10 Things To Do In Northern Ireland This Week: 6th – 12th March

Tourism NI has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland (March 6 – March 12).

• Belfast Children’s Festival, various locations, Belfast, until March 15. The annual Belfast Children’s Festival is back for the 19th year to light up the city with a colourful array of art and performance to inspire joy, creativity and curiosity. The festival will include the very best in professional theatre, music, dance and art designed for children from across the globe, including many free workshops, performances and events. From tiny babies to teenagers, there is something for everyone at this year’s festival.
  
• Enniskillen Drama Festival, Ardhowen Theatre, Co. Fermanagh, until March 11. Enniskillen Drama Festival is an integral part of the cultural and creative identity of Fermanagh. The Festival is part of the fabric of the community of Fermanagh and now in its 37th year, is proud to welcome productions from across the country to take part. With a mix of comedy, tragedy, classical pieces and new original writing, there will be something for everyone at Enniskillen Drama Festival!
  
• Laurentic Exhibition, Tower Museum, Derry~Londonderry, 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 exhibition tells the story of the famous ship, the numerous salvage operations and the search for the elusive gold still on board.
  
• The Drowsy Chaperone, Annesley Hall, Co. Down, until March 18. The Drowsy Chaperone is a musical with book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar and music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison.The story concerns a middle-aged, asocial musical theatre fan; as he plays the record of his favourite musical, the (fictional) 1928 hit The Drowsy Chaperone, the show comes to life onstage as he wryly comments on the music, story, and actors. 
  
• Wookalily, Market Place Theatre & Arts, Co. Armagh, March 10. ‘Wookalily’ are a quirky five-piece band focusing on folk-gothic troubadour tales, new-time mountain music with glorious melodic hooks. Their song ‘Diamonds and Gold’ gained them a showcase at the prestigious IBMA World of Bluegrass Festival in Nashville in 2012. The all – female band make a glorious noise guaranteed to put a smile on your face and a skip in your step.
  
• MaxMara Fashion Exclusive, City Hall, Belfast, March 10. From Italy to Ireland: one of the biggest events on Ireland’s social calendar in 2017 is set to be an exclusive fashion show by luxury Italian design house MaxMara, as it brings its full Spring/Summer 2017 collection from the catwalks of Milan to Belfast City Hall on 10 March in support of leading learning disability charity Positive Futures.
  
• Ballymoney Drama Festival, Ballymoney Town Hall, Co. Antrim, until March 11. Ballymoney presents its 78th season of plays in Ballymoney Town Hall in 2017. There will be seven plays performed by some of the best and best-known amateur companies in the Province.Almost all of the plays on offer this year have been described as comedies and have been staged in The West End or on Broadway. Tickets and timings available at ballymoneydramafestival.com.
  
  
• Live at the Onion, The Dirty Onion, Belfast, March 10 – 11. Now in its third year, Live at the Onion unites the best local talent on stage for one weekend.  This year’s line-up includes The Crossfire Hurricanes, The Wood Burning Savages, The Vibes and Fatlip. Head down, grab a beverage along with some food from the barbecue and make a night of it from 6pm onwards.
  
• The Best of 10 Years! Alley Arts & Conference Centre, Co. Tyrone, March 8 – 9. Arts Academy, Encore PAA and Dance Craze come together to present highlights from their performances, showcasing their work from the past 10 years at The Alley Theatre. Performances will include highlights from The Sound of Music and High School Musical, King of the Jungle. Dance Kraze will recreate some of the audience’s favourite routines from throughout the years, reuniting some of the cast as they perform once again. The evening will ensure that the audience is entertained with a wide range of song, drama and dance.
  
• World Illustration Awards 2016, Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre, Derry~Londonderry, until March 18. Developed by The Association of Illustrators in partnership with the Directory of Illustration, California, this unique exhibition, now in its 40th year, presents over 50 of the very best artworks across the diverse field of illustration.