Well over half a million people at least enjoyed it last year and it’s back this year, bigger and better than ever - the now famous ‘Belfast Christmas Continental Market’.

The grounds of Belfast City Hall will come alive once again with the sounds and tastes of Europe from Tuesday 18 November right through until Saturday 20 December.

The market will officially open on Wednesday 19 November:  however, everyone coming to the switch on of the Christmas Lights the previous evening will get a sneak preview, when the market opens for a couple of hours.

There will be some old favourites, such as Dick Koetze and his wife Willy, with their wonderful Dutch Food Stall including his much acclaimed liquorice and selection of Dutch cheeses, and their fellow countryman Gradus van De Wardt with his huge array of plants, tress, shrubs and bulbs.  There also will be some very interesting new traders from Moscow and Belarus, and from as far away as the Lappish part of Finland.

Spanish Paella cooked to an old family recipe straight from Cordoba in Spain, wonderful French fresh filled toasted baguettes, exotic meats from around the world, crepes from Brittany, and the very popular giant bratwurst sausage from Germany sizzling hot from the giant Schwenkegrille makes it a gourmets’ delight.

If it’s the liquid refreshment you’re after then why not take a glass of warming gluwein or sample one of John’s famous liquor coffees as you wander around the array of stalls, or sit and relax in Belfast’s very own Lavery’s International Marquee, or sample the great German and Continental beers from the Franzisskaaner German bar.  Also returning this year will be Northern Ireland’s very own Hilden Brewery with their own special brews.

If it’s a little bit more refinement your after then visit Markus Kochem’s wine stand:  his father is know as the “Jewel of the Mosel” – the head wine chappie of the Moselle - and his family grow the grapes and produce the wine from their own vineyards along the Moselle Valley. He always prepares something a little different to sample on the food front, such as wonderful baked apples.

If it’s inspiration for that unusual Christmas gift you are after, then just browse to your hearts content you are bound to find something among the great selection of gifts and crafts.  Hand-painted Russian dolls painted by the trader herself, leather handbags purses and wallets from France, a fantastic selection of candles, eco-friendly bags, jewellery, ‘smellies’ from Provence and some very unusual natural carved wooden furniture, statues, figurines from Kenya.

For those who like to look after their feathered visitors at this time of year, there is a great new stall selling very unusual bird houses, feeders and great garden gifts.

For perhaps the wackiest Christmas present, visit the American Indian stall near the Big Wheel, where you can watch in amazement as ‘Big Chief’ Ronald - he’s German really, but that’s a long story - tune up and personalise your very own didgeridoo whilst performing an ancient ritual.  Dressed most of the time in traditional native Indian costume, Ronald’s wigwam is probably the most bizarre stall you will ever see at any market - but it’s well worth the visit and the time exploring all that it has to offer.

Perhaps the trader travelling the furthest distance is Jari Makelle, who is from the Lappish part of Finland, some 150 kilometres north of the Arctic circle.  Jari and his team will be selling some of the best knitwear you will ever see:  they also sell a huge range of crafts, and gifts from their region. This is a very unusual stall which again offers something very different for Christmas.

There is something for all the family with the Big Wheel, a fabulous new children’s carousel - and a very special person will be visiting the event every day.  Yes, Santa’s in town in his very own specially designed grotto, inside a magical forest.  Santa will be at the market every day between 12pm and 6pm Monday –Friday, 10am – 7pm on Saturdays and 1pm – 6pm on Sundays.  On Saturdays and Sundays, children also will have the opportunity to have their face painted or undergo a fashion makeover by the Party Pixies.

The Market will be open from 10am - 8pm on Monday – Wednesday, 10am – 10pm Thursday - Saturday and 1pm - 6pm on Sundays, from Wednesday 19 November until Saturday 20 December.