*Photograph: Brian Arthur
SANTA CLAUS and members of the All-Ireland winning Clare hurling team will be joined over 350 elves, Christmas characters and musicians in Bunratty village this Thursday night at 6.00pm for Ireland’s largest Christmas parade.
Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, supported by the local business community and Clare County Council, is hosting the inaugural parade which will wind its way through the village to the courtyard of Bunratty Castle where the annual switching on of the Folk Park’s Christmas lights will take place.
Following the parade, Bunratty Castle and Folk Park will present a donation to this year’s nominated charity, Down Syndrome Clare.
The parade marks the beginning of ‘Christmas at Bunratty 2024’ with 35,000 people expected through the gates of the popular 26-acre visitor attraction during the festivities.
Santa Claus will be making a welcome return to his grotto on the Village Street on Friday, 29th November. Visitors will have full access to Bunratty Folk Park Trail of Lights Experience and can enjoy puppet and magic shows and traditional Christmas tales with Bunratty’s resident Seanchaí, drop into the festive themed shops, meet and greet in the Ice Queen’s Cottage, and take a ride on the Polar Express. The ‘Breakfast with Santa’ event and Christmas-themed castle banquets also return for 2024.
The Bunratty Christmas Parade commences from JP Clarke’s at 6.00pm on Thursday. The village main street will be closed to vehicular traffic for the duration of the parade, while public parking will be available throughout the village and at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park in advance.
All businesses in Bunratty will remain open before, during and after the parade. Bunratty Castle and Folk Park will be closed to the public after the parade in line with standard winter operating hours.
