Northern Ireland’s Antrim Castle gardens have been transformed into a beautiful enchanted world this month as part of its festive celebrations.
The Enchanted Winter Garden is an annual event that takes place at the award-winning Antrim Castle, Northern Ireland, where a magical evening of fun awaits people of all ages.
The event runs until Sunday 22 December at 4.30 pm-9.30 pm. Note that there is no parking on-site, but free parking is offered in the town centre’s car parks.
Incredible attractions make their return in this year’s celebration
This year we can expect the star attraction, ‘The Big Wheel’, to return to the grounds – an enormous Ferris wheel (35m tall) that provides spectacular panoramas over Northern Ireland.
Other rides and thrills from previous years, like the Victorian Helter Skelter, Wave Swinger, Mallow Pit, and Wonderland Wood have also made their reappearance. Tokens must be bought for some of these rides, which you can purchase in advance at enchantedwintergarden.com
Power ‘NI’ introduced the event
The celebrations kicked off with Power NI lighting up the magical grounds as the official sponsors of the Enchanted Winter Garden 2019.
Watch as a gorgeous ensemble of colours dazzle Antrim Castle and its magnificent greenery, creating a pleasant atmosphere for all the family to enjoy.
Multiple daily sessions have been included to heighten your experience
The event has been divided into various sessions so you can maximise your enjoyment of the event to its fullest and minimise the amount of time spent in queues.
Sessions are held daily, taking place at the following times: 4.30 pm, 5.00 pm, 5.30 pm, 6.00 pm and 7 pm. You can arrive up to 45 minutes after your session time and still be admitted, while the last admission is 7.45 pm.
Advanced booking prices start at £4 per adult, £2 per child, and a family of two adults and two children can be admitted for just £10. If bought at the gate, ticket prices will be slightly higher at £6 per adult and £15 for a family ticket. Note that under-twos go free.
A special, separate event takes place on 18th December to cater to families and children with specific needs
On 18th December, An Evening of Inclusive Enchantment returns to Antrim Castle, beginning at 4.30 pm and ending at 9.30 pm.
The event is for both adults and children with specific needs, including those who may be sensitive to noise, large crowds, or bright lights. To cater for this, the event offers a variety of solutions: a sensory and quiet room, reduced numbers, a much lower volume of music, attractions and rides that are slowed down to more reasonable speeds, and altered lighting that has been reduced to a safe level. They hope this will create a magical atmosphere that is inclusive of everyone.
If you’re getting in the spirit of Christmas and want to try something a bit different, then be sure to head down to Antrim for this year’s festive extravaganza!
