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Christmas 2020 a quiet event? Not AT ALL! Check this list of events out! – Mind, Body Experience, Mema Market, Christmas Markets and Events, Solstice

We had our fun (!?) on Level 3, then we will get a bit of Christmas in and after that all seriousness starts again. How serious it will get, we will find out on Tuesday when the government will decide what Level of lockdown will be back on either 29, 29 or 30 December. I expect it will be Level 3.9 or Level 4 from 28 December, but at the moment your guess is as good as mine. One thing is certain: Restaurants and Gastro-Pubs will definitely be closed again after Christmas and at least until the second week in January. Pubs (I hate the term “Wet Pubs”!) will be closed for another few months, I guess, and this will have a serious long term effect on events, especially of the gig and comedy type. Many tried and some still persist, but we know that online event don’t really work as a long term strategy, particularly if the performers/artists need to make money from it.

I know one musician who has built a thriving, enthusiastic and importantly a well-paying community for himself and while he had to travel a lot before, now he does weekly gigs from his “home studio”. So it can work for SOME, but most of us in the audience like being in a busy venue where there is some excitement and buzz in the room. Where we can meet other people, move to the music and turn an event into a special evening.

So WHAT can we do when all this annoying situation just doesn’t want to stop? The only thing that we can do is BE STRONG and not give up. There will definitely be an end to it, a time when life will continue. So keep your spirits up and and don’t let this one bad year break you. We will meet again to sing, dance and enjoy music or comedy together!

Next week, have a great Christmas! A different Christmas, but that doesn’t mean it has to be terrible. If you know people that are alone without friends or family, give them a call. Check in with them to make sure they get through that day. If we all contact just ONE person that is home alone, hopefully nobody will be forgotten!

Until then there are a few more events and guess how you will find out? Yes!! Just read on and you will find as many free events as I was able to find.

If this Dublin Event Guide helps you and you want to help me, then you can give a Christmas presents (not for me but for the Dublin Event Guide! ;-) ) There a number of ways to donate some money to keep the Dublin Event Guide going.

I am not asking for a lot, but I think one or two Euro per MONTH is a very fair suggestion. So for the year, this would be 12 Euro or – for people you can afford a bit more – just 24 Euro per year! That is ONLY 23 (or 46) cent per weekly Dublin Event Guide edition! An amazingly low cost for the great value that you get every week! :-)

But for some people that is a bit too much around Christmas and then you can donate maybe in two parts? Now and then again in the new year? Use the links below and if everyone just gave 2 Euro for example, then I wouldn’t have to ask you for another cent for the whole year. But since only less than 1% of the readers help, that “everybody 2 Euro” idea will remain a dream. ;-)

Please donate via www.paypal.me/DublinEventGuide
or for Revolut users among you just via 0872931571.

If PayPal or Revolut don’t work for you, you can buy me one or two or even three virtual coffees for the Dublin Event Guide and you can do that on the “Buy Me a Coffee” page here www.buymeacoffee.com/DublinEventG  .

And come over to www.DublinEventGuide.com to check out some of the ads and click on the ones that you find interesting. It really helps if you do that! ;-)

Thank you!!

The EPIC Zone

“EPIC – The Irish Emigration Museum” (www.epicchq.com) are currently sponsoring the Dublin Event Guide and this section of the weekly newsletter will contain relevant information about events in general or about EPIC-related news and happenings.

 

++ FREE ADMISSION TO EPIC IF YOUR NAME IS INSPIRED BY CHRISTMAS
Any visitors who have Christmas inspired names from the list below will get free admission to EPIC, Europe’s Leading Tourist Attraction.
The names are: Holly, Nick/Nicholas, Fia, Noel/Noelle, Rí, Belle, Réaltín, Robin, Nollaig and Joy
Just show your official ID at the ticket desk and you will get a free ticket between Monday 14 December and Saturday 26th December. epicchq.com/holly-nicks-and-other-christmas-inspired-names-go-free-to-epic-this-month/++ RECONVENE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY SAFELY AT EPIC – The Irish Emigration Museum
Come and visit EPIC’s interactive galleries, dance through motion sensor quizzes, try out interactive games, audio and much more!
EPIC’s vibrant and spacious vaults are the perfect spot to reconvene safely, whilst learning all about the emigrants that have shaped Ireland’s past and present. Avoid the queue with designated time slots. Find out everything you need to know about your visit, including health and safety measures, at: epicchq.com/

++ CHRISTMAS “AROUND THE WORLD” PACK FOR KIDS
Why do we have Christmas trees and what unique traditions do other countries have? Discover the history of Christmas, learn about the Christmas traditions enjoyed here in Ireland and in other countries and find out lots more cool facts bout Christmas. EPIC have created a free downloadable “History-at-home pack” for Christmas. Get it here: dublin.epicchq.com/christmas-around-the-world-activity-pack  .

 

And here are as many free events for you as I could find:

I hope everybody knows that all events in the Dublin Event Guide (for Free Events) are actually free. ;-)

 

Saturday

+ The SuperNatural Food Market 09:00-15:00 St Andrew’s Resource Centre, 114-116 Pearse St., Dublin 2
www.facebook.com/thesupernaturalfoodmarket
+ Honest2Goodness Market – Food Market – 09:30-15:00 – 136a Slaney Close, Dublin Industrial Estate, Glasnevin, Dublin 11 www.facebook.com/GlasnevinMarket/
++ Christmas Farmers Market & Craft Fair at RDS (with over 60 stalls) 10:00-16:00 RDS, Anglesea Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 www.facebook.com/events/700986770783386/
+ Stickman Special – Hoglets Christmas Party – Storytelling for children (Age: 0-7) 10:00-11:00 Online www.facebook.com/events/701215834119708/
+ SNOW DAY – Christmas Special with Maddie and Greg for kids (Festive Fun and Family Games) 10:00 Online www.facebook.com/events/389228072235946/
++ Mind Body Experience – Talks, Workshops, Shopping 10:00-20:00 Online www.facebook.com/events/344809093177415/
+ Marlay Park Market 10:00-16:00 Marlay Park, Grange Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 www.dlrcoco.ie/en/markets/marlay-park-coco-market
+ Christmas ballet class for kids (Age: 3-8) 10:00-10:20 Online www.facebook.com/events/128323032298146/
+ St Anne’s Park Market – Farmer’s Market 10:00-16:00 St. Anne’s Park, Raheny, Dublin 5 www.facebook.com/RedStablesMarket/
+ Quest for the Jingle – Interactive Christmas Show – Draiocht Blanchardstown 10:00-20:00 (Duration: 25 min) Online www.facebook.com/events/384546622990105 (Booking required)
+ The Moving Crib 10:45-17:00 St Martin Apostolate, 42 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1 www.facebook.com/events/478462113112816 (Booking required)
+ Temple Bar Food Market 11:00-16:00 Meeting House Square, Temple Bar, Dublin 2 www.templebarmarkets.com/foodmarket
+ Blackrock Market 11:00-17:30 Main Street, Blackrock, Co. Dublin www.facebook.com/BlackrockMarket/
+ Christmassy Storytime for kids – Wee Bookworms 11:30 Online www.facebook.com/events/1037601293319679/++ MeMa’s Market – Vintage & Craft Fair 13:00-16:00 MeMa’s, 155 Parnell Street, Dublin 1 www.facebook.com/events/1660545114101833/
+ This Land – Photography Exhibition & Film Screeing – The MART Gallery 13:00-18:00 MART Gallery, 190a Rathmines Road Lower, Rathmines, Dublin 6 www.facebook.com/events/670726403592547
+ A Christmas Celebration with the Irish Chamber Orchestra – Concert 13:00 Online www.nch.ie/Online/article/NCH-Christmas-ICO-Lunchtime-Christmas-Celebration-19Dec20 (Booking required)
+ Mince Pie Workshop – Boozy Bakers UK 14:00-16:00 Online www.facebook.com/events/849523912549421/
+ CHARMS! – Play – TCD Debut Festival Winter Season – Samuel Beckett Theatre 14:00 & 20:00 Online beckett-theatre.ticketsolve.com/shows/873622986/events/129343597 (Booking required)
+ Yoga for Mental Health – Live Webinar with Isha Online 16:00-17:00 Online www.ishayoga.eu/index.php/live-webinars/
+ Phever: The Shooting Gallery Review 25 – End of Year Special – Music, Banter and Craic 18:30-20:00 Online www.facebook.com/events/1354965684847413/
++ The Festival of Now – Premiere – Film showcasing a variety of Ireland’s best musicians, poets and performers 20:00 www.facebook.com/events/1308668276154335/ (Booking required)
+ Jack Lukeman Lockdown Special – Live Gig – Northern Lights 20:00-21:00 www.facebook.com/events/827035268151234/
+ A Christmas Celebration with the Irish Chamber Orchestra – Concert 20:00 www.nch.ie/Online/article/NCH-Christmas-ICO-Christmas-Celebration-19Dec20 (Booking required)
+ The Windy Lady’s Christmas Livestream – Theatre & Comedy – Axis Ballymun 20:00 Online axisballymun.ticketsolve.com/shows/1173605826
+ Moya Brennan & Band with Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh & Cormac De Barra – Gig – Seamus Ennis Arts Centre 20:30 Online www.tseac.ie/event/2863-19-12-2020-moya-brennan-band-with-mairad-n-mhaonaigh-cormac-de-barra (Booking required)
+ Hothouse Flowers – Gig – Whelan’s Streamed Shows this Christmas 21:00-23:00 Online www.facebook.com/events/294795991958052/
+ Sun Shakers Acoustic – Gig – Psychedelic Soul Music 21:00 www.facebook.com/events/848090302645442/
+ Leila Jane – Social Connections – Gig – Grand Social 21:00-23:00 Online www.facebook.com/events/201812768137337/

 

 

++ Newgrange Winter Solstice Livestream 08:45-09:00 Online www.gov.ie/en/news/eea6b-winter-solstice-at-newgrange-2020/
+ The National Symphony Orchestra In Concert: Sibelius, Mozart 10:00-11:00 Online orchestras.rte.ie/events/3416/the-national-symphony-orchestra-in-concert-2/
++ Mind Body Experience – Talks, Workshops, Shopping 10:00-20:00 Online www.facebook.com/events/344809093177415/
+ Quest for the Jingle – Interactive Christmas Show – Draiocht Blanchardstown 10:00-20:00 (Duration: 25 min) Online www.facebook.com/events/384546622990105 (Booking required)
+ The Moving Crib 10:45-17:00 St Martin Apostolate, 42 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1 www.facebook.com/events/478462113112816 (Booking required)
++ Last Minute Christmas Market – Glasnevin Indoor Market 11:00-17:00 near Brooks Timber & Building Supplies, Ballyboggan Rd, Glasnevin, Dublin 11 www.facebook.com/events/3261560010564828/
+ Vinyl & CD Market – Hartstown, Dublin 15 11:00-19:00 Hartstown Community Centre, Hartstown Road, Dublin 15 www.facebook.com/events/122195626261635/
+ Dun Laoghaire People’s Park Market 11:00-16:00 People’s Park, Park Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin www.dlrcoco.ie/en/markets/d%C3%BAn-laoghaire-coco-market
+ Marlay Park Market 11:00-16:00 Marlay Park, Grange Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 www.dlrcoco.ie/en/markets/marlay-park-coco-market
+ Herbert Park Market 11:00-16:00 Herbert Park, Dublin 4 www.facebook.com/Herbert-Park-Market-405930226496273/
+ Blackrock Market 11:00-17:30 Main Street, Blackrock, Co. Dublin www.facebook.com/BlackrockMarket/
++ Eatyard Xmas Market Park 12:00-16:00 Jam Park, South Quarter, Airside Retail Park, Swords, Co. Dublin www.facebook.com/events/4041021025941952/
+ Sundays@Noon Online: Chamber Choir Ireland Christmas Special – Hugh Lane Gallery 12:00 Online youtu.be/NVIavrJUBgk

+ White Chocolate Snowball Truffles Workshop – Boozy Bakers UK 14:00-15:00 Online www.facebook.com/events/238705620955947/
+ Winter Solstice 2020 Live From Stonehenge, UK 15:16-16:46 Online www.facebook.com/events/157169579436386/
+ Nine Lesson & Carols – Service of music and scripture readings at Christ Church Cathedral 15:30-16:30 Online christchurch.bookeventsireland.com/christchurch/nine-lesson-carols-visit-or-watch-on-live-stream/
+ “Addiction” – Christmas Literary Cabaret – Bethencourt Productions 16:00 Online www.facebook.com/events/424670138570110/ (Booking required)
+ Carol Service with Ardu – Raheny Church 16:15-17:00 Online www.facebook.com/events/381230429777514/
+ Gardiner Street Gospel Choir – Online Mass 19:30-20:30 Online www.facebook.com/TheGSGC/
+ Picturehouse – Gig – Live stream from Cyprus Avenue, Cork 20:00 Online www.facebook.com/events/397326444843566/
+ Ciaran Cooney live on Irishgigs 20:00-21:00 Online www.facebook.com/events/296296671706679/
+ Brian Deady – Gig – Whelan’s Streamed Christmas 21:00 Online www.facebook.com/events/417149333035515/
+ A Smith – Gig – Grand Social Social Connections 21:00-23:00 Online www.facebook.com/events/1036688533511155/
+ TheAxisChats with actor Denise Gough – Axis Ballymun 21:00-22:00 Online axisballymun.ticketsolve.com/shows/1173605994

 

I found a few more things to keep you going or that you might find interesting:

1) NEWGRANGE WINTER SOLSTICE LIVESTREAM
When Newgrange was built thousands of years ago, the talented people at the time were able to build it in such an ingenious way that every yeara at athe sunrise on the day of the winter solstice (and the day before and the day after) the sun rays will shine (if it is a cloud-free day) from the entrance through a narrow passage into the centre of the chamber. This will ONLY happen on 20 or 21 December and is a fascinating spectacle. In normal years a few people are allowed to the centre of the chamber and hope for the sun rays to “crawl” in. A yearly lottery decides who will be allowed to be there in person.
This year nobody will be allowed to attend due to Covid, but instead we all will have an opportunity to watch the spectacle online.
On Sun 20 Dec and on Mon (21 Dec) and Tuesday (22 Dec) a livestream from 08:45 will give you the chance to be in Newgrange while sitting at your computer at home.
Watch the livestream here: www.gov.ie/en/news/eea6b-winter-solstice-at-newgrange-2020/ or if you prefer a full screen version, then you can use this link livestream.com/accounts/285324/events/9440165/player

2) 12 DAYS OF “A CHRISTMAS CAROL”
Dublin’s Mayor is inviting you to listen to 12 readings of the Charles Dickens story “A Christmas Carol. Every day another well known person will read a piece of the story about Ebenezer Scrooge and you will find all the videos of the readings from 13-25 December here: dublin.ie/live/christmas/12-days-of-a-christmas-carol/

3) City of Dublin Winter Solstice Celebration Festival
Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and Slí an Chroí Holistic Centre are inviting to a Winter Solstice Celebration on Monday 21 Dec from 16:00-18:00.
There will be a “Creative Connections Arts-Based Workshop” from 16:00-17:00 (Book here: www.eventbrite.ie/e/132811622137), followed by a “Creative Connections Winter Solstice Panel Discussion and Candle Ceremony” from 17:00-18:00. (Book here www.eventbrite.ie/e/131853777197). And here is the whole description of the event:
smashingtimes.ie/centrefortheartsandhumanrights/city-of-dublin-winter-solstice-celebration-festival-21-december-2020/

4) LIVE ANIMAL CRIB AT MANSION HOUSE
The live animal crib at Mansion House is back. Every day until 24 Dec from 11:00-17:00 (until 14:00 on 24 Dec) a donkey, a goat and 2 sheep will be in the crib. The crib is constructed a little different this year so that you don’t go inside but stay outside and look throughout the windows because of Covid.

5) BUYING FROM THE UK AFTER BREXIT – PARCEL MOTEL ANNOUNCEMENT
Last week I mentioned that after 31 December buying from the UK will most likely become more expensive because the UK has the trading status as China. So if you buy products (incl postage!!) for a price below 22 Euro you won’t pay VAT, but above you pay VAT and if the order (including postage) is above 150 you will also pay customs duties. This all assumes that there will be no agreement between the EU and the UK before 31 Dec and who knows what will happen.
—
Sending from the UK made sense in the past if you didn’t have to pay exorbitant international postage charges and the trick to circumvent that was to use a service like Parcel Motel, where you specify their Belfast address (in the UK!) as a destination and then Parcel Motel (owned by UPS now) forwarded your parcel for EUR 3.95 (or more recently EUR 4.50) to a Parcel Motel storage box in Dublin. The delivery charge of EUR 4.50 was nearly always a lot lower than the international shipping charges from the UK.
—
But on Friday I received a mail from Parcel Motel telling me that from 28 December this service via Belfast will NOT be available anymore. As a consequence I expect that there will be NO scenario anymore where buying from the UK makes sense! :-O Here is the announcement: emails.circulator.com/Content?ID=90297
—
The alternative? For all your shopping on Amazon, buy from Amazon in Germany (Amazon DE)! They have an English language website and very low shipping charges. AND all prices are in Euro! Which often makes buying there cheaper than buying in GBP anyway. I use Amazon Germany for years and it makes a LOT of sense. Use this link www.shor.by/g4J6 and you will even help the Dublin Event Guide when you shop, for NO additional cost to you!

6) LEARN A NEW SKILL WITH ONLINE COURSES – Special Offer
If you are still missing some Christmas presents, here is an idea! On Udemy (shor.by/GqCk) you can buy a course and then Gift that course to someone else. Just look for the “Gift This Course” Button under the title and next to the WISHLIST button.
What skills are you adding during these home-working times? Udemy courses are still super popular because as long as we still spend a lot of time at home, it makes sense to use some of that time to learn something new.
Did you learn a new skill in the last few months? The lowest cost for courses this month will be around 12.99. I just bought another 14 hour course for that price. Super value!! Check out the website at shor.by/GqCk And if you buy through that link, you help the Dublin Event Guide! ;-)

7) READ MORE BOOKS
For physical books and e-books I recommend Book Depository because they are usually cheaper than others and they always include delivery for free (and by using this link you help the Dublin Event Guide). Please don’t use any other links than the one below!! With this link you do help the Dublin Event Guide when you purchase a book and it doesn’t cost you a cent: shor.by/BookDepository  .

To_CR:TQ!