Christmas Continental Market

Date: 17 November - 19 December 2009
Venue: Belfast City Hall grounds

Once again the City Hall grounds will come alive with dozens of market stalls offering a stunning range of crafts, food and decorations from across Europe, and beyond, to delight the Christmas shopper seeking original gifts.

More than 750,000 people visited the market last year - and this year it promises to be even bigger and better than ever with traders from as far afield as the North Pole, Asia, Africa and the United States.

Opening times

The market will finish on Saturday 19 December at 8pm.

Friday 18 December: 9am - 10pm
Saturday 19 December: 9am - 8pm

Food and drink

Highlights include:

Bratwurst sausages and German beers
warming gluhwein
liqueur coffees
gourmet burgers
Spanish paella
toasted baguettes
waffles, crêpes and Dutch pancakes
cakes, fudge and sweets
Continental and Irish cheeses.
exotic meats from around the world
gorgeous Greek dips
garlic soup from Switzerland
Polish bigos (a traditional stew).

Sit and relax in Belfast’s very own Lavery’s International Marquee, or sample the great German and Continental beers from the newly remodelled Franzisskaaner German bar. Also returning this year will be Northern Ireland’s very own Hilden Brewery with their own special brews.

Gifts and other items

If you are looking for an unusual Christmas gift then you are bound to find something among the great selection of gifts and crafts, including:

Delft china
hand-painted Russian dolls
leather handbags, purses and wallets from France
candles
eco-friendly bags
jewellery
‘smellies’ from Provence
natural carved wooden furniture, statues, figurines from Kenya
unique metal wall art from Thailand
pashminas and scarves.

There will also be a chance to make your own designer beaded jewellery, thanks to the debut visit by two traders from the USA.

The Sisters of St Elisabeth are also returning, all the way from their convent in the Belarus capital of Minsk, with their collection of handmade dolls, icons and gifts.

Jari Makelle, who is from the Lappish part of Finland, some 150 kilometres north of the Arctic circle, will be selling some of the best knitwear you will ever see. They also sell a huge range of crafts and gifts from their region.

Entertainment and Santa's grotto

There is something for all the family with the Big Wheel and a fabulous new children’s carousel.

And a very special person will be visiting the event every day. Yes, Santa’s in town with his very own specially designed grotto, inside a magical forest. Santa's Grotto will be open:

Monday - Wednesday: 3pm -7pm
Thursday: 3pm – 8pm
Friday: 2pm – 8pm
Saturday: 11am – 8pm
Sunday: 1pm – 5.30pm

All proceeds raised will go to the Council for the Homeless NI.