This year we have more festive events than ever, including a two day Eco Craft Market, concerts, themed tours, and of course visits to Santa Claus. From the beginning of December our festive displays will be up – the giant wreaths and Christmas tree in the Visitor Centre and Santa’s coniferous cavern at the back of the Great Palm House, resplendent with twinkling lights.

This year the Christmas Market organisers are making a special effort to keep waste to a minimum. There will be more than seventy stalls each day, with an emphasis on local produce and handmade reusable wares. Expect to see some interesting demos, such as Seal Rescue Ireland showing how to make eco-bricks. On Saturday 14th December one of Ireland’s best-loved vocal ensembles, 4 in a Bar, will perform seasonal favourites including their new ‘Festival of Carols in Two Minutes’. On Sunday 15th December we will welcome back the CORús choir who will sing Christmas carols and pop favourites for all the family at 2pm and 3.15pm. These concerts take place in the Visitor Centre and are free of charge but please note that we have limited capacity so you may need to wait for entry. Visits to Santa and his helpers will also take place on Sunday. Santa looks forward to his visit to the Botanic Gardens each year and in keeping with our ethos he is delighted to present each child with a small potted plant as a gift. These visits are free of charge. Please bear in mind that it is a very popular event so there will be a queue to see Santa. We would like to encourage our visitors to avail of public transport or walk to the Botanic Gardens where possible as we have limited parking (especially on busy weekends) and it is better for the environment.

Searching for the perfect Christmas gift for friends or family? Check out our Eco Christmas Market for handcrafted goodies or take a look at our Eventbrite page to see if there are tickets to workshops, concerts, tours, or other events of interest.

Here is a list of festive events at the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland this year. All of these take place at the Glasnevin site. For further details see our Calendar page or contact us.

DAILY GUIDED WALKS: Seasonal Plants in the Gardens
Brighten up your December day with a guided tour of our seasonal plants looking their best. View the tropical rhododendrons and poinsettia in the glasshouses and venture outdoors to see some of our finest conifers.
Monday – Saturday 11.30am and 3.00pm, €5 per person
Sundays 12.00pm and 2.30pm, free of charge

Sunday 1st December
CONCERT: 4 in a Bar
Welcoming in the Christmas Cheer on the first day of Advent, much loved and award winning vocal harmony group 4inaBar will take us through a range of periods and countries such as Renaissance Spain, Baroque Germany, the U.K. and of course Ireland with plenty of Christmas favourites; crooner classics by the fireside and songs for the kids. All wrapped in a bow of good humoured banter and craic for adults and children alike!
2.30pm. Booking: https://www.eventbrite.ie/o/kendu-music-17247169953

 Sunday 1st December
ADULT’S WORKSHOP: Eco Christmas Crafts
Are you dreaming of a green Christmas? Make your own unique eco-conscious gifts with biodegradable, seed infused paper. Using recycled materials each gift can be planted to give a wonderful growing present.
11.00am – 1.00pm. €5 per person. Booking essential. Call (01) 804 0319/ 857 0909 or email botanicgardens@opw.ie

 Wednesday 4th December
FLOWER ARRANGING: It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas
Roisin Graham is an experienced flower arranging teacher and demonstrator. Inspired by nature and conscious of the environment her designs are influenced by a desire to reduce, reuse and recycle. Enjoy a glass of wine and mince pie at the pre-demonstration reception.
Advance booking is essential. Cost: €20 (includes wine reception). Limited tickets available – call (01) 804 0319/ 857 0909 or email botanicgardens@opw.ie
7.00pm Wine Reception

Saturdays 7th, 14th & 21st December
THEMED GUIDED TOUR: Festive Winter Plants
Explore the traditions surrounding some of our favourite festive plants – from kissing under the mistletoe and chestnuts roasting on an open fire, to the symbolism of the yew at the winter solstice and the burning of the yule log.
2.30pm. Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre
€5 per person. Booking: http://nationalbotanicgardensofireland.eventbrite.com

Saturday 7th December
CHILDREN’S EVENT: Eco Crafts
Help spread beauty and prevent waste this Christmas by making your own plantable eco-friendly cards with recycled and natural materials. Using biodegradable seed infused paper, these cards will keep giving long after Christmas.
6-8 years 11.00am – 12.00pm, 8 years & over 2.00pm – 3.00pm
€5 per child. Booking essential. Call (01) 804 0319/ 857 0909 or email botanicgardens@opw.ie

Sunday 8th December
ADULT WORKHSOP: Create your own Macramé Plant Hanger
Join us for an afternoon of craft to learn basic macramé knotting techniques and bring home your own bohemian style plant hanger.
11.00am. €55 per person
Booking essential: https://planthangerworkshopbotanicgardens.eventbrite.ie

Sunday 8th December
CONCERT: Contempo Quartet
Multi award winning and virtuoso quartet ConTempo Quartet will with Baroque composer, A. Corelli’s Concerto Grosso in G minor Op.6 no.8 commonly known as the Christmas Concerto.
For young and old alike they will also perform Howard Blake’s music score set to the children’s picture book, The Snowman by English author Raymond Briggs. The story will be narrated by journalist and historian Dr Martin Alioth.
2.30pm. Booking: https://www.contempo&corelli.eventbrite.ie

Saturday 14th  and Sunday 15th December
CELEBRATING A SUSTAINABLE CHRISTMAS AT GLASNEVIN: Santa, Christmas Eco Craft Market, & much more
Savour the festive atmosphere as you listen to our live choirs and view our giant Christmas tree and handmade wreaths. Fill your bags with locally handcrafted goodies from our Christmas Eco Craft Market. This year the market will boast over 70 gorgeous stalls brimming with food and sustainable gift ideas. Kids can experience the magic of Christmas with a free visit to Santa and his helpers on Sunday afternoon.

In addition we will have special free performances and demonstrations:

On Saturday 14 December at 12pm champions of vocal harmony 4 in a Bar will perform. At 1pm Seal Rescue Ireland will demonstrate how to make eco brick and at 2.30pm the Met Éireann choir the Isobars will sing.

On Sunday 15 December at 12.30pm there will be another opportunity to see the Seal Rescue Ireland eco brick demonstration. From 1.30pm Santa Claus will receive visitors. Please pick up your tickets (free of charge) from the Visitor Centre reception. At 2pm and again at 3.15pm the CORús choir will sing Christmas carols and festive hits.

The Christmas Market is open Saturday and Sunday from 10am-4.30pm. Visits to Santa run from 1.30pm on Sunday only. Visits to Santa are ticketed – free tickets are available only on Sunday 15th December at the Education & Visitor Centre.

Christmas Opening Hours:
The National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, will be closed on Wednesday 25 December, Christmas Day. The Visitor Centre including the Garden Tearooms will be closed on Tuesday 24, Wednesday 25, Thursday 26, Friday 27 December but you are still free to walk in the gardens and glasshouses. The car park at the National Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh, will be closed on Wednesday 25 December, Christmas Day, but the gardens will remain open to pedestrians. The Acton Café will be open from 9.30am – 2pm on Tuesday 24 December and will close on Wednesday 25 December and Wednesday 1 January 2020.

Saturday 28th December – Wednesday 1st January
THEMED GUIDED WALK: Old Roots New Shoots
Step into the New Year & enliven your senses with a brisk walk through the historic Gardens. Brush away the cobwebs & reconnect to your surroundings as we travel through Dublin’s Botanical oasis. It is the ideal way to wrap up one year & welcome the next.
2.30pm. Meet at the Education & Visitor Centre
€5 per person. Booking: http://nationalbotanicgardensofireland.eventbrite.com