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Christmas Twinkle Trail

Shaftesbury Park, Carrickfergus, County Antrim, BT38 8SL
Christmas Twinkle Trail

About

Carrickfergus is about to twinkle!  Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is bringing festive magic to Shaftesbury Park with the first-ever Carrickfergus Christmas Twinkle Trail, running from Sunday 7 to Thursday 11 December, 4pm–8pm daily.

Perfect for young families, this gentle, glowing Christmas walk will transform the park into a sparkling wonderland, with illuminated features to explore and enjoy in the run-up to Christmas. Best of all, it’s free and no ticket is required!  Come along and make magical memories in Carrickfergus this Christmas!

Visitor guidelines:

• Children must be accompanied by an adult.

• No bikes, scooters, e-bikes, or e-scooters.

• No alcohol permitted.

• Dogs must be kept on a lead.

• CCTV and staff will monitor access to protect equipment.

This festive attraction is proudly funded by the Department for Communities and Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.

Please note: Shaftesbury Park will be closed from Wednesday 3 December to Saturday 6 December for installation and a special school launch event (by invitation only). 

Book Tickets

Guide Prices

Ticket TypeTicket Tariff
AdmissionFree

Note: Prices are a guide only and may change on a daily basis.

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Map & Directions

Opening Times

Season (7 Dec 2025 - 11 Dec 2025)
DayTimes
Sunday - Thursday16:00 - 20:00

What's Nearby

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  6. Get ready to step back in time at Carrickfergus Castle, an incredible Norman castle…

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  11. Discover magnificent views and Ulster Scots heritage in Templecorran graveyard,…

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Virtual Tour

Map & Directions

Road Directions

Driving from Belfast: Take the M2 northbound, then join the A2 Shore Road towards Carrickfergus. Follow signs for Carrickfergus Town Centre. Once in town, head towards the Joymount area for Shaftesbury Park.

Driving from Larne: Take the A2 southbound along the Coast Road towards Carrickfergus. Follow signs for Carrickfergus Town Centre, then proceed to Joymount.

Nearest Town Centre Car Parks:

Joymount Car Park – approx. 75 spaces, 2–3 minutes’ walk to the park

Lancasterian Street Car Park – 109 spaces, about 2 minutes away

Castle Car Park – 250 spaces, roughly 9 minutes’ walk

Carrickfergus Station – 280 spaces, 5–6 minutes’ walk

St. Brides Street Park & Ride – 229 spaces, 5–6 minutes’ walk

Public Transport Directions

From Belfast, take NI Railways from Lanyon Place to Carrickfergus Station (approx. 24 mins, trains every 30 mins or hourly in the evening) or Ulsterbus from High Street to Joymount (approx. 46 mins).

From Larne, direct NI Railways trains run hourly from Larne Town to Carrickfergus (approx. 25 mins).

The train station is a short 5-minute walk to Shaftesbury Park. For live timetables and mobile tickets, use the Translink Journey Planner.

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