Come to Holywood this Bank Holiday Monday and enjoy the wonderful array of live music, market stalls and family entertainment when the town centre will be transformed for the annual May Day Festival!
This year the innovative and infectious Monster Ceilidh Band will be making a very special appearance at the festival. On a crusade to bring a powerfully modern approach to ceilidh music, the Monster Ceilidh Band have their feet in the heritage and tradition of the British Isles and are a treat not to be missed! The band will take to the stage from 2pm to 3.30pm.
The world’s only Folk/Drum n’ Bass act combines explosive and fiery folk with funky riffs, beats and live drums. Monster Ceilidh Band’s music embraces the old dance traditions whilst translating them into foot tapping crescendos for the modern audience – we dare you not to dance!!
Also appearing for the first time in Northern Ireland will be Folk Dance Remixed – a ground breaking company creating a unique fusion between folk and hip-hop dancing with live music. The band will be performing pop up jams, guaranteed to get the crowds dancing! As well as pop up jams, the group will also be providing Maypole Street Dance interactive workshops – a modern take on Maypole Dancing – come along and have a go!
Popular traditional favourites such as Maypole Dancing, local competitions and over 40 stalls will be dotted around the town, along with balloon modellers, face painters, street theatre and magicians – lots of entertainment for all the family! And don’t miss the Crowning of The May Queen which is taking place at 10.45am on the performance stage on High Street.
All the usual favourites have been organised by Holywood & District Community Council; Bonnie Baby Competition (10.30 am, Queen’s Leisure Complex) and Fancy Dress Competition (12.30 pm , outside The Library)– the fancy dress themes this year are Super Heroes, Princesses, Disney Characters and My Favourite Character From A Book.
To celebrate the event, local businesses have generously donated prizes to be given to lucky competition winners on the day. The following businesses have kindly donated prizes; Panini, The Anchorage, Urban Orchard, The Fish Café, Maud’s, Lacy’s Day Spa, Male/Female Room, Little Wing, Johnny The Jig, John Minnis, Templeton Robinson and Steward Miller. The Holywood District and Community Council would like to thank these businesses for their generosity.
Over 40 stalls represented by local charities and traders will be in place throughout High Street and Church Road. Please note that Holywood Town Centre will be closed for most of the day.
The ever-popular Maypole Dancing will take place at 11am and 1pm. Young children can get their chance to dance around their own Maypole with Jump, Jiggle and Jive from 12 noon – 4.00 pm and if that just gets them going there will be 2 discos in Queen’s Leisure Complex – (p1-p3 1.00 – 2.00 pm) and (p4-P7 2.30 pm-3.30 pm).
For the older swingers in town there will be a Tea Dance – held in St Patrick’s Hall from 1.00 -3.00 pm.
And don’t forget if you fancy some shopping or a bite of lunch, most of Holywood’s shops and eateries will be open throughout the day.
So come on down to Holywood on Monday, 4th May from 10am – 4pm for a fun-filled day at this FREE EVENT!
For further information on this event please contact Bangor Visitor Information Centre on (028) 9127 0069 or go to: www.northdowntourism.com