Our lovely friends at Visit Belfast have put together another belter of a list of things to get up to in Belfast (and a little further afield) this Bank Holiday weekend!
Lughnasa International Friel Festival
Thursday 27 – Monday 31 August
Various Locations
The 1st annual Lughnasa International Friel Festival, Belfast, Here We Come! celebrates Ireland’s greatest living playwright, Brian Friel, through music, dance, food and kites as well as talks with some of the world’s most renowned women from the fields of politics, academia, business, literature, comedy and sport. At the heart of the festival, a production of Brian Friel’s Dancing at Lughnasa. Read more >>
Dancing at Lughnasa
Wednesday 26 August – Sunday 27 September
Lyric Theatre, Belfast
Dancing at Lughnasa is one of the most acclaimed and loved Irish plays of recent times – a play about dance – the dream-wild dance of our memories. Set in County Donegal in 1936 during the Celtic harvest festival of Lughnasadh, the play tells the story of the five Mundy sisters and their brother Jack, who has returned home from the missions after 25 years away. Read more >>
Belfast Mela
Sunday 30 August
Botanic Gardens, Belfast
Explore the sights, sounds and smells of the world at Mela, Northern Ireland’s largest multi-cultural festival and a unique global get-together, with tens of thousands of people enjoying music, dance, food, fashion and lots of community celebrations; the perfect way to round off your summer in the city! Read more >>
Titanic Bank Holiday Weekend
Saturday 29 – Monday 31 August
Titanic Belfast
Join Titanic Belfast for some free family fun from the 29 – 31 August to celebrate the Bank Holiday Weekend! Bring the kids along to earn their certificate by completing the Explorer Trail throughout the Titanic Experience and Ocean Exploration Centre and meet the Titanic Mascots! Plus they’ll have maritime Clayrazy model-making, arts and crafts and nautical face painting! Read more >>
Berts Summer Jazz New Orleans
Friday 28 – Sunday 30 August
Berts Jazz Bar, The Merchant Hotel
Enjoy a full week of New Orleans Jazz and Blues, with themed food and cocktails inspired by this iconic city. On Friday and Saturday, the Linley Hamilton Creole Big Band will be accompanied by vocalist Marion Jordan and taking to the stage on Sunday will be Professor James Ronan McGee. Read more >>
Van Morrison Walking Tour
Saturday 29 August
EastSide Visitor Centre, Newtownards Road, Belfast
On this walking tour, you will be taken on a journey through the east Belfast of Van’s youth, a wonderful opportunity to visit some of the places that Morrison knew as a child growing up in this city. Many of these places, and the people who lived here, were inspirations and are referenced in his lyrics and music. Read more >>
Eastside Arts Festival – Music
Thursday 27 – Sunday 30 August
Various Locations
The EastSide Arts Festival offers a packed programme of musical events ensuring there is something for everyone. Ranging from a Harlem Gospel Night to Richie Buckley, one of Ireland’s leading jazz performers, the festival winds down with The Van Morrison Songbook, where accomplished performers tackle the songbook of Belfast’s greatest living songwriter ahead of his sold out show on Cyrus Avenue. Read more >>
Belfast Music Tour
Saturday 29 August
Ulster Hall, Belfast
Take a bus journey through the heart of this rock and roll city. Sit back, relax, and enjoy tunes and tales from Them and Van Morrison, by way of awesome guitar players, traditional and folk, to punk rock and Hollywood soundtracks, finishing up at the Belfast Music exhibition at the Oh Yeah Music Centre in the heart of the Cathedral Quarter. Read more >>
Tennent’s Vital – Calvin Harris & The Script
Saturday 29 – Sunday 30 August
Boucher Playing Fields
DJ Calvin Harris will headline this year’s Tennent’s Vital on Saturday 29 August at Boucher Playing Fields. Joining him are special guests Ellie Goulding, John Newman, Disciples and Burns. The Script will headline the festival on Sunday 30 August, joined by Kodaline, Annie Mac, Clean Bandit and Jack Savoretti. Read more >>
The Color Run 2015
Sunday 30 August
Titanic Quarter
The Color Run sees participants covered in bursts of coloured powder at each kilometre of the 5k route, with a new fifth colour zone where glitter explosions will light the skies. Feel free to walk, jog, dance and party your way along the course at any pace. After crossing the finish line, powdered party goers can visit the Colour Festival Area to enjoy a great mix of DJs, MCs, the infamous ‘Color Throws’ plus a host of colour giveaways. Read more >>
Outside Belfast
Game of Thrones Winterfell Banquet
Saturday 29 August
The Cuan, Strangford
Experience a dining event like no other as The Cuan recreates the King’s Banquet in Winterfell. With a creative restaurant makeover to represent the Stark homeland, you’ll enjoy magnificent food, partake in their customs and get the chance to take some amazing photos to share with friends! Enter into the spirit of the event by coming to Winterfell Castle in costume. Read more >>
Northern Ireland Speed Weekend
Saturday 29 – Sunday 30 August
Balmoral Park, Sprucefield, Lisburn
The NI Speed Weekend promises to be an adrenaline fuelled, motoring extravaganza jammed packed with rally cars, race cars, drifting, sport cars, go-karting, super cars, dragsters, helicopters, stunt shows including parachute displays from the Wild Geese parachute display team, plus lots more to keep you entertained! Read more >>
Open House Festival Bangor
Saturday 1 – Monday 31 August
Various Locations
Open House Festival Bangor is a month-long festival that presents hand-picked music and arts in special places. The eclectic programme features more than 100 events with an impressive mixture of international and local talent. There will be music, film, food, comedy, theatre, art, exhibitions and books – in schools, cafés, castles, churches, boats, forts, pubs, parks and even on an island. Read more >>
