Howth Castle Christmas Market Dates + Info

I’m treating the newly announced Howth Castle Christmas Market with a healthy whack of skepticism.

I want it to be class, but there’s a niggling worry that it’s going to just be a circus with a few festive stalls tacked onto it as a marketing ploy.

However, as Dublin’s Christmas market offering is fairly lacking again in 2022, hopefully this one will surprise us!

Some quick need-to-knows about the Howth Castle Christmas Market

Photo left: Shutterstock. Right: Via Circus Gerbola

So, to save you some time, here’s the need-to-knows about the Christmas Market in Howth Castle:

1. It’s primarily a circus

Now, first things first – although several news sites are claiming this to be solely a Christmas market – the organisers aren’t. They’re pretty clear that this is ‘Santa’s Christmas Circus’, but that there’s a load of Christmassy stuff accompanying it, like a Christmas market and more (see below).

2. Location

Circus Gerbola takes place in the surroundings (not in the castle itself) of Howth Castle in North County Dublin.

3. Dates

The circus and, from what we can tell, the market, kicks off on December 9th and runs up until January 8th, 2023.

4. Admission

According to Circus Gerbola, entry to the Howth Castle Christmas Market is free. You do however have to pay for the circus performance, which are €15 per person. The rides in the fairground start at €3 per person.

What to expect from the Christmas market in Howth Castle

Pictured: Howth Castle and a generic market stall (via Shutterstock)

There’s still very little known about this market but here’s the info we have at the time of typing:

1. The Christmas Circus

The Christmas Circus is a 2-hour long performance with a 15 minute interval (€15 per person).

Now, it’s not really clear what this is going to involve, just that there are now animals. Going off the photos online, it looks to be a mi of a panto and a traditional style circus with performances.

2. The Festive Fairground

Again, there isn’t much info on the Festive Fairground at the Howth Castle Christmas market aside from photos that show a vintage carousel.

It’s probably safe to bet that you’ll find the usual fairground attractions here.

3. The Christmas Market

There’s currently little-to-no info on the actual Christmas Market at Howth Castle, aside for the fact that they’re still looking for market traders.

They’re using a generic stock photo from what looks like a Bavarian market and there’s nothing to say what’s going to be there.

For that reason, if you’re only looking to visit the market and not the circus, you’re probably best off waiting to see the first reviews before heading to it.

More Christmas markets in Ireland like the one in Howth Castle

Photos via Shutterstock

There’s plenty of Christmas markets in Ireland taking place in 2022, despite the fact that the Dublin Castle Christmas Market is sold out and the likes of Mistletown and the Dun Laoghaire Christmas Market don’t appear to be going ahead.

FAQs about the Howth Castle Christmas Market

Since the Howth Castle Christmas Market was announced a few days back we’ve had a heap of emails asking about it.

Below, you’ll find the most FAQ, each of which we’ve already covered above.

When does the Christmas Market in Howth Castle start?

The event will run from December 9th, 2022, until January 8th, 2023.

What will be at the Christmas Market in Howth?

We have no idea at this point. The circus appears to be the main attraction but there will be a market of some sort along with a fairground.

Keith O'Hara

Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent most of the last 10 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 30 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.