It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.. and Santa has landed in West Belfast ahead of the big day.
The Kennedy Centre's Christmas festivities kicked off on Friday with the arrival of Santa and Mrs Clause and this year the complex will run their 'Quiet Santa' experience for children with diabilities.
The event will take place every Sunday from 9.30am to 1pm and allows kids with special and sensory needs to experience the Santa meet and greet without the busy crowds, loud music or long queues.
For the duration of these Silent Santa visits, stores will remain closed and no music will be played in the centre. It will be a completely relaxed environment designed specifically to reduce fear and anxiety.
Should a child become anxious, frightened or if access issues arise during their visit, Santa will greet them at a more convenient point around the Christmas installation for photographs.
John Jones, Kennedy Centre manager told Belfast Live: "This year, as usual the Kennedy Centre will be pulling out all the stops.
"Also as the first shopping centre ever to do the Silent Santa, we will once again be continuing with this every Sunday. It is so popular for kids with disabilities and special needs and allows the children to visit Santa without the normal hustle and bustle and noise from a busy Centre.
"Kennedy Centre has always been a cornerstone of the community here in West Belfast. We are a community-based shopping centre and with that we have a responsibility to ensure that we take adequate measures to provide support for members of the community with additional needs."
The Quiet Santa event will take place every Sunday from 9.30am to 1pm in the Kennedy Centre complex.
For more information visit the Kennedy Centre website.
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