10 THINGS TO DO IN NORTHERN IRELAND NEXT WEEK

The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland next week (October 20-26).

  • City of Derry International Choral Festival, October 22-26.  More than 70 school, local, national and international choirs will bring the city alive with music as they take part in a range of activities from competitions and workshops, to evening concerts and choral trails, in various venues throughout the city.
  • The Food and Drink Show Northern Ireland, King’s Hall Pavillion, Belfast, October 24-26. Enjoy the sights, smells and tastes of the delicious food and drink available from a wide range of local food and drink producers as well as producers from further afield. The Moy Park Celebrity Chef Theatre will deliver a three-day, star studded spectacle of demonstrations from James Martin, John Torode, Simon Rimmer and Rachel Allen. There is something for the whole family at this year’s event, including a series of workshops and demonstrations specifically for children.
  • ‘Earth to Alice’ 21/with Alice McCullough, Banbridge Library, Banbridge, Co Down, October 21. One of Northern Ireland’s most talented, up-and-coming spoken word entertainers invites you to join her for a fun-filled evening as she explores the boundaries of stand-up comedy, poetry, storytelling and theatre.
  • Wild Colonial Boys, Ballymena Tourist Information Centre, The Braid, Ballymena, Co Antrim, October 22. Ballymena Times editor and well-known local historian, Dessie Blackadder, gives an entertaining public talk on some of the many Ballymena soldiers who fought in various campaigns during the First World War.
  • An Evening with Maggie Ferris and Guests, Riverside Theatre, Coleraine, Co Londonderry, October 26. Popular singer, Maggie Ferris, returns to her hometown of Coleraine, for an eclectic evening of culture, music, song and dance. Maggie’s special guests will include her sister, Ann McCay and Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalists, The Innova Dance Company.
  • Pumpkins and Potions, The Argory, Moy, Co Armagh, October 25 – 26. Come dressed in your most frightening costume and enjoy a weekend of family fun at this Irish gentry house. Enter the spook shed for some ghoulish tales and follow the troll, the goblin and the witch on a fantastic Halloween Trail. Carve a pumpkin to take home and join in The Argory’s traditional Halloween activities.
  • Autumn Family Favourites Cookery Course, Belle Isle Cookery School, Lisbellaw, Co Fermanagh, October 24. Learn how to cook and prepare traditional and popular seasonal dishes in the beautiful surroundings of Belle Isle’s purpose-built, state-of-the art cookery school.
  • Bettye LaVette, Elmwood Hall, Queen’s University, Belfast, October 20. Since the 1960s, has been filling the music scene with her blues, country western, and R&B hitsBettye LaVette, has been filling the music scene with her blues, country and western and R&B hits. In one of only a few European performances this autumn, the ‘Great Lady of Soul’ will be marking her Northern Ireland debut by opening this year’s Belfast Festival at Queen’s Music  Club.
  • Songs, Games and Dance at the Cafe de Paris, Courtyard Theatre, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, October 23. Quercus Ensemble, Northern Ireland’s exciting and dynamic chamber ensemble presents an evening of classical cabaret inspired by the world’s most romantic city.
  • Titanic: Window on Emigration, Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, Co Tyrone. Until 31 January. Have you ever wondered what life was like for the emigrants from Ireland who boarded Titanic?This exhibition looks at the stories of some of the Irish emigrants. Set in the context of European emigration, you can explore the stories of the steerage passengers and why they left for the New World.Explore a third class cabin on Titanic, listen to the voices of those involved and bring to life the stories of the people who handed over their tickets in Queenstown on 11 April 1912 for a journey to a new li.  Have you ever wondered what life was like for the emigrants from Ireland who boarded Titanic? This exhibition looks at the stories of some of those people. Visitors can explore a third-class cabin and listen to the voices of those who left Ireland hoping for a new life.