Christmas · Family · West Belfast Colin Glen Forest Park
Colin Glen Festive Forest
A twinkling Christmas walk through the woods each December — Santa's grotto, the Jingle Bell Train, s'mores by the fire and hot chocolate to keep warm.
Each December, the woods at Colin Glen light up for Christmas — a twinkling forest walk, Santa waiting in his grotto, and s'mores toasting over the fire just minutes from Belfast city centre.
What it is — the Festive Forest is Colin Glen's Christmas experience: a magical, lantern-and-fairy-light walk through the trees, packed with festive activities and a proper visit to Father Christmas. It runs on selected days through December in the run-up to the big day.
Meet Santa — every child gets time in Santa's grotto to say hello to the man himself and comes away with a selection box. It's the warm, unhurried Santa visit families come back for year after year.
The festive fun — hop aboard the Jingle Bell Train, toast s'mores over the fire and warm your hands round a hot chocolate. Winter rides like the Polar Coaster and the Reindeer Run zipline can be added on for a bit more thrill.
Where — Colin Glen Forest Park in west Belfast, a 200-acre wooded park that's Ireland's leading adventure park, home to the official Gruffalo Trail and Alpine coaster. The Festive Forest uses the Mountain entrance on Colinglen Road.
It's an all-weather outdoor event, so wrap up warm. Hats, gloves, wellies and cosy coats — the forest is beautiful in the frost, but it's proper cold December weather in the trees — whether you pick an afternoon or an after-dark slot — so dress everyone for the cold and it stays magical.
When to plan — dates and tickets are usually released in autumn, and the popular slots go quickly. Pencil in a December weekend, watch colinglen.org, and pre-book — walk-ups aren't the way in.
What's on
A forest full of Christmas
Here's the shape of a Festive Forest visit — the moments a family strings together on the walk through the woods.
🎅Santa's grottoA proper sit-down with Father Christmas in his cosy grotto — and every child heads off with a selection box.
✨Illuminated forest walkA twinkling trail through the trees, lit with warm lights and festive scenes — the heart of the whole evening.
🚂The Jingle Bell TrainA gentle ride through the festive forest for little ones, all bells and Christmas cheer.
🔥S'mores & hot chocolateToast marshmallows over an open fire and warm up with a hot chocolate — the cosiest stop on the walk.
🎢Polar CoasterColin Glen's Alpine coaster with a winter twist — an add-on for families who fancy a bit more thrill.
🦌Reindeer Run ziplineWhizz over the forest on a festive flight — another optional extra for the braver crew.
Plan your visit
How to do the Festive Forest
The Festive Forest runs afternoon and after-dark evening sessions, so the one thing to get right is simple: wrap everyone up warm. Think hats, gloves, thick coats and wellies — the frosty forest looks like a Christmas card, but it's proper December weather in the trees, and warm children are happy children. Book ahead, because time-slotted grotto sessions sell out well before Christmas; pick a weekend early and grab your tickets when they go on sale in autumn. Your ticket covers the walk, Santa and the core festive activities, while thrill rides like the Polar Coaster and Reindeer Run zipline are add-ons — worth checking what's bundled when you book. Arrive a touch early to soak up the lights, and leave time for a fireside s'more on the way round. It's a lovely, low-stress way to see Santa without the shopping-centre queue.
Dates and tickets are released in autumn — and they sell out.
Exact December 2026 dates and pricing go live on colinglen.org ahead of the season. The best weekend grotto slots go fast, so pre-book as soon as they're on sale rather than waiting.
Good to know
Everything before you go
When
Selected days through December each year, in the weeks before Christmas. The 2026 dates are released in autumn — watch colinglen.org.
Where
Colin Glen Forest Park, west Belfast, using the Mountain entrance at 28 Colinglen Road, BT17 0LR — just minutes from Belfast city centre.
What's included
The illuminated forest walk, Santa's grotto with a selection box, the Jingle Bell Train, s'mores and hot chocolate. Thrill rides are usually add-ons.
Cost
A ticketed event, priced per child and family. Add-on rides cost extra. Check the current pricing when booking.
Best for families
Younger children especially — it's built around meeting Santa and the wonder of a lit-up forest, with gentle rides and fireside treats.
Booking
Pre-book online through colinglen.org. Grotto slots are time-slotted and sell out, so book early.
Getting there
Drive to the Mountain entrance on Colinglen Road with on-site parking; the park sits minutes from the city centre in west Belfast.
Weather
An all-weather outdoor event — it runs rain or shine, so wrap up warm with hats, gloves and sturdy footwear.
Questions
The Festive Forest, answered
When is the Colin Glen Festive Forest 2026?
It runs on selected days through December, in the run-up to Christmas. The exact 2026 dates and tickets are released in autumn — check colinglen.org and book your slot early, as they sell out.
Do you meet Santa?
Yes — every child gets time in Santa's grotto to say hello to Father Christmas and comes away with a selection box. It's one of the warmest, least rushed Santa visits in Belfast.
Is it suitable for young children?
It's perfect for them. The illuminated forest walk, the Jingle Bell Train, Santa and the fireside s'mores are all built for little ones, with optional thrill rides for older kids who want more.
Do I need to book ahead?
Yes — pre-booking is essential. Grotto sessions are time-slotted and the popular weekend slots sell out well before Christmas, so book online as soon as tickets go on sale.
What should we wear?
It's an all-weather outdoor event in the forest, so wrap up warm: hats, gloves, thick coats and wellies or sturdy boots. The frost is part of the magic — just dress everyone for the cold.
Where exactly is it?
At Colin Glen Forest Park in west Belfast, using the Mountain entrance at 28 Colinglen Road, BT17 0LR — a 200-acre adventure park just minutes from Belfast city centre.
Getting there
The Festive Forest runs from Colin Glen's Mountain entrance at 28 Colinglen Road, Belfast BT17 0LR, with on-site parking. It's tucked into the hills of west Belfast but only minutes from the city centre, so it's an easy drive out for a festive evening. Check your booking confirmation for the right entrance and arrival time.
Colin Glen sits in the hills of west Belfast — 200 acres of forest that's grown into Ireland's leading adventure park, home to the country's only official Gruffalo Trail, an Alpine coaster, ziplines and high ropes. For most of the year it's the place families come to zip, climb and run wild in the trees. Then December arrives, the lights go up, and the same woods become the Festive Forest: a lit-up walk where the trail glows, the fires crackle, and Santa is waiting at the end of it.
For a family, it's one of the easiest festive wins of the season — Santa, a selection box, a gentle train ride and marshmallows over the fire, all wrapped in the wonder of a forest full of Christmas lights, minutes from the city. Wrap up warm, book your slot early, and go and make a magical winter memory together.