Jingle all the way as weekend brings Santa run and magic lanterns

With less than two weeks until Christmas this weekend’s events are positively festive as the carol singing and mince-pie eating season is well underway.

Dublin Dockland’s Festival

Christmas arrives at Dublin’s Docklands this weekend for the ninth consecutive year at the George’s Dock platform in the IFSC.

The Airtricity Dockland’s Christmas Festival promises a festive food and craft market,traditional Victorian fairground rides and Santa’s grotto.

There will also be free entertainment and carol singers during the day and ticketed acts on the platform each night.

The festival is open until December 23rd from 10am to 10pm at weekends and noon to 10pm mid-week.

[ Dublindocklandschristmasfestival.ie ]

Kilkenny Christmas

Christmas at Kilkenny Castle sees a series of events this weekend for both adults and children. They range from storytelling for children at 1pm tomorrow and a family magic show at 2.45pm on Sunday to soloists Deirdre Gannon at the long room at 3pm tomorrow and a performance by St Canice's Cathedral Choir at 2pm on Sunday. Entry to the historic castle is free this weekend. Kilkennycastle.ie There will also be hundreds of speedy Santas in the marble city this weekend as Kilkenny holds a charity Santa Run on Saturday. There will be two distances – a 5km fun run and a 10km timing chipped run.

Participants are asked to come dressed as Santa or something festive with prizes for the best costume. Registration is € 6. For more information email: kilkennysantarun@hotmail.com

Magic lanterns in Dun Laoghaire

A procession of “magical Christmas lanterns” in the Dublin town of Dun Laoghaire on Saturday will take place as part of its Christmas festival.

Children of all ages will light up the street along the seafront from the People’s Park to Harbour Plaza carrying their handmade lanterns of willow and tissue paper. The procession will be made up of the general public ,schools and community groups

Leading the lanterns will be a group from Comhairle na nOg who will recite Christmas Carols at the plaza.The light parade leaves from the People's Park at 4pm. Dunlaoghaire.ie/christmas-festival

Simon House of Light show

Powerscourt Town Centre on South William Street will be all aglow tonight and tomorrow for the Simon House of Light show . The animated festive light projection will brighten the walls of the building on South William Street Dublin with accompanying music from 6pm. It is in aid of the Simon Community. lightupforsimon.ie

Christmas Panto

Panto Season gets into full swing this weekend with previews of Jack and the Beanstalk at the Tivoli theatre. The Cheerios Panto stars models Nadia Forde and Michelle McGrath with Alan Hughes returning as Sammy Sausages and actor Bryan Murray playing the Evil Baddie. Tickets from €29.50 at Tivoli.ie

The Olympia Theatre Panto Beauty and the Beast starring Jedward begins on Wednesday, tickets from €22. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs starring Megan Cassidy continues its run at the Gaiety Theatre , tickets from €25. Ticketmaster.ie .

Rugby

Offering a perfect break from festivities is today’s great rugby line-up as all of the Irish provinces are playing in the Heineken Cup . After its shock win last weekend Connacht hope to make it a double against Toulouse at 6pm on Saturday in front of a sold-out crowd at the Sportsground, Galway.

Leinster will be hoping to repeat the away win against Northampton Saints on Saturday as kick-off in the Aviva, Dublin takes place at 6pm.

There will be two away matches earlier on Saturday as Ulster take on Benetton Treviso in the Italian city's Stadio Monigo at 2.35pm and Munster play Perpigan at the Stade Aimé Giral at 4.40pm . Irishrugby.ie