Councillors at Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council's Economic Development & Regeneration committee meeting discussed falling attendance at Christmas switch-on events. Figures recorded by BNL Productions showed declines across most locations from 2024 to 2025.

Portadown attendance fell from 3,000 to 2,000. Lurgan dropped from 3,000 to 2,500. Dromore saw a decrease from 1,500 to 1,200. Markethill went from 800 to 300. Tandragee declined from 1,200 to 450. Waringstown fell from 500 to 300. Keady decreased from 600 to 350. Richhill dropped from 400 to 250. Donaghcloney saw numbers go from 1,000 to 700.

Banbridge attendance rose from 2,800 to 4,000. Rathfriland increased from 450 to 500. Relaxed Christmas sessions at Bleary Business & Community Centre went up slightly from 297 to 314.

Alderman Paul Greenfield of the DUP noted the widespread reductions and questioned if recording methods had changed. He highlighted drops of up to 1,500 people and called for review.

Director of Development, Community & Wellbeing Paul Tamati said the 2025 figures surprised him given his observations. He confirmed the council challenged BNL Productions on their methods and plans to implement in-house counting for greater accuracy.

Alderman Paul Berry, an independent, disputed the Tandragee figures showing a fall from 1,200 to 450.