'Free Lisburn event' contributed to reduction in ticket sales for Antrim and Newtownabbey's flagship Christmas attraction, council told
Ticket sales for Enchanted Winter Garden were “down considerably” despite the event being extended last year, Antrim and Newtownabbey councillors have been told.
Commenting on a report presented to council’s Community Development Committee, last month, Ballyclare DUP Councillor Helen Magill asked about ticket sales income and why it was “down considerably”.
A previous committee report noted over 90,000 people attended the 2025 Enchanted Winter Garden, which for the first time, was extended into the period between Christmas and New Year and featured “more lighting displays and attractions than ever before”.
It said the council-run festive flagship event, which is held annually at Antrim Castle Gardens, is scheduled to take place throughout December this year with an admission price freeze.
The report also indicated last year’s event achieved an 87% satisfaction rating among visitors surveyed against a performance target of 80%.
Director of community and culture Ursula Fay commented: “As with all large-scale events, there is usually a combination of factors for variations in the performance.
“We actually think running the event between Christmas and New Year period did actually do quite well and created a different opportunity for people who are maybe so busy in the run-up to Christmas that they don’t get the opportunity to do such a family activity and the feedback was great.
“One of the key factors in terms of the reduction in ticket sales for Enchanted Winter Garden last year, we believe, is the fact that the Lisburn event quite nearby had a heavy television advertising campaign and is entirely free.
“It is not the same level or scale as our event but I think people are facing challenging times financially, so we think that was the main factor in reducing our ticket sales.
“We actually increased our income because we had agreed your approval for a slight ticket uplift for non-residents of this borough. The plan is to do something similar in 2026 for that event.”
In December 2024, it was estimated the Enchanted Winter Garden event generates £1.6m for the borough.
In 2022, councillors were told profits from the event during the next five years are required to help cover the cost of the ‘Clockwork Garden’ created by celebrity designer Diarmuid Gavin, at Antrim Castle Gardens, to mark Her late Majesty’s platinum jubilee.
Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter