Yulefest Kilkenny launches its six week festival programme and it looks amazing

It's starting to feel a lot like Christmas!

The countdown to Christmas has begun and I am so ready to get into the festive spirit. One of the best ways to do that of course is by visiting one of Ireland's many Christmas markets this year and taking in all the holiday magic with some hot chocolate and a mince pie. If you're not sure where to start in your quest for the perfect family-friendly Christmas market Yulefest Kilkenny would be high on my list of recommendations. Yulefest is quickly emerging as the go-to Christmas festival for all the family. The Yulefest Kilkenny Christmas festival returns to celebrate its fourth year and in 2019 is offering a bumper six week festival running from November 22 to January 6 2020. There’s a firm focus on sustainability running throughout the festival programme this year and TV personality, re-use advocate and Kilkenny native Mary FitzGerald will be officially launching the festival in Kilkenny City on Saturday November 23. Mary FitzGerald will be well known as being the crafting queen after her years presenting RTE's  How Do You Do?  The festival is brimming with festive mood enhancers, from hotel gardens festooned with toy soldiers, reindeer and light installations to vintage carousels offering nostalgic whirls, to an engaging arts, music and family events social calendar. The festival programme has been designed to appeal and be accessible to all ages. As well as learning festive crafts from Mary visitors can also expect a Victorian Carousel, Ice Skating Rink, Santa’s Grotto and of course lots of Christmas Shopping. Yulefest will also be hosting The Festival of Light on November 29 filled with music and magic for all the family to enjoy. Yulefest has swiftly developed into a national and internationally recognised and desirable Christmas festival of events, offering entertainment, music, food, shopping and family friendly options for all to enjoy. Paula Lawler, Yulefest Kilkenny Festival Director explains the aspiration of the festival;

"We have developed Yulefest Kilkenny to be an inclusive and curated festival. At the heart of our programming is inclusiveness, accessibility and fun! Also during the festival ReCreate Ireland will be addressing sustainability and accessibility by delivering sensory sensitive workshops as part of our sensory friendly events. These sensory workshops are funded by Creative Ireland under the Kilkenny Culture and Creativity Strategy 2018-2022, in partnership with Kilkenny County Council. All details can be found on our website yulefestkilkenny.ie. A key feature of our festival is community connectivity work, supporting local business and welcoming a diverse audience; local, regional, national and international, everyone is welcome to participate in the wide range of activities and enjoy what the festive programme in our beautiful city and county has to offer during this special season."

I love visiting Kilkenny anyway but reading through the events that Yulefest will be holding makes me want to book a trip even more. You can read the full Yulefest programme at yulefestkilkenny.ie.