Plans for Mullingar WinterFest 2021 revealed

Plans for WinterFest 2021 in Mullingar have been confirmed this afternoon (subject to licence and public health advice).

The first step, Mullingar Chamber of Commerce said in a statement today, is the switch-on of the lights – confirmed by the Mullingar Enhancement Group – on Friday November 19 at 5.30pm (approximately).

Santa will be there, with members of the All-Ireland winning Westmeath Ladies Football team. Midlands 103 will be do an outside broadcast (4.30-6.30pm).

People are asked not to attend if they feel unwell.

In early December, Mullingar Chamber will hold a Christmas market, from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th, and the plan is to have it on Mount Street, (which will be closed from Wallace’s to Market Square from 9am on December 2 to 10pm on December 5) and on Market Square and Dominick Square.

Mullingar Chamber said the vendors would be hand-picked and an events guide would help visitors find their way to the traders on each square as well as the wider amenities the town has to offer this Christmas.

A spokesperson said: “We intend on limiting the number of hot food vendors at the markets as we feel Mullingar has an excellent choice of food and beverage retailers. There would be discount offers in the events guide – such as ‘free hot chocolate with…’ or ‘free desert with…’ – to encourage visitors to use food vendors’ vouchers."

The proposal is for 20 market stalls in the middle of the street, every second one facing the opposite direction, four huts on Market Square and additional vendors on Dominick Square.

There would be a one-way system on Mount Street, up one side and down the other.

Aisling Coleman, Mullingar Chamber (centre) with John Cochrane (left) and Bill Collentine of the Mullingar Enhancement Group.

Christmas Events Guide

Mullingar Chamber will have an events guide that will include discount offers from local businesses and encourage people to roam throughout the town.

The guide would have a treasure hunt and will promote events in Mullingar, such as an outdoor cinema, party nights and concerts in hotels and all other Christmas events.

“This will ensure that Mullingar is the destination of choice when people are thinking about a Christmas getaway or day trip,” said the spokesperson.

Christmas Screens

A large screen on Dominick Square will broadcast messages from abroad throughout the weekend of the markets (messages will be then available online).

A large TV screen on Market Square will be a ‘Santa Call Centre’ and will broadcast personalised Santa messages. There will be a Christmas theme area set aside and managed by Mullingar Chamber staff where families can sit and watch their personalised Santa videos.

The 11 dates for the Santa Call Centre are: Thursday December 2 to Sunday December 5 December; Thursday December 9 to Saturday December 11; and Thursday December 16, Friday December 17; Monday December 20 and Tuesday December 21.

The chamber spokesperson said: “We foresee this event bringing an extra 10,000 people to the town for the Christmas Market weekend.

“This event would not happen without the support of local businesses and the local community and we would like to thank everyone for their continued support to date.”

If you want to have a stall in the Christmas Market, email events@mullingarchamber.ie or to get involved in any of the activities, or would like to sponsor an event or be placed in the events guide, email events@mullingarchamber.ie or phone 044 93 44044.

Keep up to date at www.winterfestmullingar.ie or on Facebook @WinterFestMullingar.

All of the above is subject to license and public health advice at the time.