Now is the perfect time to shop for presents at your leisure

IT’S BEGINNING to look a lot like Christmas and with everything you need for a fantastic festive season right on your doorstep, there’s every reason to shop local in Arklow this December.

With a broad range of retailers offering a great range of products – not to mention a selection of coffee shops, restaurants and bars where you can stop off and refuel the batteries – Arklow truly has it all. And with free parking in council-owned car parks until Monday, January 2 (limited to two hours on the Main Street), there’s no better time to browse and buy in the town.

Whether you’re looking for toys, clothes, books, giftsets or hampers, finding that perfect gift is easy thanks to the great selection of retailers in Arklow. Likewise, getting all the trimmings for a delicious Christmas dinner is a piece of (Christmas) cake, thanks to the local shops, supermarkets, butchers and fresh veg stores trading in the town.

After a year of hard work, employees from Arklow and beyond will be letting their hair down in some of the town’s many hostelries at their office Christmas parties during December while others will be making the most of the festive season to meet up with friends for a catch-up drink down the local.

This year, December is extra special in Arklow thanks to the Christmas festival which is now well under way. Up coming events this week include a tree lighting ceremony at Arklow Library on Friday evening to mark the library’s first Christmas and a family-friendly festive festival from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday. Among the events taking place on Saturday will be a craft fair, mini funfair and live crib all day, a Christmas jumper competition from noon to 4.30 p.m., an Arklow Majorettes display from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., a busking competition from noon to 5 p.m. and a recital by Inbhear Mor Performance Ensemble from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information on the Arklow Christmas Festival, visit their Facebook page.