Plans to 'drastically' alter Christmas festivities are deferred until full monthly council meeting

A decision on big changes to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Christmas switch-on ceremonies has been deferred to the next full monthly meeting of council.

In 2018, tempers flared after Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council proposed that Antrim, Randalstown, Ballyclare and Glengormley would continue to trip the light fantastic with big Christmas lights switch-on events.

Under the proposals back then, Crumlin, Templepatrick, Toome and Parkgate would apply for funding to host their own smaller ‘community-led’ ceremonies with trees and lights.

However after public uproar, Crumlin was eventually back into line with the four other towns of Ballyclare, Randalstown, Antrim and Glengormley and eventually two other sites were added to the main programme from the legacy Newtownabbey end.

But now there are plans to slim down the major festivities, with just three ‘flagship’ events in 2025 in Antrim, Ballyclare and Newtownabbey, at £20,000 each.

A report before the Community Development Committee last week outlined the new proposals - with Crumlin and Randalstown failing to make the cut, while the online coverage introduced during the Covid pandemic is also recommended for the chop to save around £10,000.

However existing festive and illuminated trees will remain at Antrim, Ballyclare, Crumlin, Randalstown, Hazelbank Park, Monkstown and Glengormley, will remain with an additional tree being erected for a new flagship event at V36, while the 12 areas where ‘community-led’ events take place, plus Crumlin and Randalstown could bid for an increased grant of £2000 to run their events.

But at the meeting last week, Sinn Fein Airport Councillor Maighréad Ní Chonghaile asked to formally propose a deferral.

“This one requires wider input from across council and wider accountability, we have 40 members, Crumlin will be drastically effected, and there is not another DEA (District Electoral Area) member in the room, on that basis alone, we should refer this to full council at the end of month for fuller debate and decision making process across all council.”

This was seconded by her party colleague Annie O’Lone from the Dunsilly DEA.

DUP Antrim Town Councillor Paul Dunlop asked if £20,000 for the main events would be enough.

“Do we feel that's adequate, look at holding an event at the V36, with ten to eleven thousand people, and the same in Antrim, bringing in extra two to three thousand people, I am conscious, would that budget be sufficient to cover it?”

It was agreed that because the decision affects every DEA, that the item be deferred.

The report said: “Since November 2018, the Council has been delivering Christmas Lights Switch On Events in each District Electoral Area across the Borough.

“The programme at each event encompasses a range of family entertainment to include: Christmas Fun Rides, The Santa Express, Street Entertainment, Festive Food Stalls, Arts and Crafts and a short programme of Christmas Readings, Carols and Music following which the Mayor accompanied by the Schools Competition Winner and Santa switch on the Christmas Tree Lights.

“Local School Choirs, Traditional Music Groups, Dance Academies and other local artistes participate in the ninety-minute programme the theme for which changes on an annual basis.

“The “Step into the Season” themed Christmas Switch On Programme inspired by the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics was approved by the Community Development Committee in October 2024.

“The programme was delivered live in each DEA and streamed online. In total the programme attracted in excess of 12,100 attendees.

“In 2024, the “Switch On” programme was delivered at a cost of £101,222.”

At Crumlin Leisure Centre 800 people turned out, in Randalstown’s John Street Car Park, 2000, at Lilian Bland Park, 2000, Hazelbank Park, 2500, Mossley Mill, 300, Antrim’s Railway Street Car Park 2000 and at Ballyclare Square Car Park, 2500, totalling 12,100 attendees.

The report said: “Online live steaming of each event was introduced in 2020 during the COVID pandemic; however, in 2024 the numbers viewing had dwindled from 78,483 at its peak in 2020 to only 9,580. This element of the events takes up £10,000 of the overall budget and is hugely time intensive.

“However, detailed analysis shows that average watch time is just 2.7 minutes. It is therefore proposed to stop this element of the switch on events.

“An analysis of similar arrangements across the other ten Council areas indicates that the vast majority of other Council’s deliver Christmas switch-on events within their respective legacy Council areas, rather than extending these events to each individual District Electoral Area.

“The Council does not begin town centre illuminations or Christmas switch-on events until after 11 November, in respect of the Remembrance period. This creates a narrow timeframe to deliver the seven existing events, which are ideally completed in November to support retail and precede the Enchanted Winter Garden, traditionally starting the last weekend of November.

“The Council also supports around 12 community led Christmas Switch on events over the same period. As a result, community events often clash with Council Switch-Ons. The tight schedule also increases the risk of weather-related cancellations, with limited opportunity for rescheduling. In addition, some of the locations present capacity, safety and logistical challenges.

“Delivering seven large-scale switch-on events over a 7–10 day period requires substantial staff resources, absorbing the Community Development officers from early September to late November. The online elements are particularly resource-intensive, and additional staff support results in significant time off in lieu post-Christmas.

“This places considerable pressure on the team and limits their capacity to undertake other vital community development work during this period.

“Following a review and online evaluation of the 2024 Programme, which provided valuable feedback for future event planning, it is proposed that the existing 7 DEA Christmas Light Switch On Events be reduced to three major flagship events in 2025 as follows: Antrim Town Centre, Newtownabbey (V36 at the Valley), Ballyclare Town Centre.

“The proposed locations above provide access for the vast majority of Borough residents within a 20-minute drive time and are balanced geographically covering both urban and rural areas.

“The proposed locations have been chosen based on the following factors: All three locations consistently achieve high audience numbers: Antrim Town Centre (2,000), Newtownabbey – Spooked Out Event at V36 (8,000+) and Ballyclare Town Centre (2,500) representing the largest and most engaged festive audiences across the Borough.

“V36 at The Valley entertains annually 8,500 at the very successful Spooked Out at The Valley Halloween Event and as a purpose-built event space with parking, a range of accessible facilities and hospitality offer surrounding is seen as having the potential for an enhanced Newtownabbey flagship Switch On event.

“These venues ensure fair representation across the Borough, preventing any one area from being overlooked and maintains equitable access for all residents. Each site offers an established, safe, and accessible event space capable of hosting large crowds while supporting local business activity during the key pre-Christmas trading period.

“The chosen locations complement, rather than duplicate community led switch ons, providing flagship events that bring together surrounding towns and villages while allowing smaller communities to continue with their own celebrations.

“The proposal to reduce the number of events from 7 to 3 will bring about the following benefits: “Reducing the number of events allows officers to streamline resources and focus on the logistics of fewer locations. This leads to better planning and organisation, enhanced safety measures and less time commitment from officers, on call events assistants and volunteers at this challenging time of the year.

“By reducing the number of events from 7 to 3 will result in the remaining 3 events becoming larger and more spectacular, particularly the event proposed for V36 which could be seen as a “Big Unified Celebration” with much larger crowds similar in scale to those witnessed at the Annual Halloween Celebrations.

“Larger events such as that proposed for V36 attract more media coverage and social media buzz.

“Environmental Benefits – Reduced environmental impact, less energy consumption and waste produced. Reduced Carbon Footprint due to less travel by Event Promoters, Performers and Attendees.

“A concentrated impact on 3 events as opposed to 7 will provide the opportunity to establish more strategic partnerships and stronger collaborative links between local businesses, sponsors and the wider community. With fewer events resources can be concentrated on ensuring that the remaining events are larger, more inclusive, have a significantly greater impact and are of a higher quality.

Under this proposal existing festive and illuminated trees in Antrim Town Centre, Ballyclare Town Centre, Crumlin, Randalstown, Hazelbank Park, Monkstown and Glengormley Town Centre will remain with an additional tree being erected for the flagship event at V36.

The report continued: “Officers have started planning for this year’s events and having taken into consideration feedback from 2024 the following is proposed for 2025:

“Delivery of the Consolidated Programme of 3 Christmas Light Switch On Events over the period: Thursday 20 – Saturday 22 November 2025. If the existing programme of 7 events continues to be delivered, then the events will take place over the period: Thursday 20 – Saturday 29 November 2025.

“Times will facilitate traffic management arrangements and ensure young families can enjoy the full experience of the events.

“The switching on of the Christmas Lights will once again take place at the mid-point of the proposed ninety-minute programme as opposed to the end in order to facilitate those attending with very young children.

“A programme of family fun entertainment to include: A Children’s Pantomime, Live Festive Music, Carols, Switching on of the Christmas Tree Lights, Fun Fair Rides, Festive Food Stalls, Arts and Crafts Activities and Street Entertainment will be delivered at each venue.

“The end of online streaming of the switch on events which will achieve a cost savings of approximately £10,000. The theme for this year’s programme has yet to be decided but will be communicated to Members in advance of the events taking place. All events will be advertised and promoted through an electronic and direct marketing campaign to encourage residents’ participation.

In addition, as part of the Community Development Grant Aid Programme Council operates a Christmas Celebration Events Fund to assist groups, in legacy locations across the Borough, that may wish to develop and deliver Christmas Celebration events in the absence of a council-installed tree and associated switch on ceremony.

At present. financial assistance of up to £1,000 is available to each of the following 15 legacy sites across the Borough: Ballyduff, Ballynure, Ballyrobert, Bawnmore, Burnside, Doagh, Mallusk, Monkstown, New Mossley, Parkgate, Straid, Templepatrick, Tildarg, Toome and Whiteabbey.

Under the new proposal it is recommended that Crumlin and Randalstown be included.

If the council reduces to three Christmas Light Switch On Events, it is proposed that the maximum grant award for the community led switch on-events be increased to £2,000.

The report said: “This reflects the continued popularity of these events and their positive contribution to fostering local community spirit.

“Groups who avail of this funding are required to cover the cost of their tree and lighting if this is a requirement of their event.”

In addition, the “Spirit of Christmas Awards”, launched in October 2021 ‘continue to prove popular with in excess of 78 nominations received in 2024’. This year it is proposed that a similar competition is delivered. Provision of £100,000 for the 2025 Christmas Festivity Programme, The Spirit of Christmas Awards and £15,000 for the Christmas Celebration Events Fund has been included in the 2025/26 Community Development budgets.

Antrim will get £20,000, Newtownabbey (V36) £20,000, Ballyclare Town Centre £ 20,000, and for the Christmas Celebration Events Fund, the 17 legacy areas will get £2000 each, totalling £34,000

The Spirit of Christmas Awards Awards and Celebration Event will receive £2,000, with a grand total of £96,000.”