THE CHRISTMAS COTTAGE MARKET 2024
Date: Sat 7th & Sun 8th Dec 2024
Time: 1 – 7:00PM
Venue: Townhall Street, Cavan
Cavan’s Christmas festivities will kick off on Sat 7th & Sun 8th December 1 – 7pm with a market which promises to be packed full of Cavan’s festive cheer and culture!
The following activities will take place over the weekend:
Highlight #1: Elf Bootcamp for Kids | 1 – 7pm | Both Days
Highlight #2: Santa’s Magic Post Box!! | 3 – 7pm | Both Days
Highlight #3: Umbrella Parade | 5 – 5:30pm | Both Days
Highlight #4: Local Live Music Performances | 1 – 7pm | Both Days
Highlight #5: Arts & Craft Marquee | 1 – 7pm | Both Days
Highlight #6: Artisan Food on Market Square | 1 – 7pm | Both Days
Highlight #7: DineYard (Street Food) | 1 – 7pm | Both Days
NEW!! Street Spectacle | 1 – 7pm | Both Days
NEW!! Zero Waste Market/Event
Highlight #1: Elf Bootcamp for Kids | 1 – 7pm | Both Days
Let your little ones step into the magical world of Santa’s Workshop with our Elf Bootcamp!
A fun, 30-minute adventure designed for aspiring elves aged 6+, where they’ll experience the magic of being Santa’s helpers!
Elf Duties:
👉 Book here.
Highlight #2: Santa’s Magic Post Box!! | 3 – 7pm | Both Days
📬 Bring your Santa letters to The Christmas Cottage Market and drop them into Santa’s Magic Post Box to experience the Christmas magic!
Highlight #3: Umbrella Parade | 5 – 5:30pm | Both Days
Join us this year for our Umbrella Parade. Open to all ages, we invite you to decorate an umbrella and participate in our parade on Townhall street between 5 – 5:30pm.
To compete for a prize, register at the Cottage Market Christmas Hut on Townhall Street between 4–5pm each day.
Prizes will be awarded for the Most Creative, Most Festive, and Most Cavan Umbrella! Winners will be announced on Sunday, December 8th, at 6:30pm.
Highlight #4: Local Live Music Performances | 1 – 7pm | Both Days
Lively tunes will fill the air as performances take place at the main stage located at the bottom of Townhall Street and our music bench on Market Square.
This year’s lineup features Savage Heart, No Vendors, The Parasol All-Star Jazz Band, and Jon LaFleur on Townhall Street. The Virginia Gospel Choir will bring the market to a close with a soulful performance on the main stage Sunday evening. Meanwhile, Market Square’s Music Bench will showcase talented local musicians, choirs, and Music Generation acts throughout both days.
Highlight #5: Arts & Craft Marquee | 1 – 7pm | Both Days
Support your local community this season with a visit to our Craft and Art Marquee. 24 talented, Cavan-based artists will fill this space with stunning gifts, from handmade wreaths, knitwear, and jewellery to candles, paintings, soaps, wood carved gifts, and more.
Highlight #6: Artisan Food on Market Square | 1 – 7pm | Both Days
Market Square will be filled with artisan food producers displaying their finest offerings local produce. A warm welcome to newcomers Farmadolly Milk in Crossdoney Co. Cavan
Highlight #7: DineYard (Street Food) | 1 – 7pm | Both Days
Get ready for our unique outdoor-dining experience during the Christmas market festivities on Townhall Street on Sat 7th and Sun 8th Dec! 💙
We’re excited to introduce new additions to The Cottage Market this year! Antoinette Ceelan from Aunty Netta’s will be serving churros with sweet and savoury options, paired with refreshing homemade lemonade. Vitoria from Auto Pizza will offer a unique Georgian-inspired 7-inch pizza, and Corleggy Cheese will showcase the much-loved beloved melted cheese dish, Raclette.
Outdoor seating area will create the perfect opportunity for locals and visitors to experience the culture and community spirit that exists in our county.
NEW!! Street Spectacle | 1 – 7pm | Both Days
Our new project, Street Spectacle, whilst in its first year, brings an exciting mix of freestyle performances and activities to Townhall Street. This year’s lineup includes the vibrant Umbrella Parade, Elf Scavenger Hunt, Elf Bootcamp, and Santa’s Magic Post Box. Local youth groups such as Wonder Youth Theatre, Faceoff, Townhall Arts Centre Panto (Cavan Pantomime), and Comhaltas will showcase their incredible talents. Additional highlights include a Window Artist display by Rosie Cole, Franzini Disco Bike, Cavan Adventure Centre activities, and more—taking place sporadically between 1–7 PM.
NEW!! Zero Waste Market
The Cottage Market Cavan is tackling big challenges head-on, starting this year with our journey to becoming a zero-waste event. Thanks to the invaluable guidance of the Dingle Food Festival organizers (a big thank you to Grainne and Darach), we’ll be on patrol during this market to gather baseline data that will serve as the foundation for reducing and ultimately eliminating waste over the next five years. We’re also collaborating with local groups, including the Cavan County Council Climate Action Group and the ever-helpful Volunteer Centre, to make this initiative a success.
Parking/Pedestrianisation
Townhall Street will be temporarily pedestrianised during the market so children can play outside safely and adults can socialise!
Parking is available at Cavan Cathedral, Library and Courthouse.
For further information, visit our socials (Facebook) or (Instagram) or email Imelda at info@cottagemarketcavan.ie.
This event is Kindly supported by Created in Cavan, This Is Cavan, Cavan Arts and Cavan County Council.
To view last year’s Christmas Cottage Market, click here.
Over the past eight weeks, I’ve had the privilege of visiting eight national schools in Cavan to deliver an 8-hour School Food Programme on behalf of Cavan’s Food Network, @createdincavan.
Keep in touch for new products in The Green Box and upcoming markets by The Cottage Market Cavan
