Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council is delighted to announce the successful completion of its annual Christmas Light Switch-On events, which brought festive cheer, dazzling parades and exceptional community spirit to Ballymoney, Limavady, Ballycastle and Coleraine.
Over recent weeks, thousands of residents and visitors gathered in town centres to enjoy the magical moment when each location was illuminated for the Christmas season. With vibrant lights, family-friendly entertainment, music, appearances from Santa, and spectacular parades featuring local community groups, each event marked a joyful start to the Borough’s festive programme.
Ballymoney – Thursday 20th November
Ballymoney kicked off the celebrations with a warm, welcoming atmosphere and an outstanding Christmas parade showcasing local schools, community organisations, performers and festive characters. Families enjoyed musical performances from local choirs and a range of children’s activities before the stunning town centre lights were officially switched on by Santa and IRRC Superbike Champion, Darryl Tweed.
Limavady – Saturday 22nd November
Crowds lined the streets of Limavady to enjoy a lively day filled with entertainment. The colourful Christmas parade - featuring community groups, dancers, youth organisations and themed floats - brought huge excitement to the town. As the lights were illuminated, Limavady transformed into a winter spectacle, marking a fantastic start to the holiday season.
Ballycastle – Thursday 27th November
The festive spirit continued in Ballycastle, where local schools participated in the festive music trail and the vibrant community parade featuring music, costumes and local groups created a magical build-up to the switch-on moment. With strong attendance and live entertainment set against the town’s scenic backdrop, the event provided a memorable evening for families and visitors.
Coleraine – Friday 28th November
Coleraine concluded the Council’s switch-on series with a vibrant finale. The town centre came alive with a spectacular parade of community groups, performers and festive characters, delighting crowds ahead of the official illumination. Taking place on Black Friday, the event launched a busy shopping weekend and set the tone for the many festive activities still to come.
Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Oliver McMullan, said: “We are thrilled to see such fantastic community participation across all four towns.
“The Christmas Light Switch-On events - and especially the brilliant parades supported by local community groups - mark a special time for families and local businesses. We thank everyone who came along to share in the celebrations.
“Our gratitude also goes to our staff, performers, businesses, volunteers and community groups whose hard work helped bring the magic of Christmas to life throughout the Council area.”
Council now looks forward to a full programme of festive activities in the weeks ahead in our four key towns and surrounding local communities (see details below), encouraging residents and visitors to support local businesses, attend upcoming seasonal events and enjoy the unique Christmas atmosphere across the Causeway Coast and Glens area.
Upcoming Community Festive Fund Events
Saturday 29th November
Dungiven • Dunloy
Monday 1st December
Balnamore • Finvoy • Garvagh
Tuesday 2nd December
Portstewart
Wednesday 3rd December
Foreglen
Thursday 4th December
Greysteel (Night 1 / Switch-On) • Macosquin • Moneydig
Friday 5th December
Armoy • Ballykelly • Burnfoot • Carey • Castlerock • Cushendall • Greysteel (Night 2) • Stranocum
Saturday 6th December
Magilligan • Portballintrae • Portrush
Sunday 7th December
Glack • Gortnaghey • Kilrea
Friday 12th December
Loughgiel • Drumsurn
Saturday 13th December
Ballybogey • Bushmills (The Courthouse) • Cloughmills • Dervock
Wednesday 17th December
Rasharkin
Please note: Event dates are subject to change due to weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances. Please refer to your local community’s official social media pages for further details and the most up-to-date information.
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