Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund transformed Warrenpoint Municipal Park on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 December 2021, to host two special enchanted winter evenings.
Visitors embraced the festive spirit, strolling through the Park amidst illuminated paths, viewing reindeers, penguins and ducks, who made the Park their home for the two evenings. Christmas trees were decorated by the Park’s community neighbours, St Joseph’s Nursing Home, Seaview Nursery, Puzzles Play Group, Seafort House and Warrenpoint Art Group.
Family entertainment included fire jugglers, hula hoop and butterfly wing performers along with Christmas Elves that provided sweet treats for the children.
Visitors took the perfect Christmas selfie inside the decorated Christmas igloos, even family pets lay in front of the Christmas tree to secure the perfect pooch photo!
The majestic Bandstand provided the stage for festive carols presented by Warrenpoint Silver Band, St Peter’s Silver Band, The Cloughmore Male Voice Choir and Kilbroney Bell Ringers. Amy Smyth and Sophie Sloan, students from St Mark’s High School, continued the entertainment with their beautiful singing.
Members of Warrenpoint Youth Forum were kept busy providing festive arts and craft activities, while the wall of the Whistledown Hotel acted as the backdrop to showcase their digital work, a video featuring collective memories and photographs from local families who have enjoyed Warrenpoint Municipal Park through the generations. The video highlighting the “then and now” of the park was produced by the Warenpoint Youth Forum in partnership with the Education Authorities Creative Arts and Digital Innovators (CADI)
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Cathy Mason along with Deputy Chairperson, Councillor Oonagh Magennis, were in attendance to support the collection effort for the Chairperson’s chosen charity, Caring Coins. Local Councillors also volunteered to help Caring Coins during the event and over £1,250 was raised.
Councillor Cathy Mason said, “I wanted to provide a local charity with the opportunity to raise much needed funds for vulnerable families across our district at Christmas. I became aware of the Caring Coins Christmas Appeal 2021 and was delighted to meet with Caring Coins Association founders Kerrie Haven and Yvonne Campbell to understand more about their Christmas Appeal, the event in Warrenpoint Municipal Park was a perfect opportunity for Council to support the ongoing much needed charity work of Caring Coins”.
The Warrenpoint Municipal Park team would like to thank the musical performers, community groups, staff, volunteers, and suppliers who contributed to making the event such a success and wish every visitor to Warrenpoint Municipal Park a happy Christmas and peaceful New Year.
