The run-up to Christmas is the busiest trading period of the year for the towns retail and hospitality sectors and the festive turning on the lights plays a key role in Tralee’s Christmas experience. This is a much-loved event by the people who shop, dine, work, and enjoy the towns festive offerings each year. Christmas in Tralee will officially begin on November 26th when the Christmas lights are switched on by the Mayor of Tralee Cllr Mikey Sheehy and Special Guest Santa Claus.
Santa Claus is coming to town, and he’s bringing some of his Christmas friends with him. The festive spirit is already building in Tralee following today’s announcement that the town is set to be transformed into The Christmas Kingdom, which will host a sleigh full of festive fun including a magical Elf Trail with live character interactions, daily competitions to search for the magic in Tralee, a spectacular festive stage production in the Square, a Festive Evening Market in the Island of Geese and even a naughty elf will be let loose, with all those lucky enough to spot him being entered into a competition to win a €1000.00 Gift Voucher.
Speaking at the announcement of ‘Tralee the Christmas Kingdom’, Tralee Chamber CEO, Colette O’Connor, commented: “There is always a wonderful atmosphere in Tralee during the Christmas season. This year, the aim was to transform Tralee into The Christmas Kingdom. I cannot wait for the amazing shows, trails, markets, and competitions that Oliver Hurley Productions and his team have planned – There’s going to be something for everyone young and old to fill the entire town with festive cheer.”
Oliver Hurley of Oliver Hurley Productions said “I am really looking forward to creating a festive, interactive programme of events. We aim to bring a magical experience to the streets of Tralee in the weeks of leading up to Christmas”
Tralee The Christmas Kingdom is set to be officially launched on Saturday 26th November, with a ‘Festive Flair in the Square’. This opening ceremony will see a full programme of festivities including live music, stage shows, and lots more surprises as well as the turning on of the lights with the Mayor of Tralee and Santa Claus.
Mayor of Tralee, Cllr Mikey Sheehy said “Christmas is a special time for family and community and this year, there is a wonderful programme of events for people of all ages. I am looking forward to joining Santa Claus on November 26th to turn on the Christmas lights, it gives a great sense of joy to the town and adds the festive buzz and excitement”.
There will be two major competitions running during the course of ‘Tralee the Christmas Kingdom’. From December 1st, Search for the Magic asks people to find the MAGIC letters in the shop front windows around Tralee. There is a daily competition to win a local business gift voucher. Simply find all 5 letters to spell the word magic and share the images on their social media and tag Tralee Chamber and Visit Tralee.
The second competition is to win a massive €1,000 by finding the Elf on the Loose. One of Santa’s naughty Elves will be let loose in Tralee. To be in with a chance of winning, report his whereabouts by tagging Tralee Chamber and Visit Tralee in your social media posts.
A magical Elf Trail will be set up for families to explore around Tralee with lots of joyful interactions and festive fun along the trail. Visit the home of Lily the Elf at ‘The Naughty or Nice Test Centre’, visit Jingle the Elf at the ‘The North Pole Post Office’ to post your letter to Santa, make a wish at ‘The Wishing Well’ with Tinsel the Christmas Fairy and join Buddy the Elf and see Santa’s sleigh at ‘The Sleigh Shed’.
‘Santa Claus the Show’ is also coming to town each Saturday in the Square in the lead up to Christmas. Santa is bringing his friends Frosty the Snowman, Fairy Twinkle, Ernie Elf and lots more with him. This spectacular interactive festive stage production promises to be a show jingle jam-packed full of Christmas fun, stories, songs, and dances to engage children and adults of all ages.
Jingle all the way to the Island of Geese for the festive Christmas Market on Friday 9th December and Saturday 10th December. Soak up the magical atmosphere at this 2-day evening market which will consist of Christmas themed stalls offering lots of seasonal goods, delicious food and drink, festive music, live performances, choirs, carollers, buskers, delightful Christmas character meet and greets, and lots more entertainment to spread the festive cheer.