Kilkennys christmas festival to launch next weekend.

The countdown is on for this years Yulefest which launches in Kilkenny next weekend.

The city christmas lights will be switched on at 5pm while Santa will arrive, earlier, at 2pm when he travels up the river Nore to the canal square.

He’ll then travel through the streets on a cargo bike as part of a push to encourage more to travel sustainably for the Christmas celebrations.

Anne Healy, from Biddy’s Good Luck Horse Shoes, is encouraging everyone to shop local this Christmas and says its important to come out and support the christmas markets