Christmas is Coming
Every year, Christmas seems to come around quicker than ever. In the modern world, this is likely because you can find seasonal-themed media available all year round. In fact, one study found that 77% of people watch Christmas movies before December, whilst 40% watch them throughout the year. Elsewhere, Hallmark has an annual ‘Christmas in July’ movie marathon that attracts over 12 million viewers. After all, why wait to be in the Christmas spirit when you can get it all year round?
The same trend can be seen with online games, too. There’s a wide range of online casino games like slingo bingo that have seasonal themes, but are popular all year round. Games like Slingo Santa King, Slingo Bells, and Slingo Wolf Snowstorm create an immersive, engaging Christmassy atmosphere, without the need to be enjoyed at Christmas alone.
Nevertheless, whether you celebrate year-round or wait for the snow to fall, the Christmas season is almost upon us. And, here in Armagh, this means the festive Georgian Festival is also rapidly approaching to get you ready for the holidays. So, what can we expect from the historic festival this year?
Historical Start to the Season
First launched as a one-day event back in 2004, the iconic Georgian Festival celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. And, over the last two decades, the festival has grown and grown into the four-day celebration that we know and love today.
This year, the Georgian Festival returns to Armagh from Thursday 27th November until Sunday 30th November. The highlight of the event will be Georgian Day, which will be held on Saturday 29th November. You can also keep your eye out for the renowned Georgian light show. The full details haven’t been released yet, so keep an eye out for updates coming soon. Last year’s light show, “It’s a Holly Jolly Christmas”, proved to be a huge success, attracting 16,000 visitors over the Friday and Saturday nights of the festival.
The ethos of the Georgian Festival is to celebrate the history of Armagh, particularly the architecture, culture, and achievements from the mid-to-late 18th century. With this in mind, expect to find an immersive festival that will transport you back in time, complete with horses and carriages, carousels, and local stalls.
Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay
This makes for a historic start to the Christmas season, with the smells of roasted chestnuts and mulled spices throughout the Mall. Festive music also brings that Christmas spirit, and the craft stalls can provide ample opportunity to pick up some presents.
For those looking to dive deeper into Armagh’s history, it is thought that the Robinson Library – the oldest public library in Northern Ireland, built in 1771 – will be open to the public. Other historical buildings, such as the Armagh Observatory (1790) and the former Registry at No 5 Vicars’ Hill (1772), will be open for tours and events over the festival.
Other events during the festival include a Highwayman’s Banquet, Mock Trials, a Candlelit Concert, and various walking tours.
Christmas in Armagh
With the ‘game changing’ news earlier this year that Newry will host a Christmas Market over five weeks, and the Georgian Festival back for another year, Christmas in Armagh is shaping up to be a lovely festive season.
