Antrim Castle Gardens Enchanted Winter Garden: we go along on the opening night to see if it lives up to its 'most dazzling year ever' promise
Families from far and wide have included a visit to the Enchanted Winter Garden in Antrim in their pre-Christmas celebrations for many years.
Making memories at the magical illuminated wonderland at Antrim Castle Gardens has become something of a ‘must do’ activity, like going to see Santa or a trip to the pantomime.
In fact, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, which presents the event, has responded to its growing popularity by staging it for an additional four nights this year.
The council said this year’s Enchanted Winter Garden would be “its most dazzling year yet” so we were keen to see if it lives up to the expectation.
We had visited the festive attraction on previous years and wanted to find out if much has changed or even if the magic has faded.
However, we certainly weren’t disappointed when we went along on the first night – instead we were very impressed with what we found.
After taking those first steps through the entrance at the beautifully decorated Barbican Gate in Antrim town centre, there’s still a definite air of excitement to what lies ahead even if you have been before. Children especially will be full of wonder at the welcome area – a popular spot for some memorable photos – before heading towards the beautiful illuminations.
Right from the start we realised that anyone who has been to the Enchanted Winter Garden in other years needn’t worry about having seen it all before. A variety of brand new insallations, a brilliant light show and different layouts ensure that previous visitors won’t be at all disappointed.
One of the brand new features is the quite mesmerising Enchanted Tree Choir, where characters Rowan, Holly, Magnolia and Ash light up and come to life on the trees, singing together while they practice for a big concert.
At such an event everyone wants to capture those picture-perfect moments, especially if you have children on tow. There are no shortage of spots as you make your way through the Wonderland Wood, The Twinkling Terrace, The Fantasy Forest, Shimmering Stream, Mystic Shallows and the Glittering Grove.
Antrim Castle Gardens is a fine place for a walk any time of year, but transformed into the Enchanted Winter Garden it really is a magical place to visit.
As in previous years, we found that there was plenty for all ages to enjoy, from fun-loving families with children to young people having a great night out together as well as couples and singles enjoying a stroll through the twinkling landscape.
It was also lovely to see that quite a number of people had brought along their well-behaved dogs on leads along too, some even dressed up in their festive outfits.
There are also new funfair rides to entertain both the little and big kids and as always, the sparkling Giant Wheel is an eye-catching way to find your bearings around the gardens. It’s also great for taking in a relaxing bird’s eye view of the winter wonderland beneath and soaking up the atmosphere.
The Festive Food Fayre is a popular area, with outlets offering a variety of food to suit all tastes from gourmet bites and Christmas chips to toasted marshmallows and spiced hot drinks. There’s also a large picnic-style seating area where you can watch some of the funfair rides like the dodgems and the Avalanche in action while enjoying your food.
For little ones, Santa is in his grotto just waiting to hear all those Christmas wishes until December 23. After Christmas, when Santa heads home for a well-earned rest, his grotto will be taken over by The Grinch from December 27 to December 30.
The Enchanted Winter Garden will be open to Tuesday, December 30, with Inclusive Evenings on December 4 and 10, offering reduced lighting, sound levels and a relaxed environment for visitors with additional needs.
Tickets are £15.50 for an adult, £10.50 for a child between two and 17 years (children under the age of two go free) and £46.50 for a family ticket, with tokens purchased separately for rides and attractions. To make your money go further, you can pre-buy a £10 bag of tokens for the various rides and get 12 for the price of 10. Discounted ticket price rates apply to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough residents.
For more information or to purchase tickets visit enchantedwintergardens.com
There is no parking available on-site. However, there are public parking facilities in Antrim town centre and a free shuttle bus service from The Junction to the event entrance.
So, does the Enchanted Winter Garden live up to its 'most dazzling year ever' promise? Yes, having been there many times before I’d say it definitely does!
Wrap up warmly, wear sensible footwear that you don’t mind perhaps getting a little messy, and you’ll find it’s a great way to get into the festive mood.