The most wonderful time of the Year has begun at W5 after £5m boost

After 20 years as one of Northern Ireland’s favourite family destinations, W5 has been completely reimagined following a major £5million investment...and it’s offering a jam-packed programme of festive fun.
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After 20 years as one of Northern Ireland’s favourite family destinations, W5 has been completely reimagined following a major £5million investment...and it’s offering a jam-packed programme of festive fun.

As the arrival of Santa signals the start of Christmas celebrations, W5 is once again ready to ‘snow-off’ their award-winning facility.

From top to bottom, the popular visitor attraction has been completely transformed.

Colleen, Cora and Adam Keefe, head coach, Belfast Giants, Mark Garside, Belfast Giants with sons Logan, Luke and wife Becki GarsideColleen, Cora and Adam Keefe, head coach, Belfast Giants, Mark Garside, Belfast Giants with sons Logan, Luke and wife Becki Garside
Colleen, Cora and Adam Keefe, head coach, Belfast Giants, Mark Garside, Belfast Giants with sons Logan, Luke and wife Becki Garside

Two reimagined exhibition floors will excite and inspire, with eight world-class new interactive zones packed with over 250+ hands-on exhibits and experiences covering everything from climate change and nature to film and TV production, optical illusions, built engineering, medical science and much, much more.

This festive season, explore over 200+ interactive exhibits, scale the heights on Climbit and try your hand at everything from TV production to optical illusions, and much, much more, with a cracking selection of additional Christmas experiences to enjoy during your visit.

Meet Santa

Santa has taken up residence in his magical new home inside the recently reimagined W5. The shop on W5’s ground floor has been transformed into a magical kingdom, with a series of charming shopfronts with festive window displays and twinkling lights, leading to a small winding alley, where you can meet the Big Man himself on selected dates through to Thursday, December 23. Meet Santa is an add-on experience, priced at £10 per child and includes a gift. Capacity is limited and pre-booking is essential.

Rose Crawford and Austin Todd check out the festive widow displays in W5’s new magical kingdom before meeting SantaRose Crawford and Austin Todd check out the festive widow displays in W5’s new magical kingdom before meeting Santa
Rose Crawford and Austin Todd check out the festive widow displays in W5’s new magical kingdom before meeting Santa

Chrimbo Climbit

W5’s huge multi-storey climbing structure, Climbit has also been given a Christmas glow up, with a new immersive festive themed light and sound installation creating a multisensory climbing experience this winter.

The enhanced festive Climbit experience open now and is free with admission to W5.

Aardman Animate It LIVE! at Christmas

Kids check out the festive widow displays in W5’s new magical kingdom before meeting SantaKids check out the festive widow displays in W5’s new magical kingdom before meeting Santa
Kids check out the festive widow displays in W5’s new magical kingdom before meeting Santa

W5 has teamed up with the world-famous, award-winning animation studio Aardman, creators of Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and Morph to create an immersive live show with a festive twist!

From Friday, December 3, W5’s new festive, interactive live show, Aardman Animate It LIVE! at Christmas will launch in AMAZE, W5’s immersive events space.

Running on selected dates until Sunday, January 2, the show will explore how animations are made, with a helping hand from Aardman’s favourite characters, a budding animator, director and an Aardman expert.

Visitors will get top tips on how to create stop-frame animation and could even become the star of an animated movie! Entrance is free with admission, but capacity is limited, so pre-booking is essential.

Aardman’s new half hour special ‘Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas’ is being billed as a ‘must-see’ this Christmas.

It arrives on BBC in the UK and Netflix this December – watch the trailer here. In the meantime, don’t miss Aardman’s new stop motion musical short, Robin Robin on Netflix from Wednesday, November 24.

W5 Late

If you’re looking for some child-free fun, don’t miss W5 Late on Thursday, December 16.

W5 Late is a strictly adults-only, after-hours evening of interactive fun.

At W5, fun has no age limit but for one night only, there are no kids allowed, and grown-ups are given the run of the place.

It wouldn’t be a night out in December without a few festive flourishes; a range of workshops, entertainment and experiences will make this the perfect alternative Christmas night out with friends.

There will also be a fully licensed bar, where you can have a glass of wine or cold beer.

Admission is £15 per person, or £24 if you would like to participate in a festive table decoration workshop. Capacity is limited, so pre-booking essential.

To find out more and to book your Christmas visit and experiences at W5, visit W5online.co.uk

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