10 Awesome Things to Do In Northern Ireland This Week (24th-30th April)

Tourism NI has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland (April 24 – April 30). 

1. Lord Mayor’s Day, Belfast, Saturday April 29. Celebrate all that is exciting and entertaining about Belfast on the lawns of Belfast City Hall. From the extremely talented artists and musicians to the top class performers and well-known landmarks, there will be something to entertain everyone. Try your hand at making some Belfast animations, or relax and listen to fantastic Belfast stories. You can also enjoy interactive drumming, visit a completely different world through virtual reality or even help to paint a portrait of the Lord Mayor. 12-5pm, free entry.
2. Jazz in the Gardens, Co. Down, Sunday April 30. Bring your picnic and settle down on the lawn with your family and friends to enjoy an afternoon of jazz in the beautiful gardens at Mount Stewart. Dogs on leads are welcome. 2-4.30pm, admission £4.31 – £8.63.
3. Scarva Band Concert, Co. Armagh, Sunday April 30. The finest in local concert bands performing at the magnificent Victorian bandstand on beautiful Scarva Green, which is renowned for its superb floral displays. 3-4pm, free entry.
4. Presidential Portraits by Frank McKelvey, Co. Tyrone, until April 30. American Presidents claim ancestral links to Ulster. This exhibition at the Ulster American Folk Park of original drawings, made around 1930, focusses on eleven of them and their journeys to the White House.
5. Paws in the Park, Co.Fermanagh, Saturday April 29. Dogs are always welcome at Castle Coole but especially when a whole day is dedicated to our pooch pals! Join the dog walk, enter your dog in the pet dog show and pick up some behavioural techniques and grooming tips. 12-3pm, admission £2-3.50.
6. City of Derry Jazz & Big Band Festival, Derry~Londondery, April 27 – May 1. The festival returns with five days of live music throughout the city and district, featuring Imelda May, Hot Chocolate over 200 other musical acts over the Bank Holiday weekend.
7. Damhead Miniature Railway, Coleraine, Saturday April 29. Damhead Miniature Railway, in the heart of the countryside between Coleraine and Ballymoney, is a great place to visit with the children. The small trains can be travelled on by both the kids and adults and the track covers one third of a mile. There are picnic facilities on site. 12-5pm, children £1, adults £2.
8. Laurentic Exhibition, Derry~Londondery, until June 21. It has been 100 years since the famous Laurentic sank off Lough Swilly on a bitter cold night in January 1917. This Tower Museum exhibition tells the story of the famous ship, the numerous salvage operations and the search for the elusive gold still on board.10am-5.30pm, free entry.
9. Cushendun’s Big Arts Weekend, Co. Antrim, April 28 – May 1. A four-day festival of music, drama, poetry, exhibitions workshops and family fun in one of the most beautiful villages in the Glens of Antrim. Now in its fifth year, the festival celebrates the rich culture and spectacular landscape of Cushendun and the Glens of Antrim.
10. Malone House Spring Fair, Belfast, April 29-30. Experience the flower filled grounds of Barnett Demesne, with farm animals including chickens, rabbits and goats. Falcons will be swooping in for aerial displays and exotic reptiles such as snakes and lizards will also be on show. There will also be a variety of children’s entertainment, music, dance, plant and craft stalls, and environmental activities to enjoy. 1.30-5.30pm, free entry.