Plans are well underway to make Ballina a bright, welcoming and exciting place to visit this Halloween and Christmas, with the Let There Be Light – Ballina Christmas Festival Committee bringing local businesses, community representatives and tourism organisations together to plan for the months ahead.
A positive meeting was held on Tuesday evening in Bar Square, attended by members of the volunteer-led committee, local businesses and members of the public, Cllr Annie May Reape and Cllr Marie Therese Duffy, as well as representatives from Ballina Chamber of Commerce and Mayo North Tourism.
The meeting highlighted the importance of local collaboration and buy-in in making the plans for Ballina a success. Both Cllr Annie May Reape and Cllr Marie Therese Duffy welcomed the initiative and offered their support to the committee as plans progress, recognising the importance of working together to create a vibrant town centre and a strong programme of events for the community.
The meeting focused on the importance of working together to promote Ballina as a great place to shop, visit and enjoy during the festive season, while supporting local businesses and creating a strong programme of events for the town.
The annual Christmas Lights Switch-On will take place on Sunday, 22 November, with plans already in place for a very special event. Last year’s switch-on, which featured popular Mayo musician Garron Noone, generated huge excitement, and the committee is promising something very memorable and somewhat different this year as it looks to build on that momentum.
The event will run from approximately 3pm into the early evening, with a full programme of entertainment and activities to be announced. The much-loved festive events at The Clarke Museum of Irish History will again form part of the celebrations, with lots more detail to follow in the coming weeks.
The committee is also expanding the Christmas lights into additional areas of the town this year, while the popular Ballina Pumpkin Patch will return from 24–26 October, bigger and better than last year. Let There Be Light is also delighted to be a charity partner of the Sunflower Children’s Hospice 2026.
The Ballina Christmas Market is also set to make a welcome return this festive season, adding another much-loved element to the town’s Christmas programme. The market will provide an opportunity for locals and visitors to browse a range of stalls, find something a little different for Christmas and enjoy the atmosphere in the town.
Local businesses are being encouraged to get involved in the Christmas celebrations, including a town-wide Christmas window dressing initiative being developed in partnership with Ballina Chamber of Commerce. A prize will be awarded for the winning display, with more details on the initiative to follow.
The committee also wants to highlight the various public car parks available in and around the town, making it easier for people to visit Ballina for evening shopping, dining and events as the darker evenings arrive.
Mayo North Tourism will continue to support the initiative by promoting Ballina and its Christmas programme to visitors from near and far, helping to highlight what is happening in the town and encourage people to visit and support local businesses.
Mairéad Melody-Carr, Manager of Mayo North Tourism, said: “Christmas is an important time for Ballina and Mayo North Tourism is delighted to support Let There Be Light in promoting the town to both locals and visitors. There is a huge amount of work going on locally, and working together and spreading the word will be key to making it a success.”
Let There Be Light is a volunteer-led organisation working to promote Ballina as a great place for locals and visitors alike, and the committee is keen to see as many people as possible get behind the plans for the months ahead.
Paul Burke of the Let There Be Light Committee said:“More businesses, community groups and volunteers are needed. There are lots of ways to get involved, from helping with events and spreading the word to dressing shop windows, sharing information online or simply putting forward ideas and suggestions. We want everyone to feel part of what we are planning for Ballina this year.”
A date for the next meeting will be announced shortly. In the meantime, the committee is encouraging everyone to get on board and help make this year’s celebrations the best yet.
It takes a village to make a town shine, and the committee is calling on local businesses, community groups, volunteers, local representatives and the wider community to get behind the initiative. With everyone working together and helping to spread the word, Ballina can create a Christmas season that benefits the whole town and gives both locals and visitors plenty of reasons to come and enjoy it.
Ideas, feedback and suggestions from local businesses and the wider community are very welcome. Follow Christmas Ballina on Instagram and Let there be Light on Facebook for more information.