A mile of illuminated gardens after dark — light tunnels, glowing trees, singing trees, a giant wheel and a Santa's grotto in a four-hundred-year-old castle garden. Northern Ireland's biggest Christmas light experience.
What's on — a walk-through light trail of glowing installations, colour-changing tunnels and lit trees through the historic gardens, an Enchanted Tree Choir of singing trees, a funfair (giant wheel, carousel and more), a Santa's grotto, a festive food fayre and walkabout characters.
When — evenings from late November into late December 2026. The exact 2026 dates aren't out yet — it usually opens the last Friday of November and runs to about 30 December. Timed-entry slots; the trail closes at 9:30pm and takes 90 minutes to two hours.
Book ahead — it sells out. It's ticketed, with no gate tickets for sold-out slots and no waiting list. (In 2025 it was £15.50 adult, £10.50 child, under-2s free and £46.50 family — with a big Antrim & Newtownabbey resident discount; 2026 prices to be confirmed.)
Getting there — there's no on-site parking. Park in Antrim town centre or at The Junction and take the free park & ride shuttle to the Barbican Gate.
Accessibility — the paths suit some wheelchairs (not large buggies), mobility hire is available by appointment, and there are quieter "inclusive evenings" with lowered lights and sound and sensory spaces.
Wrap up warm — it's an outdoor trail on a winter evening, so dress warm and bring an umbrella. Dogs on leads are welcome.
What's on
A garden lit up from end to end
You follow the trail through the gardens after dark, from one lit-up world to the next. Here's what's waiting along the way.
✨The illuminated trailA walk-through path of light installations, glowing trees and colour-changing tunnels winding through themed zones — Wonderland Wood, the Fantasy Forest, the Twinkling Terrace and more — ending in a light show.
🌲The Enchanted Tree ChoirA headline set-piece: animated singing trees — Rowan, Holly, Magnolia and Ash — that perform together in the dark. A firm favourite with children.
🎡The funfairA giant wheel, a carousel, waltzer, teacups, dodgems and more, all lit up for the season — rides paid with tokens bought on the night.
🎅Santa's grottoThe Enchanted Grotto runs through December — and, in a nice twist, the Grinch takes it over for the last few nights after Santa heads back to the North Pole.
🍫Festive food fayreGourmet bites, "Christmas chips," toasted marshmallows and spiced hot drinks to warm you up along the trail.
🎭Walkabout charactersFestive characters and live entertainment roam the gardens through the evening, adding to the magic between the light displays.
Plan your visit
Booking, timing and getting there
It's a ticketed, timed-entry event, and it sells out — there are no gate tickets for sold-out slots and no waiting list, so book online ahead. The time on your ticket is your entry time; allow 90 minutes to two hours, and note the trail closes at 9:30pm. There's no on-site parking: park in Antrim town centre or at The Junction Retail & Leisure Park and take the free park & ride shuttle (roughly 4–10pm) to the Barbican Gate entrance on Market Square. Wrap up warm — it's an outdoor trail on a winter evening.
2026 dates and prices are still to be confirmed.
At the time of writing the 2026 dates and prices weren't published — expect it to open in late November and run to about 30 December, at prices similar to 2025 (which rose year on year). Check enchantedwintergarden.com for the confirmed 2026 dates, prices and inclusive-evening dates, and book early.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Dates & times
Evenings from late November to about 30 December 2026 (2026 dates to be confirmed). Timed-entry slots; the trail closes at 9:30pm and takes 90 minutes to two hours.
Cost
Ticketed and it sells out — book ahead. As a guide, 2025 was £15.50 adult, £10.50 child (2–17), under-2s free, £46.50 family, with a big Antrim & Newtownabbey resident discount. Funfair rides use tokens bought on the night. 2026 prices to be confirmed.
Where
Antrim Castle Gardens, entering at the Barbican Gate on Market Square in Antrim town centre (off the M2/M22).
Getting there
No on-site parking — park in Antrim town centre or at The Junction and use the free park & ride shuttle (about 4–10pm) to the Barbican Gate.
Accessibility
Paths suit some push wheelchairs but not large buggies; mobility scooters/wheelchairs hireable by appointment. Accessible toilets and a Changing Places facility at Clotworthy House. Quieter "inclusive evenings" run with lowered lighting and sound and sensory/quiet spaces.
Dogs
Welcome on leads at all times, and allowed on the shuttle buses.
Family
A wholesome all-ages festive night — the grotto, funfair, singing trees and characters are all geared to children.
Weather
An outdoor trail that runs in almost all weather (only extreme weather stops it) — dress warmly and bring an umbrella.
Questions
Enchanted Winter Garden, answered
When is the Enchanted Winter Garden 2026?
Evenings from late November into late December 2026 — the exact dates aren't published yet, but it usually opens the last Friday of November and runs to about 30 December. Check enchantedwintergarden.com for the confirmed dates.
Do I need to book?
Yes — it's ticketed with timed entry, and it sells out, with no gate tickets for sold-out slots and no waiting list. Book online in advance. Under-2s go free.
How much does it cost?
2026 prices aren't confirmed yet. As a guide, 2025 was £15.50 adult, £10.50 child (2–17), under-2s free and £46.50 family, with a big discount for Antrim & Newtownabbey residents. Funfair rides are extra, paid with tokens.
Where do I park?
There's no on-site parking. Park in Antrim town centre or at The Junction and take the free park & ride shuttle (about 4–10pm) to the Barbican Gate on Market Square.
Is it suitable for young children and buggies?
It's a lovely all-ages event with a grotto, funfair and singing trees. The paths suit some push wheelchairs but not large buggies, so a smaller stroller or a carrier is easier. There are also quieter "inclusive evenings" with lowered lights and sound.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes — dogs are welcome on leads at all times, and are allowed on the park & ride shuttle buses too.
Getting there
Antrim Castle Gardens, entering at the Barbican Gate, Market Square, Antrim (BT41), off the M2/M22. No on-site parking — park in the town centre or at The Junction and take the free park & ride shuttle to the gate.
The Enchanted Winter Garden has grown, over the last several years, into a beloved festive fixture — Northern Ireland's biggest Christmas light experience, with more than 90,000 tickets sold in a single recent season and extra nights added to keep up with demand. Every winter the gardens are transformed after dark into a mile-long world of light.
And the setting is the half of it. Antrim Castle Gardens are 17th-century Anglo-Dutch water gardens — one of only a handful of their kind left in the British Isles — laid out around a castle built in the 1610s, with formal canals, a cascade and clipped lime and hornbeam hedges. At their heart stands the restored Clotworthy House, now a café and visitor centre. It's a genuine piece of heritage, and on a winter's evening, glowing from end to end, it's pure magic. Wrap up, book ahead, and go and wander it.