🎄 Your Ballymena Christmas 2026!
Christmas has arrived in Ballymena Town Centre, and there’s plenty of festive fun for the whole family to enjoy!
From festive characters and live entertainment to Santa visits, family activities, the spectacular Santa Tractor Run and a few surprises along the way, there’s so much to look forward to!
Gather your family and friends, wrap up warm and make Ballymena part of your Christmas story!
What’s On in Ballymena Town Centre This Christmas?
💛 Saturday 28th November | Festive Minions & Ballymena Elves |11am–2pm
Those cheeky Ballymena elves are back, and they’re bringing some very special festive friends!#
Look out for the Festive Minions as they join our elves roaming Ballymena Town Centre, spreading smiles, laughter and plenty of Christmas cheer!
Keep your eyes peeled, say hello and don’t forget to grab a festive photo!
🔔 Saturday 5th December | Jingle Day | 10am–4pm
One town, one big festive day, all for a fantastic cause!
Organised by Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice, Jingle Day returns to Ballymena Town Centre with a fantastic day of FREE family activities, live entertainment and festive fun, all while raising funds for a very special charity.
Join the Ballymena BID elves on Greenvale Street for FREE face painting, balloon modelling and our Festive Wishes Station!
This year, we’re hoping to create Ballymena’s biggest Christmas Wish Paper Chain! Write down your Christmas wish, add it to our growing chain and help us make it as long as possible. And who knows, we might even be able to make a few of those wishes come true before Christmas!
There’s plenty more happening throughout the day:
– Greenvale Street: Live entertainment at the Gig Rig, festive characters and more!
– Harmony Hub: Fantastic live local entertainment throughout the day.
– Wellington Street: All aboard the Santa Bus! Hop on and enjoy another little bit of Christmas magic.
It’s a day when Ballymena comes together for festive fun and a fantastic cause.
Bring the family, enjoy the entertainment and don’t forget a few pennies or pounds to donate to Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice! ❤️
🚜 Saturday 5th December | Santa Tractor Run | 5.15pm–7pm | Cavalcade expected around 6pm
They’re back, and it’s one of the most heart-warming sights of Christmas!
The Traction Engine Club of Ulster returns with its spectacular Santa Cavalcade, bringing festively decorated tractors, twinkling lights, Christmas music and an incredible display through Ballymena Town Centre!
With record numbers expected to take part, let’s give them an equally record-breaking welcome from the streets!
Make an evening of it! Come into town early, enjoy some Christmas shopping, grab a bite to eat and find your spot to watch the cavalcade.
🎄 Saturday 12th December | Christmas Carnival at Wellington Court
Roll up, roll up! The Christmas Carnival is coming to Wellington Court!
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council will be bringing some extra festive fun to Ballymena Town Centre with a Christmas Carnival featuring FREE family activities and entertainment!
Enjoy carnival games, street entertainers, face painting and FREE festive chocolate lollies!
Bring the family, join in the fun and make a day of it in Ballymena Town Centre!
💚 Saturday 19th December | The Grinch Is Coming to Town! | 11am–2pm
Our Ballymena elves are back for another day of festive fun, but this time they’ve got a rather mischievous guest joining them!
Yes, THE GRINCH is coming to Ballymena Town Centre!
Our elves will be spreading Christmas cheer while that Grinch boy will no doubt be causing havoc along the way!
Come into town, find our roaming festive friends and grab a photo. Just keep an eye on that Grinch!
🎁 Tuesday 22nd December | The Ballymena Gift Card Hunt!
Who fancies a little extra Christmas spending money?
As a special last-minute festive treat, Ballymena Gift Cards will be hidden throughout Ballymena Town Centre and inside participating businesses!
We’ll be sharing clues throughout the day on Ballymena Means social media channels to help you track them down.
Find a hidden gift card first and it’s yours to keep and spend right here in Ballymena!
And because it’s Christmas, there might just be a few other little surprises along the way!
Follow Ballymena Means on Facebook and Instagram, turn on your notifications and keep a VERY close eye on our socials throughout the day!
🎅 And That’s Not All…
Think that’s the full festive line-up? Think again!
Those Ballymena elves have a few more surprises up their sleeves, because Christmas is all about joy, making memories and those unexpected little moments that make the season special.
Keep following Ballymena Means for more announcements, festive surprises and pop-up activities right up to Christmas!
🎅 More Festive Fun at Ballymena’s Shopping Centres!
There’s even more Christmas magic to discover at Ballymena’s two shopping centres, with opportunities for little ones to meet Santa and enjoy some festive family fun!
Visit Santa at Tower Centre
Santa is coming to Tower Centre this Christmas!
Make some magical Christmas memories with a special visit to see the man himself.
Book your Santa visit at towercentre.com.
FREE Santa & Mrs Claus Visits at Fairhill
Santa and Mrs Claus are coming to Fairhill for some FREE festive fun this December!
Meet the festive duo as they roam the mall, spreading Christmas cheer and stopping to say hello to little visitors along the way.
There’ll also be FREE face painting and balloon modelling, plus a FREE selection box for little visitors while stocks last!
Saturdays: 12pm–5pm
Sundays: 1pm–5pm
Plan your visit and find out more at Fairhill Shopping Centre.
❤️ Choose Ballymena This Christmas!
Christmas is about more than ticking gifts off a shopping list. It’s about spending time together, catching up with friends, enjoying family traditions and making memories along the way.
And there’s so much to enjoy right here in Ballymena Town Centre!
With streets filled with independent businesses, two fantastic shopping centres, wonderful cafés and restaurants and a fantastic festive programme, there’s something for everyone.
Whether you’re searching for that perfect gift, catching up over a festive coffee, enjoying a meal with friends or bringing the family into town for some Christmas fun, why not make a day of it?
Explore every street, discover somewhere new, support your favourite local businesses and enjoy everything Ballymena has to offer.
This Christmas, choose Ballymena. Shop, eat, explore and make memories right here in our town centre.
BALLYMENA TOWN CENTRE. WHERE CHRISTMAS COMES TOGETHER.
