Mullingar’s Christmas 2025 kicks off this Friday
Christmas 2025 in Mullingar is kicking off on Friday of this week, November 21, when the illuminations are switched on officially around the town. Ice-skating, stalls selling the best of Westmeath-produced food, music, and family entertainment will all form part of the festive celebrations that mark the start of the holiday season.
The event, organised by Mullingar Chamber of Commerce, promises to bring a sparkle to the town centre with a full evening of activity leading up to the much-anticipated lighting ceremony. The switch-on is due to take place at 5.45pm, transforming the streets into a winter wonderland for locals and visitors alike.
Details of the plans – and confirmation that there are ambitions to expand the festival in future years – were shared with members of the Municipal District of Mullingar–Kinnegad at their November meeting by Mullingar Chamber president James Bourke.
Mr Bourke outlined how the Chamber, representing more than 250 businesses across the retail, hospitality, manufacturing and professional services sectors, has been working to promote Mullingar as a festive destination through its Winterfest Mullingar brand.
He said Winterfest serves as an umbrella for all local Christmas activities, highlighting the work of various volunteer groups and promoting events across the town. Among the standout attractions this year, he said, are Mullingar On Ice and the Christmas Lights Switch-On, which takes place from 5–6pm on November 21 in Market Square in partnership with the Mullingar Town Enhancement Group and Mullingar Arts Centre.
Mr Bourke said the Chamber has engaged early with Gardaí this year to support crowd and traffic management, following large attendance at previous events. He encouraged local businesses to make the most of the occasion with special offers and early Christmas promotions.
He also noted the continuation by the local authority of free parking dates over the festive period, which he said provides a welcome boost to retailers, and highlighted the ongoing success of the Mullingar Gift Card—formerly the Mullingar Voucher—which generated more than €500,000 in sales last year, much of it during the Christmas season.
Turning to this year’s Winterfest Market, Mr Bourke said it will take place on Mount Street on Saturday and Sunday, December 13 and 14, transforming the area into a Christmas market using twelve timber huts. Vendors will be drawn exclusively from the Taste of Westmeath group, ensuring a strong focus on local produce and crafts.
The market will stretch from the former 2210 Patisserie premises up towards Market Square, creating what Mr Bourke described as a warm and atmospheric space for shopping, food, and festive celebration. He thanked the council for its financial contribution to the Winterfest programme, noting that it attracts large numbers of visitors to the town.
During the discussion, councillors across the political spectrum praised the Chamber’s work and made a number of practical suggestions.
Cllr Ken Glynn commended the Chamber’s promotion of Mullingar and welcomed confirmation of free parking on Black Friday this year.
Cllr Emily Wallace also praised the Chamber’s collaboration with the Taste of Westmeath network, describing the event as vital for local producers.
Cllr Aoife Davitt supported the idea of greater coordination, suggesting that local businesses be encouraged to stay open later on the evening of the lights switch-on to enhance the town’s night-time economy. Cathaoirleach Cllr Mick Dollard thanked Mr Bourke for his presentation and suggested that he return in January to brief councillors on how the events had gone.
In his concluding remarks, Mr Bourke said the Chamber was grateful for the council’s support and confirmed that the lights switch-on will take place precisely at 5.45pm this Friday, giving families time to gather beforehand, and that Mount Street will close to traffic from Friday, December 12, to allow for setup of the Christmas market.