Royal Hillsborough Christmas Market will return on Friday 8th December 2023.

Discover delicious treats and unique gifts from local artisan makers amongst the glittering lights on The Dark Walk and Hillsborough Fort.

Enjoy the music and entertainment and give your kids an experience to remember. Santa and his elves will be there to add some magic too.

The Dark Walk will be full of local stalls laden with gifts, art and artisan foodie delights. Hillsborough Fort will be full of street food, live music and fun.

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a trip to a market filled with twinkling lights and festive food. Join us for what has become a cherished tradition in the Lisburn & Castlereagh year. Enjoy steaming luxury hot chocolate, find a beautiful new handmade bauble for your tree or a handcrafted gift for a loved one at Royal Hillsborough Christmas Market

There will be late night shopping in the village with the many independent businesses joining in the festive fun that the Christmas market brings.  

Artisan food and drink 

There’s a stellar line up of award-winning food producers and passionate makers and bakers from across Lisburn & Castlereagh and beyond this year.

We have all food groups covered from chicken, beef, fish, cheese, deli and dairy products. Pick up some foodie treats too like locally small batch smoked salmon for starters. Pick up delicious condiments like jams, pickles, hot sauces and preserves for your Christmas platters. 

Just some of our local artisans to look out for include the multi-award winning Hinch Distillery, Jack’s Fudge, Little Popcorn Shop and Moon Gelato who as well as serving ice cream desserts will have luxury slow-cooked hot chocolate. 

See below to find out the full list of traders.

Irresistible street food

As well as pizza, burgers, and decadent loaded fries, local butcher and street food vendor Pig Out will be serving up a special Christmas bap with local turkey and ham. 

We’ve also got chef Niall from The Gardener’s Kitchen with a delicious menu of hot sandwiches, and warming soups all made from Northern Irish produce. 

Indie Fude will be bringing their very popular raclette to make melted cheese sandwiches. 

If you’re in the mood for something sweet, the Royal Hillsborough bakers will have an array of mouthwatering tray bakes. Look out for Royal Hillsborough bakeries Tori’s Coffee Bakes & Cakes and Kin & Folk. 

Loki’s Coffee will be providing coffee, tea, hot chocolates and puppacinos! Also, look out for Megan’s 1980s ice cream truck now transformed into a coffee truck called In the Mix. She’ll be serving coffee and her own festive bakes.

Unique handmade gifts

We have a carefully curated selection of gifts for you from designers, potters and crafters. 

Browse fine art, vibrant illustrations, hand-sewn gifts and stunning ceramics as gifts for loved ones or a treat for yourself. Cohen & Co will have a selection of homewares from Northern Irish makers, including handmade Belfast linens, throws and festive decorations. 

Wendy Ward will have her popular porcelain Christmas tree decorations, vases and trinket dishes made in her Royal Hillsborough studio. We are also delighted to have Live Life Well-Being Centre, a Lisburn based social enterprise that supports adults with learning needs and their range of clay products and homemade jams. 

Laura from Monday’s Child will have her thoughtfully designed tarnish-proof and customisable jewellery. 

There will be beautiful gifts to pick up for babies and children too from Rabbit & Lark and Little Love NI.

Find organic and handmade skincare products from Mrs R’ganics and Wild Shore. There’s also something for the pets too as we’re joined by Lisburn business, Barkelicious Bakes and Solas Irish Craft.

Santa’s coming!

Santa will be making a visit to meet and greet the children. There will also be face painting and balloon modelling as well as some festive crafts to get stuck into. 

Musical performances in the front field at the fort

This year, we have an incredible line-up of musical performances from local schools in Royal Hillsborough and Lisburn.

We’ll also be joined by not one but two fantastic brass bands who will be setting the scene with popular Christmas tunes. 

Don’t miss the Rock Choir’s resounding voices and the toe-tapping Lisburn Ukes. 

3.00pm - Downshire Primary School

3.30pm - Kyle John Suckling

4.15pm - No Strings Attached Ukes Collective

5.00pm - Rock Choir 

6.15pm - Lisburn Ukes

7.30pm - Downshire Brass

Music in The Dark Walk 

3.00pm - Friends’ School Brass ensemble

3.30pm - Kris Marsden

5.30pm - David McMaster Duo

7.30pm - Ria Maguire Music

Late night shopping in the village

The Royal Hillsborough village shops will be opening late that night too! There are so many gems in Royal Hillsborough with its treasure trove of independent shops, enchanting pubs and restaurants.

Don't miss out on the chance to experience the magic of Christmas in Royal Hillsborough.

When: Friday 8th December

Time: 3pm-9pm

Place: In the heart of Royal Hillsborough village along The Dark Walk at Hillsborough Fort

Parking: Hillsborough Forest Car Park, Beechlawn School, Ballynahinch St car park.

Payments: Most vendors accept card payments but not all.

Full list of traders

Aggie & I Soy Candles
Alison Hanvey Ceramics
Ann Feely Artist
Autumn Harvest
B Blane Designs
Ballylisk of Armagh
Barkelicious Bakes
Chala Chai
Cohen & Co
Crawfords Rock Ltd
Dandelions Jewellery
Deli Muru
Fiddle Fig
Gemma Marie - Fine Art
Gold & Browne's
Gracehill Flower
Habanero Steve's
Hup Street Food
In The Mix
Indie Füde
Indie Fude Raclette
Jack's Fudge
Jackson Roze
Kerrie Illustrates
Kin & Folk
Little Popcorn Shop
Little Love NI
Live Life Social Enterprises
Loki's Coffee
Marshall Beekeeping
Monday's Child
Monto Chocolates
Moon Gelato
Mrs R’ganics
Pig Out
Pizza Table
Plumpy Balms
Rabbit and Lark
Refuge Chocolate
Reuben's Rural Crafts
Rosie McNeill Cakes
Ruth Osborne Art
Sarah & Mart’s Art
Seaside Books
Seaview Farm
Seven Makes
Solas Irish Craft
The Curious Farmer
The Curly Pigs
The Daily Apron
The Gardeners Kitchen
The Ink Jar
The Local
The Oystercatcher
Thomas Powell Pottery
Tom and Ollie
Tori’s Coffee bakes and cakes
Wendy Ward Design
Wild Shore

Keep an eye on our social media for updates nearer the time. 

List correct at time of publishing.