The ’12 Days of Christmas Market’ is a magical Christmas festival not to be missed! It runs from the 12th - 23rd of December and this year it has added two previews days on the 10th and 11th of December. This little Christmas village can be found on the Dublin Docklands and is well worth checking out if your heading to Dublin for your Christmas shopping.
The Christmas Market at the Dublin Docklands is one of the highlights of the festive calendar in Dublin and is now entering its fifth year. It’s a real traditional experience with food stalls, music, activity rides, carol singers and even some hot cocoa for all the family!
This year there will be over 80 stalls, with about 60 gift stalls and about 20 food stalls on display. Browse the food stalls and you’ll be tempted to indulge in some mouth watering cheeses, hot filled baked potatoes, spit roasted pork or some sizzling German bratwurst to name a few. Maybe you’d prefer a glass of mulled wine, a German beer or some hot chocolate to warm you up. Of course, there will also be the usual tasty Christmas treats such as mince pies, Christmas cakes and puddings.
Browse the gift stalls and tick off those Christmas lists! You’re sure to find some superb Christmas presents and stocking fillers here. This year’s stalls will offer exclusive organic beauty products, silver and gold handcrafted jewellery, Christmas decorations, children’s clothing, toys, books, art, jewellery and lots more.
Santa and his elves will also be returning to this year’s festival. His grotto is located in the chq building and he will be there on the 12th, 13th and 19th to 23rd. The kids will also love the galloping horse carousels and other fairground rides. There will also be face painters, carol singers and live bands playing a selection of your Christmas favourites to get you in the Christmas spirit.
One of the highlights of the festival will be a performance from Harold’s Cross Hospice who will be on stage with a band on Thursday 10th (4pm-8pm) and Friday 11th (4pm-6pm). DEBRA Ireland carol singers, Glor Gospel Choir and the Blanchardstown Brass Band will also keep the festive spirit alive throughout the 12 days.
The admission to the festival is free and even if you’re not up for shopping, it’s a great place to spend a few hours with friends sipping some mulled wine, enjoying the music and soaking up the Christmas atmosphere.
The festival will officially kick off at 12 noon on Saturday 12th of December. It will be open from 12 noon - 8 pm each day and on weekends it will open at 10am.
The markets are located at George’s Dock in the IFSC area, which is about a 10 minute walk from Dublin’s O’Connell Street. The Docklands is the perfect setting for this Christmas festival and especially at night when the twinking Christmas lights are reflecting off the River Liffey.
For more information on this festival visit the Dublin Docklands website.
Over 100,000 people visited the Dockland’s Christmas Markets and it hope that this year it will attract the same. If you’re thinking of visiting Dublin in the run up to Christmas, now is the time to book your accommodation. Check out our Dublin hotels page now.
