Christmas in Clifden

Christmas in Clifden 2026

A festive celebration of community, culture, crafts, and Christmas spirit across Clifden and Connemara.

• Dates: November 27 - December 13, 2026
• Location: Clifden, Co. Galway (Various Venues)

About the Event

Get into the festive spirit with Clifden's magical holiday lineup! Featuring artisan Christmas markets, live traditional music, pop-up carols, kids' workshops, community fundraisers supporting the Galway Hospice, wellness events, and festive treats, there is something for all ages.

Note: CCC refers to Candy Cane Corner, located at the Alcock + Brown Hotel. Some workshops and events require advance booking; please check individual details below.

Schedule of Events

Friday, 27 November 2026

• 17:00 - Schools Spectacular on the square.
• 18:00 - Lights Count Down with very special guests.

Sunday, 29 November 2026

• 12:00 - Santa Cycle meet at Clifden Bike Shop, cycle up to Sky Rd, back down through town to the Boat Club for warming refreshments. Wear a Santa Hat. Donations to Galway Hospice. Bikes for hire from Clifden Bike Shop.
• 15:00 - Kids Movie at Clifden Boat Club 12 +under.

Saturday, 5 December 2026

• 10:00 - Kids Bracelet Workshop at O’Dalaigh Jewellers. Free, thanks to GRETB. All donations to Galway Hospice.
• 10:00 - Traditional Spinning + Weaving Workshop with Seamus Kirwan at CCC. Cost: €60. Call Seamus on 087 1916711 to book.
• 11:00 - Kids Candle Making Workshop with Silvana Katsarska at Clifden Arts Festival Box Office. Free, with thanks to GRETB. Contact Silvana on 087 4515842 to book.
• 11:30 - Christmas Story Time + Puppet Show as Gaeilge with Julie Anne De Brún in the library. Enjoy festive scéalta, amhráin, rannta agus cluichí. Bilingual event, Fáilte róimh (parental supervision kindly requested).
• 12:00 - 15:00 - Festive Cyanotype Print Workshop for adults and kids with Biddy Mulligan at Interface (H91 VW58). Free, with thanks to GRETB. Book via Eventbrite.
• 12:00 - 16:00 - The Just A Collective Christmas Market at the Station House Theatre. Handmade gifts, music, delicious treats, mulled wine, and Flashbox.
• 14:00 - Christmas Story Time for little ones in the Library with Amelia Whelan. Parent or guardian supervision kindly requested.
• 14:00 - 17:00 - Pop-Up Carols with Cantairí Chonamara at the Christmas market in the Theatre and then outside EJ’s.
• 14:30 - Wire Trees Workshop with John Cloonan at Fernwood. Cost: €35. Contact John on 087 6769820 to book.
• 17:0) - 19:00 - Pilates + Prosecco! Join Ellen and Sadhbh for wellness, beauty prep, and a Christmas make-up demo with beauty goodies. Cost: €25. Venue TBC. Contact Ellen on 086 320 1977 to book.
• 18:00 - Whiskey Tasting at Lowry’s Irish Whiskey Bar. Discover the flavours and stories of Irish whiskey. Cost: €25. Contact Mark on +61 468 517100 to book.

Sunday, 6 December 2026

• 10:00 - Kids Bracelet Workshop at O’Dalaigh Jewellers. Free, with thanks to GRETB. Donations to Galway Hospice.
• 10:00 - 16:00 - Traditional Spinning + Weaving Workshop with Seamus Kirwan at CCC. Cost: €60. Call Seamus on 087 1916711 to book.
• 12:00 - Santa 5K Fun Run. Meet Ellen Curley on the Square for a fun 5K run or walk to the Monastery Field and back, followed by coffee. Donations to Galway Hospice.
• 12:00 - 14:00 - Cloth + Stitch Collage Workshop for adults and kids with Deirdre Stephens at Interface (H91 VW58). Free, with thanks to GRETB. Book via Eventbrite.
• 12:00 - Santa at CCC! Visit Santa, bounce in the snowglobe, check out Flashbox, and receive a small gift. Cost: €5 per child.
• 12:00 - 15:00 - The Town Hall Christmas Market. The annual festive community makers and bakers shopping event featuring live music, refreshments, and tasty treats.
• 13:00 - Tinsel Wreath Workshop with Polly and Claire (@craftyclarence!) at Clifden Studios (Station House Complex). Cost: €35 (Ages 16+). Contact Polly on 086 129 1315 to book.
• 15:00 - Clifden Comhaltas Christmas Concert at the Theatre. An incredible annual Christmas concert showcasing 70+ performers of traditional Irish music, song, and dance. Cost: €10 on the door, children free.

Friday, 11 December 2026

• 17:30 - Memory Lane 2026. Gather beside AIB bank to light the lights, share prayers and music, and enjoy hot drinks and mince pies. Buy a candle to remember loved ones at Whistlestop, Connemara Blue, Beautiful You, Foyle’s, or wherever signs are posted. Donations to Galway Hospice.
• 20:00 - Classic Film Screening. Watch the 1947 Christmas classic Miracle on 34th Street at the Theatre, complete with complementary mulled wine and homemade treats. Kindly sponsored by the Clifden Film Society. Admission: Free.

Saturday, 12 December 2026

• 10:00 - Kids Bracelet Workshop at O’Dalaigh Jewellers. Free, thanks to GRETB. All donations to Galway Hospice.
• 11:00 - Kids Candle Making Workshop with Silvana Katsarska at Clifden Arts Festival Box Office. Free, with thanks to GRETB. Contact Silvana on 087 4515842 to book.
• 11:00 - Cantairí Chonamara Christmas Concert at Kylemore Abbey Fordham Hall. A festive mix of traditional and modern Christmas carols and songs.
• 12:00 - Kids Paper Stars Workshop at CCC with Claire Guy (@craftyclarence!). Make beautiful decorations with this star crafter. Free, thanks to GRETB. Book via Eventbrite.
• 13:30 - Christmas Story Time for little ones in the Library with Amelia Whelan. Parental supervision kindly requested.
• 14:00 - 15:30 & 16:00 - 17:30 - Christmas Card Workshop + Mulled Wine with artist and printmaker Clare Henderson at Clifden Studios, Station House Complex. Make handmade cards (no art expertise necessary!); an Irish-language facilitator will also be on hand. Cost: €35. Email Clare on [email protected] to book.
• 14:00 - 17:00 - Pop-Up Carols Around the Town with the beautiful Ukrainian Choir.
• 14:30 - Christmas Story Time + Puppet Show as Gaeilge for little ones in the Library with Julie Anne De Brún.
• 14:30 - Wire Trees Workshop with John Cloonan in Clifden Arts Festival Box Office. Cost: €35. Call John on 087 6769820 to book.
• 18:00 - Cantairí Chonamara + Cor Cois Farraige Christmas Concert of Carols at Christ Church, Clifden. Sung in English and as Gaeilge. Cost: €10 on the door, children under 12 free.

Sunday, 13 December 2026

• 10:00 - Kids Bracelet Workshop at O’Dalaigh Jewellers. Free, with thanks to GRETB. All donations to Galway Hospice.
• 11:00 - Kids Candle Making Workshop with Silvana Katsarska at Clifden Arts Festival Box Office. Free, with thanks to GRETB.
• 12:00 - 15:00 - Santa at Kings Shop. The annual festive highlight! Donations to Galway Hospice.
• 14:30 - Wire Trees Workshop with John Cloonan in the Garden Room at Foyle’s Hotel. Craft your own wire tree inspired by the windswept icons of the Connemara wayside. Cost: €35. Call John on 087 6769820 to book.
• 17:00 - Wine Tasting + Canapés. Helen Ferguson introduces her festive Christmas wine selections alongside super-chefs Shane Regan and Kieran O’Shaughnessy demonstrating easy pairing canapé recipes. Kindly sponsored by SuperValu. Cost: €40 at CCC. Call Lisa Foyle on 087 777 0745 to book.

Venues & Locations

Events take place across multiple hubs in Clifden. (See Eircodes of Venues & Locations below), including:

• Candy Cane Corner (CCC) at the Alcock + Brown Hotel
• Clifden Arts Festival Box Office
• Clifden Studios & Station House Complex / Theatre
• Clifden Library
• Christ Church & Kylemore Abbey Fordham Hall
• Interface,  Recess, Co Galway
• O’Dalaigh Jewellers
• Foyle’s Hotel, Lowry’s Whiskey Bar, Kings Shop, Fernwood, and the Town Hall

Support & Information

Supporting Galway Hospice: Look out for donation buckets throughout the festivities. Thank you for your support!

Details of events are subject to change. Please check individual listings and contact numbers for up-to-date availability.

Find Out More

• Official Website
• Facebook Page
• Instagram

Eircodes of Venues & Locations