A little bit of cheer: How to fill time this holiday season

Christmas is the perfect time for more than a little indulgent merry-making, but there’s a chance to take advantage of several other ways to enjoy the festive season without stretching your budget or liver capacity. A great option is of course enjoying a favourite seasonal film or a stirring show, but sometimes Fred Claus or Sleeping-Beauty-and-the-seven-Beanstalks, doesn’t always cut it… So what is there to do for something a bit different coming up to Christmas?

The Irish Film Institute (IFI), in Temple Bar, is the first place to start, with screenings of one of those timeless Christmas movies, It’s A Wonderful Life. Sure to put you in the perfect festive mood, there’s a reason it always comes first in those countdowns you end up watching over Christmas – lying in front of the TV out of sheer immobilisation from food, secretly enjoying E4’s 100 Greatest Tearjerkers.

Running from the December 18 to 23 you get to enjoy this classic on full screen, sitting wherever you like in plush, comfortable seats at just €6 (evening shows are €7.70). The Nutcracker is also being screened on the December 20 for the same matinee price and is one of the world’s most popular ballets, staged traditionally around Christmastime.

Another traditional yuletide production to enjoy is the Gate Theatre’s presentation of the famous story of Ebenezer Scrooge and his search for the true spirit of Christmas – A Christmas Carol. Now just because 3D versions of this masterpiece are floating around, it shouldn’t put you off enjoying this quintessential Christmas story at the Gate some time from December 1 to 31 (excluding Sundays and Christmas Eve/Day). Tickets are between €25 and €35, bit pricey, but ring the box office on the day that you want to go and a €15 student rate will apply if there are any free seats.

And last, but definitely not least, is the screening of the very popular Snowman movie in the National Concert Hall, with the very special bonus of having the concert hall’s orchestra playing the sensational score in accompaniment. This one is sure to be a winner and is running on dates from the December. 9 to 23 Tickets are €20, but book early as this is a very popular event and sells out quickly.