Enniscorthy gearing up for an enchanted season
MORE than 750 overnight bed nights have been booked in advance for Santa’s Enchanted Castle which opens to the public in Enniscorthy Castle on Saturday, November 24.
This represents a substantial increase on last year and with almost 5,000 prebooked admission tickets already sold, Santa’s Enchanted Castle is proving the ultimate Christmas experience for both young and old alike.
It is estimated the Santa Castle Experience generates a huge increase in turnover for local restaurants, bars, cafes and retailers, not to mention local hotels, and with an anticipated 6,000 tourists expected to visit the town between November 24, and December 23, to experience for themselves and their families, can only be measured in increased commercial activity.
Due to the popularity of Santa’s Enchanted Castle and the phenomenal demand for admission tickets, a number of additional tour dates have been added to this year’s programme including November 24, the day the Christmas season in Enniscorthy will officially begin with the switching on of the town’s Christmas lights offering. The switch on traditionally marks the start of what promises to be a bumper festive season in Enniscorthy with local traders already reporting a substantial increase in pre- Christmas business.
Work on converting Enniscorthy Castle into a form of magical kingdom has been on-going for the past month and by the time Santa’s Enchanted Castle opens its doors to the public on Saturday next, November 24, it will have been transformed beyond even the most creative imagination. It will be a huge interactive experience for young children and the not so young also with the castle bringing to life all the magic of the festive season.
Visitors will adventure through the castle in the company of Santa’s Elves, a host of Disney Characters and other very special friends. They will be thrilled by the many themed rooms on each floor of the building, such as Beauty and the Beast’s Christmas Banquet, Elf University, Ice-Age, Under the Sea with the Little Mermaid and 100 Acre Wood to name but a few, which is home to the hibernating Winnie the Pooh.
Visitors will sample some yummy treats from Mrs Claus’ Traditional sweet shop before embarking on a private visit to the great man himself, Santa Claus in his specially prepared grotto near the top of the castle. There they will engage in conversation with Santa before posing for a special family photo on front of the magic mirror and before receiving a special present to take home as a token of Santa’s generosity.
With over 80% of all admission tickets now sold for the duration of Santa’s Enchanted Castle, would be visitors are strongly advised to book online at santasenchantedcastle.ie in order to avoid disappointment.
A new innovation this year is the introduction of Sensitive Santa Tours which are being made available on four dates between the official opening and the closing date of December 23 the sensitive tours will accommodate a maximum of eight children on each trip and they will be accompanied by a trained SNA and gentle characters during their visits. The Sensitive Tour dates are Sunday, November 25, Thursday, November 29, Thursday, December 6, and Tuesday, December 18,
The opening of Santa’s Enchanted Castle will co-inside with the switching on of the Christmas lights in Enniscorthy on next Saturday evening at 6 p.m. A full programme of entertainment is being planned and Santa will be paraded in a special sleadh from his home in the castle to the Market Square where the switching on ceremony will be broadcast. live on South East Radio.