Belfast City Council is to look at extending the Christmas Market in future years, while fears have been expressed that its “cramped and crowded” nature could “start to put people off.”
At a recent Belfast City Council (BCC) committee meeting, in a secret debate behind closed doors at City Hall, elected members agreed that “engagement with stall holders and attendees of the Christmas Market 2024” will be undertaken in relation to the potential to expand the market in the future.
Minutes of the recent city growth and regeneration committee meeting were published for the October full meeting of the council, which was held this week.
The minutes for what was a restricted committee item were brief and gave no detail to the engagement.
The minutes state: “During discussion, members suggested the need to increase the potential of council parks to hold more markets across the city, together with the expansion of the Christmas market.
“The Senior Manager of Economy advised that the market’s policy was under review and would consider different models and development.
“One member suggested that further engagement with stall holders and attendees of the Christmas Market would be beneficial in relation to the potential to expand the market in the future.”
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At the full BCC meeting this week, Councillor Séamas de Faoite told the chamber: “I think it is a really positive thing to see the progress that has been made in terms of animation around Christmas time. We have received updates on what the proposed plans are this year – I know I am looking forward to them.
“It is one of the number one questions we get as councillors, about tickets for the Christmas lights turn-on, and there will be a positive process around that this year, based on the feedback from last year.
“But regarding consideration of expansion around the Christmas Market – we are coming to the 20th year of its existence in front of the City Hall. It has made a huge impact, and a difference to the city during the festive season.
“It brings people into Belfast from far and wide. The data is very clear, in terms of its impact in bringing people from outside the city boundary into Belfast to spend money, to spend time in hospitality, and to enjoy themselves.
“But it is clear to me that the site just at the front of the City Hall is no longer enough for the type of activity that is taking place there.
“My continued fear is that we reach a peak of success with the Christmas Market, and because it becomes so cramped and crowded, that it starts to put people off.
“So I think it is really important to start to consider options about how we expand it before it reaches that point, and before it becomes a situation where people are turned off from coming.
“I am pleased to see we are going to have some consideration around expanding it, around looking at some of the options we trialled during Covid, and have an understanding they have the potential to have a huge benefit for other parts of the city.
“In an ideal world, some form of the Christmas Market would help link places like the Cathedral Quarter with Dublin and Lisburn Road, with the two Universities, that draws people’s attention to other areas, that helps to spread out some of the wealth and benefit of having that high level of Christmas activity.”