Christmas

Children on stage after taking part in the Elf Parade to Culmore Hub for Festive Singing and the Christmas Lights Switch On. (Photo - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)

IN PICS: Elf Parade and Christmas Lights Switch on in Culmore

Local celebrity Mickey Doherty with Santa and his Elf, surrounded by shoppers at Richmond Centre on Saturday. (Photo - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)

IN PICS: Santa Claus arrives and Shrek The Musical at Richmond Centre

A busy main hall at the Guildhall Craft & Artisan Food Fair. (Photo - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)

Guildhall Craft Fair opens as Derry's festive season begins

Fashion and homeware feature in TK Maxx’s Christmas campaign. We set out to find three gifts for £50, including delivery.

Three TK Maxx Christmas gifts for £50 with 4p to spare

Crowds gathered as Santa arrives at Foyleside Shopping Centre. (Photo - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)

IN PICS: Santa Claus and friends arrive at Foyleside

I found the best pet advent calendars for Christmas 2026, including dog treats and 24 days of cat toys

The best dog and cat advent calendars to buy for Christmas 2026

If putting your Christmas tree up in November makes you happy, go for it.

What's the harm in a little early Christmas cheer?

Jo Malone London's Pine & Eucalyptus Scented Candle captures the magic of Christmas with its fresh, uplifting fragrance and elegant festive presentation.

Five gorgeous Jo Malone London candles for Christmas

Tempting Christmas gift collections from Cartwright & Butler and Prestige Hampers, packed with festive treats, sweet indulgences and savoury favourites.

Luxury Christmas hampers packed with festive surprises

Forget chocolate, this Topps Match Attax advent calendar is the Christmas countdown football fans will love

The Match Attax advent calendar football fans will love

Santa pictured at Amelia Court in Steelstown during a previous Christmas lights display by residents. Photo: George Sweeney

Amelia Court set to shine brighter than ever this Christmas

Families have the chance to see Santa in Lapland

‘Bucket-list trip’ to see Santa Claus and Northern Lights in Lapland

Fit for a treasure chest: Hourglass's dazzling limited-edition palettes are every bit as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside.

Hourglass's limited-edition makeup palettes are flying off the shelves

These holidays have everything you need for a festive getaway

Family Christmas holidays from £179 with Santa visits and festive fun

The Cricut crafting machine that could turn a hobby into a business and it does more than just stickers

The Cricut is topping Christmas wish lists, and it's easy to see why

Christmas gift ideas from Olaplex, Hourglass, Sweaty Betty, Hunter and Neal’s Yard Remedies, with beauty, fragrance and pampering treats for under the tree.

40 best Christmas gifts for 2026 from just £2.99
From £2.99 stocking fillers and Secret Santa ideas to luxury beauty, cosy gifts and presents for hard-to-buy-for men and women, these are 40 Christmas gifts worth considering in 2026.
Julie Bayley

Have a cracking Christmas! Boots has launched three giant beauty crackers – Joy, Magic and Cheer – each costing £25 and packed with six beauty treats worth over £70.

Boots unveils £25 beauty crackers worth over £70

The e.l.f. Christmas gift sets I'd pick for beauty lovers this year and prices start from just £15

e.l.f. has a range of Christmas gift sets for beauty lovers

Young Driver sessions are available on Wowcher

Discounts on driving experiences for teens ahead of Christmas

Deals site Wowcher and Jet2CityBreaks have deals on trips to Christmas markets in Europe

Trips to gorgeous European Christmas markets under £100

Cars available to drive include the Lamborghini Gallardo and many more

Lamborghini, Ferrari and Aston Martin supercar driving experiences

The American Golf Luxury Advent Calendar features 24 days of golfing treats, including balls, tees, accessories and more, all presented in festive red, white and blue packaging.

American Golf's £129 luxury advent calendar is a golfer's dream

Annette Harkin with her daughter Melissa.

Annette and family spreading Christmas joy

Separate switch-ons will be held in Derry and Strabane.

Christmas Light switch-ons for children with additional needs

A previous Cathedral Quarter Christmas Market. (Cathedral Quarter Derry FB)

Cathedral Quarter Christmas Market for Pump Street

Get your order in now for Christmas turkeys - and save some money if you have a Nectar carda

Sainsbury's Christmas food orders are live and turkey starts at £7.20

Ready for a mince pie? 'Tis the season to complain about Christmas arriving early

Half-price mince pies make an early Christmas taste test tempting
An autumn tea break could take a festive turn with a supermarket offer that makes starting mince pie season early rather tempting
Gareth Butterfield

Sandra Duffy

Council to consider autism and SEN-friendly Christmas tree light switch-on

Dermalogica’s limited-edition 2026 Advent Calendar features 24 days of skincare treats, with a mix of bestselling favourites and skin essentials.

Dermalogica's £546 advent calendar is here - and it's yours for £229

Containers in front of the former Convent of Mercy building on Pump Street.

Pump Street Christmas market to be explored

Passengers can visit Santa Claus village, help the elves in the workshop, and have private meeting with Santa Claus himself.

New City of Derry to Lapland charter

Chief Superintendent Sam Donaldson

Christmas drink and drug driving arrests in Derry/Strabane dropped by 43%

OK, so it might be January - but you can make Christmas 2026 truly sparkle by snapping up this clearance deal

This artificial tree is just £15 in an incredible post-Christmas sale

Christmas Day Swim at Ludden Beach, Buncrana, in support of children’s eye cancer. (Photo - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)

27 fantastic photos of Derry locals taking Christmas Day dips for charity

From a hairdresser’s point of view, this week is actually gold.

The quietest hair week of the year

St. Joes Xmas Visit.

‘Letters of Festive Cheer’ to Senior Residents from St. Joseph’s Boys

Derry City and Strabane District Council has expressed disappointment that the reindeer decoration located in Guildhall Square has had to be removed following an act of vandalism over Christmas.

'Extremely disappointing' vandalism forces removal of Derry Christmas reindeer

Guests enjoying the festivities.

IN PICS: Galliagh Senior Citizens Christmas Party in St. Paul’s PS

Christmas Parties 2005: Pitchers.

IN PICTURES: Christmas parties December 2005

Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding parents and guardians that following safer sleep advice is essential to reduce the risk of sudden infant death.

PHA highlights dangers of unsafe sleep as winter increases risks for infants

The last week of 2025 with the family. I’m planning on having no plans.

After the festive buzz it’s the quiet moments you remember

WINNERS!. . . .Irish Dancers Ben Farren and Ryan Sheerin, receiving their winner's prize from Mrs. Caroline McLaughlin at the St. Columb's Got Talent contest at on Wednesday night. : .

22 smashing photographs as college boys show off talent at Christmas show

A big round of applause for the Year 13 Rock Band, pictured on stage with compere David James.

St. Columb’s ‘rocks’ as college boys showcase talent with Christmas performance

Chloe Ryan and Daniel Wade (4) from Derry with Gemma Bradley and Daithi McKinney (5) from Derry.

Children from Derry enjoy magical trip to Lapland to meet Santa Claus

Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Rt. Rev. Andrew Forster

Bishop Forster: Like the Magi many of us are on a quest for something deeper

Members of the St Eugene's Cathedral Choir lead the singing of Christmas in the cathedral on Sunday afternoon. Photo: George Sweeney

IN PICTURES: Christmas Carols at St Eugene's Cathedral

Bishop-elect Niall Coll.

Bishop Niall Coll: Christmas still speaks in Ireland, even when faith is muted

Michelle Kosky, Healing Hearts, Foyle Hospice, Michael Blee, Grainne Maguire, Aoibheann Maguire, Ciaran Maguire, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Sinn Fein Cllr Ruairí McHugh, Donall Henderson, Chief Executive, Foyle Hospice, & Annmarie Casey, Nursing Director, Foyle Hospice, pictured during the Foyle Hospice Lights of Love Annual Ceremony.

Foyle Hospice Lights of Love ceremony honours memory of loved ones in Derry

Cosori smart meat thermometer is sold on Amazon

Cosori smart meat thermometer review – a Christmas lifesaver (aff)

Maggie's Tavern Tractor Run.

St Johnston community supports Maggie’s Tavern Santa Tractor Run

DAVENTRY, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 16: A worker wears a Santa hat as some of the millions of items pass though the Royal Mail Midlands 'Super Hub' and the automated centre sorts and sifts parcels and packages for Christmas delivery on December 16, 2024 in Daventry, England. The Royal Mail's 'super hub' in Daventry spans 53 acres, and can process up to 90,000 items of mail per hour, with each parcel taking only seven minutes to be run through the system. On the site's busiest day of the year, December 18, the organisation expects to deliver over 35 million letters and over nine million parcels to addresses around the UK. Today it was announced that the sale of the Royal Mail's parent company to a Czech billionaire, Daniel Kretinsky, was approved by the government. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Concerns raised over Derry letter and package delays

The City of Derry Airport team with representatives from St Vincent De Paul.

CODA's Christmas donation to St Vincent de Paul and Salvation Army

2018: Declan Moore (right), Claude's Cafe with Molly Moore, Sophie Moore and Dermot O’Donnell. DER5118GS013

Claude's embracing the spirit of the season - View from the Foyle

Mosaic: Connor Young, Ronan Sneddon and Eoin Simpson. On Monday, December 22, 2025, Mosaic hosts its biggest show to date at Sandinos, Derry, welcoming Irish favourite Spray.

Sandinos to host a 'Christmas cracker of a night' with international DJ Spray

Gearalt Ó Mianáin and Laoise Ní Mhianáin presenting a donation of sweets and selection boxes to Children’s Ward staff Sr Caroline Phelan, Karen and Shauna.

Kind donation of sweets and selection boxes to Children’s Ward at Altnagelvin

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