It’s official. Dublin is an event driven city. Gigs sell out in 5 minutes, people queue to queue and FOMO has been identified as a new disease by the World Health Organisation.
My Christmas was usually a trip into town on the bus with my mam to see Santa in Woolworths or Arnotts – both were beside each other so handy if the queues were long, no pre-bookings in those days – followed by a plate of chips in the store restaurant. If I was lucky an aunt might bring us into a cinema to see the Disney-de-jour; Bedknobs and Broomsticks in the long gone Metropole on Hawkins St was a particularly memorable one.
These days the kids expect more. A lot more. That’s cool. Santa still spins his magic but the plate of chips and a movie has been tarnished by Dominoes home delivery and Netflix and Disney on tap. Nowadays they want what we want. An experience. A grand day out. Thankfully Dublin City Council, The Office of Public Works and other private concerns have copped onto this and there’s a slew of really well curated events and experiences for everyone to enjoy. We can still do better but we are getting there. Here’s a round up of what’s out there in Dublin city and beyond this Christmas.
Dublin All Lit Up
Across the city, buildings and landmarks will be decorated with lights for the Christmas season, ranging from huge projections to simple string lights. Throughout December, the City Council is hosting unique shows and displays at 25 separate locations by local and international artists. On O’Connell Street, the Spire, trees and the General Post Office will be decorated and Dublin Castle’s gate, courtyard and lower yard will shine with lights and projections.
On the river, watch dancing colors fly over James Joyce and Samuel Beckett bridges and even brighten the River Liffey Boat. On the docks, catch a water-and-light masterpiece with professional dancer Jessie Thompson. In North Dublin, an interactive exhibit in Wolfe Tone Square reflects its visitors, National College of Art and Design students’ work hovers over the Hugh Lane Gallery, a digital mural overlays the Custom House and don’t forget to catch the electro-light fusion above George’s Dock.
Just south of the river in and near Temple Bar, play xs and ohs with fluorescent red and blue lights, wander through 3,000 ball lights in Meeting House Square and a digital advent calendar will play out on City Hall. Merion Square Park will also have a light show walk, complete with hot chocolate and crepes alongside sculptures, games and photo opportunities, although it will be ticketed. And if you find yourself in Malahide, Marlay Park, or Fota House, take some time to check out the Wonder Lights, Ireland’s largest immersive light show. All of the locations will boast glowing flowers, fibreoptic jellyfish, and interactive wristbands.
For more information, visit dublinwinterlights.ie.
Christmas Markets
Shop and wander at plenty of Dublin Christmas markets this holiday season. One of our favourite creative spaces in town, Flux on Chatham Row Dublin 2, hosts Unique Markets for their annual Christmas Pop Up Market. 25 unique Irish vendors, with hand crafted goodies for the perfect Christmas gifts will be in situ with some award winning stalls which includes Oxmantown Skincare, a natural, ethical & environmentally friendly skincare company based in Stoneybatter, Dublin, alongside Sandia Dublin with her super light, bold design jewellery. There are vinyl records, vintage clothing and lots of other stocking fillers. Dec 17th – 21st.
The Fade Street Market is the new kid on the block. Situated in The Market Bar, this is a 50+ stall weekly market that offers a great variety of locally produced artisan goods all shacked up in one of the most beautiful Victorian spaces in the city. It’s a lovely warm place to browse, bargain with and hang out, it serves booze and tapas and it’s a brilliant new addition to Dublin’s thriving market scene. Weekly from 12.30pm until 6.30pm.
In Smithfield Square, Twinkletown will have not only a market, but also a panto, ice rink, fairground and musical venue. For just one day in early December, Rathfarnham Castle will open its doors to host artisans and food/drinks vendors. For some less classic picks, check out the Sustainable Christmas Craft Market in the Botanic Gardens with over 50 stalls committed to eco-friendliness and the Alternative Dublin Christmas Flea Market on Grafton Street. For ice skating and a show, check out the Dublin Loves Christmas at the Royal Dublin Society. In early December, the Fumbally will host a Christmas market as well. And the City Council sponsors Henry St/Mary St Christmas Market from 24 November to Christmas every day.
Family-Friendly Fun
Shows and events for families and young children are all over Dublin. Craving a panto? Don’t fear. The Lark Concert Hall and O’Reilly Theatre both host Jack & the Beanstalk, dIr Mill Theatre Dundrum has Hansel & Gretel, the Civic Theatre puts on Tickles, Beauty & the Beast, not to be confused with Beauty & the Beast at the Gaiety Theatre. Plus, 3Olympia presents Olly Goes to Oz, The Helix showcases The Snow Queen, Axis Ballymun offers Sleeping Beauty and Draiocht Blanchardstown provides Cinderella.
Other Christmas shows include There’s a Monster in Your Christmas Show at Pavilion Theatre and the Moving Crib at St. Martin Apostolate. Off the stage and into the city, family-oriented skating can be found in South Dublin and Blanchardstown and a Christmas circus at Lucan House, inspired by a Christmas Carol. For the furrier members of the family, Newbridge House & Farm has a pet-friendly Santa, photo ops galore and all the makings of an unforgettable excursion.
Holiday-Themed Concerts
Through mid- and late December, Christmas concerts of every genre and tone will charm and enchant you. West End singers alongside a live band will charm you with holiday music from 3 to 17 December at St Patrick’s Cathedral. For gospel music, Pavilion Theatre and Draoicht Blanchardstown are hosting concerts on 11 and 13 December respectively.
Christchurch Cathedral’s own choir is also hosting a Christmas show from the 9 to 11 December. On the 80th anniversary of the Our Lady’s Choral Society formation, they will present Handel’s Messiah from 10 to 11 December. Bach’s Christmas oratorio will ring in St. Patrick’s from the Irish Baroque Orchestra on 12 December.
Renowned chamber choir New Dublin Voices will be at the National Concert Hall for shows on 12 December, followed by a show at Christchurch Cathedral on 13 December. St. Mary’s own Palestrina Choir will perform the Joy of Christmas on 13 December in the National Concert Hall.
Youth choir Cór Linn and chamber choir Fabre are performing a Ceremony of Carols at the Church of Immaculate Conception – Adam and Eve’s on 14 December. Enjoy international holiday classics in a Swingin’ Little Christmas at The Helix with the Niall Kinsella Orchestra alongside guest vocalists on 14 December. Irish soprano Celine Byrne will stun on stage at the Bord Gáis Theatre on 14 December for the third year.
Children and adults sing together for the Great Christmas Concert 2025 at the National Concert Hall, ranging from classical favorites to festive tunes and everything in between. Seasonally appropriate tunes will reign at St. Patrick’s Cathedral Christmas from the Cathedral Choir and Orchestra on 19 December.
For full-family tunes, the National Concert Hall Christmas Orchestra will perform This Way to Christmas! from 19 to 21 December at the National Concert Hall.
Tasting and Trying The Holidays Away
Get down and dirty across Dublin this December! Try a themed soirée and wine tasting themed after the Great Gatsby at Bewley’s on 12 December. For whiskey enthusiasts, there’s plenty on offer too. Malahide Castle hosts a Christmas experience on 16 December, the Irish Whiskey Museum has a winter cocktail masterclass from the end of November through 27 December, and Pearse Lyons Whiskey Distillery will heat you up from the inside out with an Irish coffee seminar on November through end of December.
Even past the holidays and into the shiny new year of 2026, the Irish Whiskey Museum has classes on Irish coffee through the end of January, and Pen & Player will teach you about the perfect cocktail. Decorate your tree with your own hands with an enamel decoration at Silver Works through 19 December and DIY your baubles and cards from 13 through 19 December at Dublinia.
Cinematic Christmases
Film festivities will take place all over the city this holiday season. For Home Alone fans, National Symphony Orchestra Ireland will perform the soundtrack on 17 December at the National Concert Hall and the movie itself will be screened at the Pavilion Theatre on the 21nd. Pavilion Theatre is also showing The Nutcracker on the 18th, It’s a Wonderful Life on the 19th and Elf on the 20th.
In a less traditional vein, Rascals Brewing Company is hosting a quiz night on Christmas movies and music. Other movie musical moments can be experienced with the Dublin Concert Orchestra at the National Concert Hall on 15 December.
Comedy at Christmas
Several Christmas themed comedy shows happen in December all over Dublin. A traditional one is the Christmas Stand Up at The Sugar Club on 12 December with Emma Doran, Joe Rooney, Danny O’Brien, Shane Clifford, Sharon Mannion. Even though that show is sold out every year, we hear that some tickets are still available on the Sugar Club website.
For those who like musicals, Mrs Doubtfire takes place at Bord Gais Energy Theatre from December 2 to January 3 featuring Gabriel Vick, who displays the iconic character in a hilarious way.
On 17th of December, the In Stitches Comedy Christmas Party with surprise guests takes place at Peadar Kearney’s Pub. It’s affordable and guarantees a fun time.
New Year Celebrations
Celebrate the new year with three days of concerts and festivals at New Year’s Festival Dublin, all the way from Dublin Castle to Meeting House Square. Echoes of Ireland will commence the festivities on 30 December at Dublin Castle, as well as the NYF Music Trail across the city. On the second day, street performers and marching bands will be on the streets as well as a countdown concert matinee and a full concert later at the Dublin Castle.
Other New Year’s events include RTÉ Concert Orchestra’s night of song, swing, and soul and the Talbot Hotel’s Back in Time Ball. To properly kick off the new year, NYF will host a firework spectacular in Howth and Dún Laoghaire Harbour.
Words: Kaavya Butaney & John Brereton
