Everything you need to know about Belfast's Christmas Light Switch-On

Tickets

All tickets for the switch on event have now been allocated.

If you have received your ticket please ensure you have read the terms and conditions.

If you booked your tickets online, you can either:

• print your tickets at home, or

• collect your pre-booked tickets in person at the Visit Belfast Welcome Centre by 5pm Thursday 16 November 2017.

Please check the weather before you leave home on Saturday 18 November as this is an outdoor event and will happen rain or shine.

Note the event site does not open until 6pm with Cool FM onstage. Please ensure you are at the correct colour entrance on arrival and have either your wristbands or printed tickets as they will be scanned on entry.

For more information call 028 9024 6609 or go online to Visit Belfast's website.

Belfast Christmas Market

The award-winning Belfast Christmas Market will also be making a return to the city. It'll open its doors at 12 noon on Saturday 18 November and will stay until 6pm on Saturday 23 December, with a unique offering of local and continental tasty food, sweet treats, wonderful gifts and crafts.

Don’t forget to post your child’s Christmas wishes to the North Pole via our post box beside Santa's grotto in the market. Each child who posts their letter with a return address before Tuesday 19 December will receive a response from Santa himself.

Traffic information

Please note that due to the build for the Christmas Market and the Christmas light switch-on event, traffic diversions will be in operation in and around City Hall from Thursday 16 November to Sunday 19 November. Please follow the alternative route signage eastbound and northbound from the city centre as directed.

Parking restrictions will be in place in Donegall Place and Upper Arthur Street from 11pm on Friday 17 November until 11pm on Saturday 18 November. This includes blue badge parking.

On Saturday 18 November 2017 from 3pm to 11pm:

Donegall Place and Donegall Square West will be closed to vehicles.

Donegall Square North from Wellington Place will be closed to vehicles. Translink services will have access to Upper Queen Street.

Chichester Street will be closed to vehicles with provision for Translink and Belfast Public Hire taxis to exit.

Pedestrians will be able to access the areas above until 5.30pm. After this time, the area will become a ticket holder only zone for entry.

The Public Hire Taxi at Donegall Square North will be relocated to Donegall Square East on 18 November.

Visit Translink's website for up-to-date Metro service routes.