Local Tipperary Christmas town festival set to light up the town

The 11th annual Thurles Christmas Skyfest will take place in the Thurles Town Park this Sunday afternoon, December 14, from 1pm to 6pm.

The popular event makes a return this Christmas, with plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained.

READ MORE: Project advances to design phase for 14-classroom special education expansion

Market stalls will be open as part of the Skyfest, selling a wide variety of home-made goods and gifts for all.

The Polar Express Train Ride will be available to ride on, at a cost of €3 per person.

Santa will be in his special grotto again this year in the Thurles Town Park.

The cost is €5 per child.

Photos with Santa will be allowed free of charge.

Organisers say there is no need to book, just turn up on the day.

A host of funfair rides will also be available on the day of the Skyfest.

Plenty of musical performances will take place on the day, providing entertainment throughout the proceedings.

Closing things out on the day, at 6pm, the annual fireworks display will get underway, lighting up the town in celebration of the festive period.

READ MORE: ALERT: More power cuts in Tipperary as Storm Bram makes its way through the country

Speaking on the Skyfest, organiser, Cllr Jim Ryan, outlined his excitement ahead of the event, and encouraged everyone in the area to go and join in the festivities: “It certainly places on the map for Christmas markets, for Christmas atmosphere, and we encourage as many people as possible, both within the town of Thurles, and far beyond to come and have a wonderful family event.”

“It’s something that’s really special, it’s a really family-friendly event, and we get huge crowds at it every year, so I would really encourage people to come and enjoy it, and shop local in Thurles, and to enjoy what we have to offer on that day.”

“We have a wide variety of Christmas market stalls offering food and crafts of various kinds. The most popular things obviously would be for the younger kids, the Santa’s grotto, the Polar Express train rides, but the variety of food stalls that we have, and the Christmas market stalls that we have, it showcases the local talents, the local craftmakers, the food producers, so people really enjoy that, and it creates a wonderful Christmas atmosphere around the centre of Thurles, so hopefully the weather will be good for us on Sunday, hopefully we get a good crowd at it, and one thing is for certain, if you do come to our event, if you've never been at it before, it’s something you won’t forget, it’s something that’s really enjoyable for everybody.”