What’s on and things to do for families visiting Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is bursting at the seams with things to do for families. While you’re here on holidays, you might just catch one of these great family events going on. Or maybe you’d like to book your holiday to coincide with one. So, here are just a few to whet your appetite.
It’s all happening in County Armagh
The Georgian Festival is a much-loved festival that gives Armagh the chance to show off its rich Georgian heritage. Celebrations include The Great Georgian Banquet, Children’s Christmas market plus a sparkling Christmas Light Show to end the festivities.
March is a wonderful month to visit Armagh, not least because March is St Patrick’s month, and there’s no better place to visit than his homeplace. Armagh is at the heart of celebrating the life of Saint Patrick and promises a lively showcase of the best in culture, music, song and dance, as well as a spectacular parade on St Patrick’s feast day, March 17th. Time to get the green face-paint ready.
Amazing things happen in County Antrim
The award-winning Irish Game Fair celebrates country sports and all things rural in the stunning natural setting of Shane’s Castle in the last weekend of August. Alongside country pursuits demonstrations, there’s a heap of family entertainment and food, heritage and craft displays. The same venue also hosts Shane’s Castle Steam Rally - a festival of vintage steam engines, tractors and agricultural machinery that’s a great family day out.
Enchanted Winter Garden happens at Christmas when Antrim Castle Gardens hosts this magical world of enchantment. It’s a seasonal experience like no other for all the family! Elsewhere you’ll find the Glens Storytelling Festival, a 5-day community event celebrating the storytelling cultural heritage of the Glens of Antrim.
Celebrations galore the Causeway Coastal Route
The Causeway Coast is reason enough to celebrate, but if that’s not enough for you, there’s a whole host of festivals and events to keep you and your family entertained.
Taste Causeway is a month-long summer celebration of the area’s world-renowned food and drink . The quaint village of Bushmills plays host to the Salmon & Whiskey Festival where you can bring all the family, try some new local food as well as live music and dance performances.
All along the coast are the wrecks of the vainglorious Spanish Armada of 1588 and one of the best-known wrecks is that of La Girona, whose story is celebrated at the Girona Gold Maritime Festival. Enjoy a swimming relay race, interactive taster sessions with local water-based activity providers, plus lots more.
Other seafarers are celebrated in more comic style at Pirates Off Portrush, a two-day family festival with dance, drama, kids pirate parade, music, markets fun have-a-go games.
Big, bold and beautiful – family fun in Belfast
As its most famous ship will attest, Belfast likes to do things big-style. Which is why you’ll find big time entertainment for grown-ups and kids all year-round in Belfast.
If Christmas is for kids, than it’s also for adults. Especially for adults who like to pile on the greasepaint, petticoats and ‘oh no you don’ts’ for that perennial Christmas family favourite – the panto.
There are lots of pantos going on here during Christmas season, and probably the biggest of them all takes place in the ‘grand old dame’ of Northern Ireland’s theatres, Belfast’s Grand Opera House. Re-opening after extensive renovations in late-2020, the Grand Opera House has staged a pantomime for many years, with Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Beauty and the Beast amongst spectacular favourites. You’ll also find a Christmas pantomime at the impressive Waterfront Hall.
The Belfast Children’s Festival takes place each March for children from zero to 17 years of age and their families and is spread across a number of Belfast’s theatres and arts centres. Expect and enjoy a hectic mix of theatre, visual art, music, dance, literature, workshops and talks all of which are designed to inspire and entertain everyone who gets involved.
Derry-Londonderry has it all going on
The walled city of Derry-Londonderry regularly throws open its gates for families and everyone to get inside and get involved in its eclectic mix of events and festival big and small - for visitors big and small.
A massive highlight of the year here is a the Foyle Maritime Festival. This 9-day maritime extravaganza features a range of live performances, visiting ships and boats, water activities and food trails plus the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.
Or join Europe’s biggest Halloween Festival in Derry-Londonderry for a welcome like no other, packed with ghoulish events and frightful fun for all the family.
Get down with the kids in County Down
Looking up is one thing you’ll be doing in County Down when the Festival of Flight takes to the skies each June over the seaside town of Newcastle. This air show is filled with exciting aerobatical displays and ground level fun and activities – and it’s all free!
Families come first in County Fermanagh
Late September each year sees the arrival of Festival Lough Erne, a two-day celebration of the best of local food, with cookery demonstrations from guest chefs, local artisan food and drink producers and live entertainment, as well as a range of water based activities for young and old, all taking place at Enniskillen Castle, in the heart of Enniskillen town itself.
