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Ho Ho Ho - Christmas fun in Belfast's Lady Dixon Park

Help Santa find his naughty and nice list at Belfast's Lady Dixon Park
Help Santa find his naughty and nice list at Belfast's Lady Dixon Park Help Santa find his naughty and nice list at Belfast's Lady Dixon Park

ONE of Belfast's best known parks is being transformed into a winter wonderland this month for a special immersive theatre experience.

Santa's Night Safari takes the whole family on a magical exploration through Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park from December 16-19.

The park will be transformed by thousands of twinkling lights, divided into different stage areas with artists and performers entertaining visitors in areas such as Candy Cane Lane and Magic Meadows.

"Santa's Night Safari is a completely unique experience. It is a very light hearted and interactive Christmas show full of wacky characters and funny challenges to entertain the whole family," explains event organiser Sarah-Jane Montgomery.

"A few bad sprouts have been getting up to mischief and muddled up all the names on Santa's naughty and nice list, the cheeky duo have cast a spell that can only be broken once a secret word has been revealed.

"Thankfully our audience might be able to save the day as our safari-goers have to search for each Christmas character hidden in the park, take part in little challenges, solve clues and crack the code to tell Santa they're on the nice list this Christmas."

In this after-hours adventure through the park, participants can go quackers with the Christmas ducks, fly away with the Christmas Tree Fairy and dance yourself dizzy with Ginger and Bred the Gingerbread People.

And who knows? You might even encounter Mrs Mary Claus, the first lady of Christmas herself, and although this isn't a grotto experience, you might even spot Santa on his adventures.

Each session is 80 minutes long with participants receiving a treasure hunt style map and some little surprises on entry. You'll use your map to navigate the park searching for characters, displays and attractions to tick them off your list.

Santa's Night Safari is the brainchild of MayWe, a Belfast-based company set up in 2019 who specialise in animating unusual spaces and bringing arts and culture to life.

"Belfast's vibrant arts sector was hugely impacted in past 18 months, so we are especially delighted that this event will provide paid employment for so many local arts and event professionals, many of whom have suffered throughout the pandemic while still offering an exciting new experience so that families and friends can create special memories once again," adds Sarah Jane.

"We have a fantastic creative team who specialise in making interactive family theatre, artists creating beautiful themed displays and local food and drink to warm us up."

An early relaxed session with lower lighting and sound levels will take place on Friday December 17 at 3pm for those with sensory or additional needs.

:: Santa's Night Safari runs at Belfast's Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park from December 16-19 with three performances each evening. Tickets available from Maywe.eventbrite.co.uk (children under 2 free).