Airfield Estate Christmas Experience

http://www.airfield.ie/events/christmas-experience-2016/ 

Airfield Estate is one of the best days out in Dublin featuring one of the top places to eat too. Now they have combined all that makes it great and added in a wonderful Christmas experience.

• Activities with Santa’s Elves in the magical teepees, including posting a letter to Santa
• 30-minute group visit with Santa at Airfield House, enjoying story-telling and a Santa gift.
• Make and enjoy a delicious Christmas treat in the Elves’ kitchen
• Meet Airfield’s newest animal arrivals
• Enjoy a complimentary hot chocolate or mulled wine as you browse and shop at Airfield’s Christmas Market
• Take a magical trip around the Estate
• Optional Photo Opportunity in Santa’s sleigh- The perfect white Christmas photo (€10 for a photo, €5 for a reprint)

Winter Wonderland at Westport House

http://www.westporthouse.ie/event/winter-wonderland/

Winter Wonderland at Westport House is a magical family experience brimming with Christmas cheer that will leave the kids starry-eyed and the whole family believing in fairy-tales!

Escape the wintry weather outside for the warmth of our cosy open fires in this stunning historic house. Parents will be welcomed with a delicious glass of mulled wine and kids will enjoy a tasty juice while soaking up the twinkling lights, lush green garlands and tinsel trimmings spilling festively from every corner of Westport House.

Causey Farm - Causey Christmas Experience

http://www.causey.ie/causey-events/causey-christmas-experience

Causey Farm is situated between Kells and Navan not far from the M3. It is a working farm that specialises in educational group trips but over the last few years has extended into children’s entertainment.

One of their most popular events is the Causey Christmas Experience. The trip takes up to 90 minutes and is filled with lots of fun and wonder.

Each shed has a different theme and the group moves through the scenes including visiting Mrs Clause, the stable in Bethlehem, the workshop and finally Santa’s parlour, who makes an entrance your children will never forget!

Tayto Park - Christmas at Tayto Park 

http://www.taytopark.ie/events/visit-santa-this-christmas

A little bit of the North Pole will be coming to Tayto Park, and Santa is hoping to see all of you there in plenty of time to tell him what you would like for Christmas

• Tayto Park Entry
• Each family will meet Santa individually and each child will get a special gift
• Christmas Story Telling
• Ride on The Grand Carousel
• Experience the 5D Polar Express movie
• Hop on board the train to visit Santa's Grotto
• Enjoy Christmas themed arts/crafts and face painting

Christmas at Tayto is great if you are already a member as you only have to pay for the kids but is still good value if you are lucky enough to be able to spend the day in the park as most of the attractions will be open with special discount rates on wristband.

Aillwee Cave - Santa’s Workshop

http://www.aillweecave.ie/santas-workshop

One of Ireland’s oldest caves is located in the heart of the Burren and provides the location for a magical Santa experience.

Visitors have plenty of things to do; a Santa train will take you to the Birds of Prey Centre, there is face painting, a puppet show, games and the award winning Farm Shop until it is your turn to enter the cave.

Santa’s elves will guide the family through the cave until you meet Santa who has a personalised greeting for every child. An unforgettable experience.

Steam Trains Ireland - Santa Special

http://www.steamtrainsireland.com/events/#santadublin

Every year the Royal Preservation Society of Ireland runs the Santa Special steam train in Dublin. It is a return journey of about two hours from Connolly to Greystones with plenty of fun and a special visit from the man in red.

The kids love being on an old steam train and the visit of Santa makes it all the more special. They do run some Diesel ones that are less popular but as it is only run over three weekends the steam train trips do book early.

The RPSI is an entirely volunteer-run society with people giving up their free time to operate the trains. It is well worth the hassle if you are lucky enough to find tickets.

Bunratty Castle - Santa at Bunratty

http://www.shannonheritage.com/Events/AnnualEvents/SantaatBunratty/

The castle tour itself is a brilliant day out but when combined with the festival atmosphere in the Bunratty Folk Park it makes for a truly wonderful Christmas experience. The folk park has a traditional village setting and all the houses have a different theme.

One has a storyteller recalling some fantastic Christmas tales, another has Mrs. Claus preparing for Santa’s big trip, there is a puppet show and you might also bump into some brilliant characters on the streets outside - be careful of Scrooge though!

And, of course, the kids get to meet Santa and his elves in his Grotto. Give yourselves at least an hour for the Folk park and wear warm clothes. Stay in the Bunratty Castle Hotel across the road and combine it with a visit to the castle for a fantastic Santa experience.