ENNISKILLEN'S festive season officially began on Saturday with the much-anticipated annual Christmas Lights Switch-On event.

Hosted by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council in collaboration with Urban Events, the event themed ‘Once Upon a Christmas’ brought the town to life with a day filled with music, performances, and festive cheer.

The celebration kicked off at 1pm in The Diamond, where local bands St. Mary’s and Ballyreagh Silver Bands set a warm, inviting tone with lively Christmas tunes. They were followed by Aiden Scott-Brown, whose performances added to the growing excitement, signalling the start of a day that would soon be filled with Christmas magic.

From 3pm to 4pm, children and families were treated to face painting, while Buddy the Elf, Santa’s energetic Head Elf and the event’s cheerful compere, welcomed everyone to join in the festivities.

Buddy guided attendees through a whimsical journey around the world, introducing beloved fairytale characters who each shared unique holiday traditions from their home countries. Moana from Hawaii, Belle from France, and Anna and Elsa from Norway performed their iconic songs, delighting the audience with both storytelling and music.

The highlight of the afternoon arrived as the clock neared 5pm. With anticipation building, Santa Claus made his grand entrance, moving through the crowd to join Buddy on stage. Together, they led the eagerly awaited countdown to 5:30pm, when the Christmas lights illuminating Enniskillen’s streets were switched on, marking the official start of the town’s Christmas festivities.

Following the lights switch-on, families were invited to take photos with Santa by the Christmas tree, preserving the special moment. To close the evening, Destiny’s Elf girl band performed, adding an upbeat festive rhythm to the celebration with lively music until 5:45pm.