The annual Christmas Continental Market opened today in the grounds of the City Hall in Belfast, though oddly a week earlier than usual. According to the Lord major on the news this is the seventh Christmas Market, I’m just going to assume she’s right even though she said “I think…” (but for that I hope she was wrong).

Anyway, in previous years the market had begun immediately after the switching on of the Christmas lights (or at least after leaving the crowds waiting about 30mins in the cold and wet). Last year the switch on was on 19th, this year, however, it’s a week later on the 24th Nov.

More than 750,000 people visited the market last year – and this year it promises to be even bigger and better than ever with traders from as far afield as the North Pole, Asia, Africa and the United States. (source: Belfast City Council).

“It costs more than £250,000 to set up and it is hoped that a million people will go through the gates of this year’s Christmas continental market in Belfast.” – BBC News

However, this means I don’t have to put up with the general public, their children, the Belfast Community Gospel Choir, Bob the Builder or Kirsten O’Brien when the lights are being switched on next week. Although if you want to see the lights of that awful Christmas tree (what’s up with those tubes of light ‘beaming’ up and down the tree??) being switched on then run

The Christmas Lights switch on is Thurs 24th Nov at 7pm.

The Continental Market runs until 8pm 19th Dec
Open times:
Monday – Wednesday: 9am – 8pm
Thursday – Saturday: 9am – 10pm
Sunday: 1pm – 6pm

Tagged belfast photography | 1 Comment