The shops are now stocked with mince pies, the decorations are up and the festive music is blasting in every building you walk into… Belfast has fully embraced the upcoming festive season!
Luckily there’s lots of fun (and cost-effective) ways to get into the Christmas spirit, so here’s some of our favourite ones:
Visit the Markets
Belfast has quite a few markets during the festive period where you can find lots of local and international traders selling artisan and seasonal handcrafted wares. It’s the perfect space to do a bit of window shopping, treat yourself or purchase some presents.
Markets on offer include:
- Christmas Markets at Belfast City Hall. Saturday 16 November to Sunday 22 December 2024. Admission Free.
- Christmas Twilight Market at St George’s Market: Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 November 2024, 4pm to 11pm. Admission Free.
- FestiveFayre at Titanic Belfast: Dates: 7 & 8 Dec, 14 & 15th, 21 & 22 Dec, 11am – 3pm. Admission Free.
Watch a Christmas Film
If you, or someone you know has a streaming service (we won’t tell anyone your password sharing) you could organise a Christmas movie night at home with your roommates or friends, but if you feel like heading out lots of businesses will be hosting screenings of your festive favourites!
Check out just some of the available screenings and locations:
Hit the Shops
Many of the main shopping centres as well as other retail outlets will start to stay open later in the run up to Christmas Day, giving you extra time to secure some presents.
You can check out their operational hours here and don’t forget as a student at Queen’s you can avail of many student discounts!
Carol Singing
It wouldn’t be Christmas without carols – the traditional festive songs that, in some cases, can be traced back hundreds of years.
There will be carol singing in the SU Foyer on the following days:
- The Christian Union (CU) Society will perform at our Christmas Tree Light Switch on Thurs 28 Nov.
- QUB Staff Choir will perform on the social staircase in the SU Foyer during lunchtime on Tues 3 Dec.
- The Christian Union (CU) Society will perform at our Feel Festive event on Wed 4 Dec.
But if you want a break from the Union you can also check out the Christmas Carols events at Victoria Square!
Festive Fundraising
The festive period is a also a time to give back to the local community, help others and spread some joy.
This holiday season, the Salvation Army will be volunteering in the from 11am-1pm in the SU Foyer on Wed 4 Dec. They are looking for students to give a small amount of their time to leave a positive message to be added to their family packs for Christmas.
Some other volunteering opportunities in the wider community include; Holyland Winter Festival Volunteers, Bucket Collection for Cancer Fund for Children at Tedburry Christmas Market, Christmas Carol Volunteers at Victoria Square, Depaul Festive Fundraiser and Christmas volunteering at Ulster Folk Museum!
Giving to charity is one way of extending that warm feeling of doing something good for other people. With this in mind, QUB RAG (Raise and Give) is hosting a festive-themed coffee morning, allowing you to socialise and unwind over coffee and treats for £5. The cost of your coffee break will go towards local charities Nexus NI and Carers NI.
But if they don’t sound like a bit of you, we have other volunteering taster sessions and info stalls that you can check out on our what’s on page. We also have a network of over 500 organisations that welcome student volunteers. Our friendly team at SU Volunteer can help match you to your perfect role, you can contact them at su.volunteer@qub.ac.uk.
Events at your Students’ Union
Don’t forget to join us on Thurs 28 November from 3pm in the SU Foyer for our annual Christmas Tree Light Switch on. We’ll have festive treats, a carol performance and you can even take part in our festive pass the parcel to win some fun prizes!
The holiday season can be costly, luckily at the Students’ Union we are hosting a lot of free events in the run-up to Christmas.
Enjoy craft sessions, puppy petting, bingo, quizzes, and more to help keep your social calendar full and your costs low.
You can check out our what’s on page for our full listing of events in December.
Some Final Tips for Festive Period:
Some final tips for enjoying the festive season are:
- Pace Yourself: Mulled wine, Baileys, Amaretto sours… the holiday season is known for it’s festive drinks. Make sure to sip your drinks slowly to enjoy them without overdoing it and drink some water between rounds to stay hydrated. Keep an eye on your drink, and never accept one from someone you don’t know.
- Eat Before and While Drinking: A good meal can slow alcohol absorption and help you feel better the next day- the perfect time opportunity to try out the Union Bar’s festive chip or pizza!
- Plan Your Transport: Arrange a safe way to get home, such as a taxi, rideshare, or designated driver- and don’t forget Translink will be running late night services
- Stick with Friends: Stay with a trusted group, and look out for one another throughout the night.
- Keep Your Phone Charged: Make sure your phone is fully charged before you go out so you can stay connected with your group.
Whatever you choose to do this festive season, we hope it’s safe, merry and bright!
