Frosty Salmon Festival encourages people to shop local this Christmas
BALLINA Chamber’s Frosty Salmon Festival returns for another year with a number of family-friendly events and initiatives to encourage shoppers to 'shop local' this Christmas.
Taking place from December 4 to 18 and supported by the Jackie Clarke Collection, the Ballina unit of Scouting Ireland, Irish Rail, Kilmoremoy Ladies GAA Club, Mayo County Council and MayoNorth.ie at Moy Valley Resources IRD, it is a truly collaborative and volunteer-led community festival celebrating the town and its people.
The festival kicks off on December 4 with the much-anticipated arrival of Santa at 2 p.m. to the Jackie Clarke Collection - always a highlight of the Christmas festivities in the town. Mrs. Claus will be on hand for some Christmas storytelling, with Christmas music accompaniment from the Ev’ry Voice Choir.
Santa himself will arrive to meet the children and parade through Ballina to Santa's Grotto in the Military Quarter. The grotto will be open on December 10, 11, 17 and 18 from 2 to 6 p.m. for children to meet the man himself.
A highlight of the Christmas festival this year will be the return of the Mistletoe Market on December 10 and 11. This year’s market, run by Kilmoremoy Ladies GAA Club and Ballina Boy Scouts, will take place in the newly covered Military Quarter, which as well as weatherproofing the event will generate a really special and unique atmosphere in the heart of Ballina.
Ballina Chamber is encouraging shoppers to 'give the gift of a job' this Christmas with the re-introduction of the hugely popular Chamber shopping vouchers. Available in denominations of €10, €25 and €50, these vouchers can be used to buy goods and services in a large number of local businesses, with a minimal administration fee.
The Chamber is also running its Christmas Cracker Bonanza Draw across the town, where shoppers can be in with a chance to win vouchers. Mayo County Council in turn is supporting the 'shop local' initiative by providing free car parking in the town centre car parks from 2 p.m. every day from December 1 to 24.
Irish Rail is once again running the festive Polar Express Train from Ballina Train Station on December 10 and 17. Seats on this festive journey are extremely limited and in demand, and tickets can be booked in advance by calling to Ballina Train Station on Saturday, December 3, at 12 noon.
Check out the Frosty Salmon Festival Ballina Facebook page or log on to Ballina.ie or MayoNorth.ie for further information.