A weekend full of wonder, magic and light in Louth as Frostival Festival returns

Get ready for the most enchanting weekend of the year at Frostival Winter Festival in Dundalk.

The highlight of the weekend is the iconic ‘Carnival of Light’ parade which, in a change from previous years, will take place on Sunday, November 17 at 5.30pm.

Join us for a weekend full of festive fun on November 16 & 17 including the magical Christmas Light Switch-On, Family Fun Fair, Christmas Markets and much more.

The Carnival of Light parade will start from the Green Church and weave its way through the streets like a winter fairy tale come to life with the Dancing Christmas Stars, Sugar Plum Fairy, Nutcracker prince spinning fire, a flying fairground horse, giant snowflakes, a Snowman cycles in a sparkling snowstorm and Santa high above the crowd on his magic bicycle! 

The parade route will illuminate the town centre on a magical journey for spectators to enjoy as it passes through Clanbrassil Street, Crowe Street, Francis Street and Park Street, turning at Oscar’s corner and finishing up at the Longwalk SC. 

READ NEXT: Louth man charged in relation to 'organised criminal activity' due to appear in court

An exciting new addition on Frostival Saturday, and a must see, is the Toy Box Wonders performance taking place from 5pm to 7pm at Market Square, a magical children’s animated live show celebrating some of our favourite childhood characters!

The Fun Fair and Christmas Markets return over two days at Market Square, Saturday from 11am to 6pm and Sunday 11am - 7pm, the perfect place to discover delicious food and bespoke festive gifts. 

On Sunday the popular Christmas Light Show will once again return transforming Market Square into a shimmering canvas of festive images and other surprises! These awe-inspiring illuminations will take place daily from 4pm over the festive season.

Town Centre Commercial Manager, Martin McElligott, said “Frostival is a community event bringing everyone together to celebrate the start of the festive season. Each year we endeavour to enhance the existing festival and create new and exciting experiences for all to enjoy.

“We would like to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to our commercial sponsor Dundalk Credit Union, and our civic sponsor Louth County Council, for their kind support and sponsorship of this year’s events. It would not be possible to organise and deliver a festival of this magnitude without their generosity and commitment.”

"Dundalk Credit Union are delighted to support Frostival again this year. We look forward to seeing the town being captivated by the magic of Frostival and to kick off the magic of Christmas on the streets of Dundalk said David Donnelly, Head of Marketing and Communications at Dundalk Credit Union."

"With the Carnival of Light parade as the crown jewel, Dundalk’s streets will be transformed into a winter wonderland filled with enchanting sights, sounds, and experiences for everyone. From the iconic Christmas Light Switch-On to the return of our family-friendly Fun Fair and festive Christmas Markets, Frostival offers something for all ages to enjoy. We can’t wait to see Dundalk come alive and to share this unforgettable weekend with our community and visitors alike, at Dundalk Credit Union community is at the heart of everything we do."

Joe McGuinness, Temporary Chief Executive, Louth County Council said “Louth County Council is delighted to support the Frostival Winter Festival, a highlight in the calendar of events being run every year by Dundalk BIDS. The festival is an exciting part of the Christmas season in Dundalk and greatly enhances the visitor experience during the festive season. We extend our best wishes to Martin and the team in Dundalk BIDS for a successful Frostival 2024.”

Martin McElligott was also trilled and excited to announce that “The Northern Lights will be making a spectacular Christmas comeback with nine unforgettable festive shows, over three evenings, on the 6, 7 and 8 of December. 

“This state-of-the-art audio-visual installation features up to 200,000 individual points of light and unique decorative symbols exclusively designed to represent the spirit Christmas. Combine this with state-of-the-art technology, choreographed to a rhythm of iconic festive tunes. Save the dates!”