Dublin is particularly magical in December. Christmas is in the air and the dark streets are lit up with bright lights and decorations. There’s a fabulous mood in town too, with Christmas parties, official and spontaneous, everywhere you look. There’s music, singing, fun and laughter all around you and you can’t help but smile in a city brimming with good cheer.
There’s so much to do in Dublin in December we found it hard to recommend just a few.
Nonetheless, here are our top picks for December in Dublin:
1. Santa Dash Dublin
On the afternoon of Saturday December 3rd, the Santa Dash will take place in Clontarf, by the sea. You can choose to run 5k or 10k and the organisers will give you a Santa suit to run in!
2. Elf at the Pavilion Theatre
The wonderful Pavilion Theatre in Dun Laoghiare will help the whole family get into the Christmas spirit with a screening of Will Ferrell’s Elf on December 17th at 2pm.
They are showing lots of other Christmas classics through December so make sure you check out their website for screening times.
3. National Concert Hall Christmas Concert
This year, the iconic National Concert Hall Christmas Concert, which features The Snowman, will take place on Friday 16th at 3.30pm and 6.00pm, Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th at 11.30am, 2.00pm, 4.30pm and 7.00pm.
4. Gaiety Panto
A true Dublin institution, the Christmas pantomime at the Gaiety Theatre this year is Robin Hood and his Merry Men. As always it will be a fantastic mix of song, dance and laughter.
5. Guinness Pro 12
Leinster is one of the best rugby teams in Europe and Dublin is their home.
If you like rugby, or any sports, get yourself along to the RDS and watch Leinster take on Welsh side Newport-Gwent Dragons on Saturday December 3rd at 7.35pm for the Guinness PRO12. Or see them play Northampton Saints in the European Champions Cup on the 17th or, on New Year’s Eve, Ulster.
6. Dublin Alternative Christmas Market
The Dublin Alternative Christmas Market is a fun, social, utterly different Christmas shopping experience. From gifts for the goth in your life to your favourite metalhead, retro lover or medieval man, it’s very, very different to your average market.
Browse crafts, music, clothing, food, art and a whole lot more.
7. Guinness Choir
On Sunday December 4th at 6.30pm, the simply brilliant Guinness Choir will perform their Christmas show in St Patrick’s Cathedral. This year they will be joined by a very special guest – legendary singer-songwriter Paul Brady.
8. Big The Musical
Yes it’s a musical based on that wonderful Tom Hanks movie Big.
Staged at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Big The Musical stars Jay McGuiness (The Wanted singer and Strictly Come Dancing champion) with Diana Vickers as Susan Lawrence, Gary Wilmot as George MacMillan and The Hoosiers star Irwin Sparkes as Paul.
9. 2FM Xmas Ball
Also on Saturday December 3rd is the 2FM Xmas Ball in the 3Arena down on the river. The concert is aid of the Irish Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and headliners Kodaline will be joined by Picture This, The Academic, All Tvvins, Brian Deady and Áine Cahill.
10. Gavin James
Gavin James will be performing to a packed 3Arena on Friday December 9th after an incredible year for the Dublin singer. The fiery-haired Irish man is one of our favourite singers to rise to fame in 2016 with his melodic songs helping to build a legion of new fans.
11. New Year’s Eve Festival
Billed as “the ultimate New Year’s Eve party”, this is an exciting citywide music and arts festival with three days of festivities in Dublin. The New Year’s Eve Festival starts on December 30th and runs right through to January 1st.
These are some of the great things to do in Dublin in December. If you’re planning a visit to the city or are just looking for things to do, follow us on Facebook for more suggestions and news.
