Thousands gathered for Armagh’s annual Georgian Festival as it celebrated its milestone 20th year, marking the start of Northern Ireland’s festive season. The festival embraced the city’s rich history and Georgian heritage with a variety of events, performances and activities, drawing an impressive turnout and making it one of the city’s most successful festivals to date.
The Georgian Weekend has become a beloved tradition, providing a major boost to local businesses. The festival’s artisan market, which took place on Georgian Day Saturday, November 30, featured more than 130 stalls selling high-quality crafts, gifts, food and seasonal products. This makes it one of the largest markets on the island, attracting visitors from across Ireland, the UK and beyond. The bustling marketplace, filled with traditional crafts, offerings from Armagh’s independent retailers and food stalls, was a hit, with live music and performances adding to the lively atmosphere.
Deputy Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Cllr Kyle Savage, expressed his pride in the event, saying, “We are thrilled with the incredible success of this year’s Georgian Festival as we celebrated 20 years of what has become a key cornerstone of Armagh’s cultural calendar. The impressive range of activities, along with the electric atmosphere it brings to the city, is something we’re all extremely proud of.
“Through the work of the local Council team, along with our artists, performers, retailers and artisans, we created once again an event that was able to bring the local community together, whilst also welcoming visitors to enjoy the rich heritage and history of Armagh and its surrounding areas.”
Once again, the festival’s acclaimed “It’s a Holly Jolly Christmas” Light Show, which ran on Friday and Saturday night, was a highlight of the weekend, attracting 16,000 visitors alone across both nights. While historic buildings across Armagh such as the Archbishop’s Palace opened for guided tours, letting visitors explore the city’s interesting past and learn about important Georgian figures.
Originally launched in 2004 as a one-day market by a team of local retailers, the Georgian Festival has since evolved into the renowned four-day celebration known to most today.
Next year’s Georgian Festival will take place from Thursday, 27th November to Sunday, 30th November 2025.
For more information head to visitarmagh.com/georgian
