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

• Belfast Mela, Botanic Gardens, Belfast, August 30. Round off your summer at this magnificent celebration of music, dance, food and fashion from all over the world. Savour the sights and sounds from across the globe with thousands of others at this unique and colourful event in the beautiful setting of Belfast’s Botanic Gardens.

• Carnival of Colours, St. Columb’s Park, Derry, Co. Londonderry, August 29-30. In Your Space Circus return to Columb’s Park with their flagship festival, the Carnival of Colours this bank holiday weekend. Festivalgoers of all ages can enjoy a wide variety of international street theatre, local acts and shows by some of the world’s funniest circus performers, with belly laughs guaranteed!

• A Night of Americana, Alley Theatre, Strabane, Co. Tyrone, August 29. Jack Grelle is a country, folk and honky tonk songwriter from Missouri who sings his personal stories of the road and people he has met along the way, and Ags Connolly is a country singer-songwriter hailing from Oxfordshire who has been described as “the closest we’ve ever come to an English Willie Nelson.” Both will be performing at this great night of southern Americana music.

• Van Morrison Walking Tour, starting at Eastside Visitor Centre, East Belfast, Belfast, August 27-29. In the days before his 70^th birthday, take this opportunity to visit some of the places in the East Belfast of his youth, guided by Lynn Corken. Tickets cost £5 and are available from the Visit Belfast welcome centre.

• 2^nd Annual Newry City Blues Festival, Various Locations, Newry, Co. Down, August 27-31. A number of Newry City bars and restaurants will play host to a host of top class blues and jazz musicians both international and local. Artists include The Bluez Katz, Allison McGrath and Cold Porter, while special spicy food menus will be available throughout the big blistering blues festival weekend.

• Dunluce Castle Artisan Food and Craft Market, Dunluce Castle, Bushmills, Co. Antrim, August 29. Naturally North Coast bring their Artisan Food and Craft Market to this iconic setting from 11am – 4pm on Saturday 29^th August. Come along to explore, discover new flavours, stumble upon artistic talent, and savour a uniquely vibrant atmosphere.

• River To Lough Festival, Eel Fishery, Tombe, Co. Londonderry, August 29. Come and sample world famous Lough Neagh eel, while fishermen tell stories of the history and heritage of the Lough. Award-winning food writer and television presenter James McIntosh will be giving cookery demonstrations, and there will be live music to be enjoyed throughout the day.

• The Auld Lammas Fair 2015, Ballycastle, Co. Antrim, August 24-25. Thousands of people will be descending on the beautiful seaside town of Ballycastle for Ireland’s oldest traditional market fair. The present day fair includes a wide array of market stalls and street entertainment, with two days of trading, bargaining, busking and amusements all contributing to the great atmosphere.

• Famine Wall Walk, Crossmaglen Community Centre, Crossmaglen, Co. Armagh, August 30. Join Seamus Murphy, a knowledgeable and experienced hill walker for a guided hill walk and exploration of local history on Slieve Gullion Mountain to visit and learn about the infamous Famine Walls.

• Rock Detective Club, Marble Arch Caves, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, August 26. An exciting expedition for 4-12 year-olds, who can take part in a treasure hunt or try their hand at orienteering, whilst finding out about the array of plants, many of which have existed for millions of years.

Please note some of the events require pre-booking. For more details on these and other events click on www.discovernorthernireland.com/events, visit your local tourist information centre or log onto www.facebook.com/discovernorthernireland.

The stunning cliff path walk is set to reclaim its title as Northern Ireland’s premier visitor attraction as it opens to the public.

After six decades of closure and a £7.5 million investment, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council today (Wednesday 19^th August 2015) reopened The Gobbins to the public, giving eager thrill-seekers the chance to uncover the once hidden wonder of the Antrim coast and indulge in an exhilarating cliff path walk.

The reimagined cliff path will draw in thousands of visitors each year from across the globe as well as re-establishing itself as the iconic Northern Ireland attraction it once was.

Speaking in advance of the public opening, the Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough, Councillor Billy Ashe said: “This is a very exciting time for the Mid and East Antrim Borough, the local community of Islandmagee and for the people of Northern Ireland. We have brought back an exhilarating experience that reinforces the strength of Northern Ireland’s tourism offering and in no time The Gobbins will become the respected tourism giant it once was all those years back.”

Comprising of suspension tubular bridges, caves, steps, and tunnels carved through the spectacular rock face here, Mid and East Antrim Borough’s reimagined treasure has brought what was once a thriving 1900’s hotspot into the 21st century.

Along the trail, visitors will not only enjoy spectacular views of the natural landscape here but get up close to a diverse range of wildlife and gain privileged access to Northern Ireland’s only mainland colony of Puffins alongside various other bird species.

As well as the geological interests, Gobbins Cliff Path boasts history and heritage. It was first enjoyed in 1902 by the Edwardians following its original development by visionary Berkeley Deane Wise, Chief Engineer of the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway Company.

After relishing five decades as Northern Ireland’s top tourism attraction, even exceeding the popularity of the Giant’s Causeway in its heyday, The Gobbins went into disrepair and closed to the public in 1954.

While Gobbins has preserved its original charm to offer the same spellbinding appeal that it did in its prime, new additions bring it into the modern day, including a state-of-the-art Visitor Centre with a café, an Interpretation/ Exhibition space, pre-tour rooms, a shop for branded memorabilia and local crafts, as well as a Tourist Information point.

The Mayor concluded: “It is with great pride and excitement that we open the doors of The Gobbins and share its majestic story with a new generation. There has always been a huge interest in the attraction even long after it closed and today that interest has been heightened dramatically. The demand to experience what is a truly amazing jewel in the Antrim Coastal crown has stretched beyond Northern Ireland as far afield as Australia.

“Bookings are coming in fast and the demand has been phenomenal. I have no doubt that the enthusiasm for The Gobbins will continue to grow rapidly for the foreseeable future.”

The Gobbins cliff path requires a reasonable level of fitness. There is also a height restriction in place and booking online is essential at www.thegobbinscliffpath.com for the hourly tours that depart on the hour from 10am until 3pm is essential. Tickets cost £8.50 per person and £23 for family tickets.

Air Waves Portrush has added a Hollywood A-lister to its stellar airshow lineup for early September.

Sally B, the star of David Puttnam’s 1989 film Memphis Belle, will make a VIP (Very Important Plane) display on the eastern shoreline at Portrush on Saturday 5^th September.

Correctly known as a Flying Fortress, “Sally B” is the last remaining airworthy B-17 in Europe and this year celebrates its 70^th birthday.  Memphis Belle told the story of the first B-17 to complete 25 missions over enemy territory in WW2.  Sally B’s movie co-stars included Matthew Modine, Harry Connick Jnr and Tate Donovan.

The Flying Fortress is just one of many major attractions across the weekend, which will include the RAF Red Arrows (on both days), one of the most iconic single seat strike fighters, the SAAB Viggen jet fighter ‘Thunderbolt’, and the impressive, jet-powered vintage Avro Vulcan bomber. The majestic Vulcan is the only flying Vulcan in the world and this exclusive appearance in Ireland will be its first and last before being permanently grounded in September.

Other aerial highlights will include the RAF Typhoon jet, two RAF Hawk jets, Wild Geese Parachute Display Team, the Blades Display Team, Autogyro, and Royal Navy Sea King Helicopter, among the strongest line-up for years.

With Sally B, the Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane in the air, the WWII theme is carried over on the ground with live music from the Swing Gals and a GI army camp courtesy of Wartime Living History.

Family fun is the focus for ground-based activities which include a play zone,  the Motor Village, vintage aircraft display, 6 helicopters on static display,  Star Wars characters, artisan marketplace,  and the very best of North Coast hospitality.

Air Waves Portrush, organised by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and sponsored by Tourism Northern Ireland, is set to enthral the 100,000 spectators who are expected to attend.  The event marks the end of the 2015 summer season in Northern Ireland’s much-loved coastal resort.

For more information on Air Waves Portrush visit www.airwavesportrush.co.uk or search for Air Waves Portrush on social media.

2015 marks the 75^th anniversary of the Battle of Britain – the greatest aerial conflict of the Second World War, which turned the tide in the war against Germany.

In recognition of this important anniversary, Ards and North Down Borough Council is holding a special commemorative event featuring a spitfire and hurricane fly-past, jazz picnic and vintage fair at Ards Air Field on Saturday 19 September.

The sounds of the 40s will be recreated by headline act the Syd Lawrence Orchestra, known as the ‘Best Big Band in the Land’.

For further information on this event please contact Ards Visitor Information Centre on (028) 9182 6846 or email ardsvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

A team of 30 determined and dauntless women will take on a unique 30-day charity fitness challenge this autumn. Could you be one of them?

Cancer Fund for Children, the leading NI charity for children and young people living with cancer is calling on women aged 18 and over to sign up to pretty TOUGH. It will take place in the greater Belfast area and will involve indoor and outdoor activities catering to all fitness levels which will run from September 21st to October 20th, 2015.

Led by Bangor-based Tribal Fitness, the challenge is just the excuse to get outdoors, get fit and have some fun. Locations include Ashfield School in Belfast, the Ozone at Ormeau Park and Seapark in Holywood. Activities include circuits, bootcamp drills, team games and relays as well as relaxation.

At the same time participants will be raising vital funds for Cancer Fund for Children, a charity dedicated to ensuring families don’t have to face cancer alone through its unique offer of practical, emotional and financial support services as well as free therapeutic short breaks to families across the island of Ireland.

Cancer Fund for Children service user and NI 4 Kids magazine’s Mum of the Year -Tracey McGeehan is getting behind the pretty TOUGH recruitment campaign. She organised similar events in her home county of Tyrone recently which raised over £40k. She decided to support the charity’s work after receiving help when her little girl Cassie was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2010 aged just 18 months.

Tracey said: “Events like pretty TOUGH are a perfect way of getting out there and getting fit. This challenge will also raise funds for a charity that really helped my family through such a difficult time by offering us a free short break at its therapeutic facility Daisy Lodge in Newcastle which allowed us to escape the pressures of hospital visits and treatment.”

Cancer Fund for Children’s CEO Gillian Creevy said: “By taking part in pretty TOUGH your support will be helping families affected by cancer get through the “toughest time of their lives”. Every week in Northern Ireland another three children, teenagers and young adults are diagnosed with cancer. We rely on donations and goodwill from the public. Funds raised will enable our team of experienced specialists to help even more families cope with the impact cancer has on their lives supporting them during and after treatment and sadly in some cases, bereavement.”

The registration fee for pretty TOUGH is £70. Minimum sponsorship is £300. A full timetable will be provided upon registration. For more information or to register log on to cancerfundforchildren.com, call 028 9080 5599 or email alex@cancerfundforchildren.com.

Fans of Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello and Jackson Browne should hurry along to Ward Park this Sunday, August 23, as Ards and North Down Borough Council’s Summer Sundays continue at The Bandstand with Nathan O’Regan and his band.

Cork-born Nathan has been working hard on crafting his live performances and draws crowds wherever he goes all over Ireland.

Despite being only 22 years old, Nathan is an old soul. The Cork-born performer is one of the hardest working musicians around and has attracted acclaim from people of all ages, and is sure to have many fans in the audience in Ward Park.

So if you fancy relaxing to some smooth sounds in beautiful surroundings then pack a picnic and get down to Ward Park, this Sunday from 3 – 5pm.

Please note that Ward Park is an alcohol-free zone.

Keep an eye out in local press each week for details on each artist or for more information phone our Tourist Information Centre on 028 9127 0069 or visit: www.visitardsandnorthdown.com

With 12 days of events The EastSide Arts Festival, 19-31^st August, supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, includes readings, jazz, heritage tours, drama, comedy, music, visual arts, songwriters, children’s workshops, community events.  Here’s 12 fantastic reasons why you should check it out or visit www.eastsidearts.net for more!

Date: Wednesday 19^th and Thursday 20^th August

Event: David C Clements
Location and time: Strand Arts Centre, 8pm
Tickets: £10
Info:
Two nights featuring two sides of David C Clements and his music.  Both nights will feature a selection of songs from his forthcoming debut album and Thursday 20^th will see David joined by a full band.

Date: Thursday 20^th August

Event: Storytelling with Young At Art
Locationand time: Short Strand Community Centre, 11am to 1pm
Tickets: FREE, but booking required
Info:
Listen to a professional storyteller who will thrill kids with an exciting tale.  Kids can chill out on huge bean bags with their big folks and read a book.

Date: Friday 21^st August

Event: A Time to Speak
Location and time:  Strand Arts Centre, 7pm
Tickets: £8
Info:
Joan McCready sensitively performs the story of the remarkable Helen Lewis. A dancer in Prague, Helen was interned in the Terezin Ghetto and deported to Auschwitz. After the war she settled in Belfast and became active with the Lyric Theatre.

Date: Saturday 22^nd August

Event: SOAK
Location and time: Strand Arts Centre, 8pm
Tickets: £15
Info:
SOAK is one of Northern Ireland’s fastest rising music stars. Performing in her hometown of Derry since the age of 14 her album has been attracting rave reviews – STOP PRESS: for this performance, SOAK will be joined by special guest Hannah Mc Phillimy and Alice McCullough.

Date: Saturday 22^nd August

Event: EastSide out loud – readings by Jan Carson & Andrew Eaton
Location and time: Belmont Tower, 6.30pm
Tickets: £7
Info:
These two East Belfast based writers offer readings from their new works.

Date: Sunday 23^rd August

Event: The Holy Holy Bus
Location and time: Stormont Hotel, 8pm
Tickets: £10
Info:
In association with Feile An Phobail EastSide Arts Festival welcomes this fantastic performance which features four women on a bus tour which leaves west Belfast for a tour of holy sites of Ireland.

Date: Monday 24^th August

Event: Boundary Brewing Tour
Location and time: Boundary Brewing CO-OP, Portview Trade Centre, 3pm
Tickets: £10
Info:
Boundary is Belfast’s first cooperative brewery.  Come for a tour, learn about the brewing process and hear their story.

Date:  Tuesday 25^th August

Event: Glenn Patterson – Here’s Me Here
Location and time : Strand Arts Centre, 8pm
Tickets: £10
Info:
Join the Festival Book Club… Belfast Author Glenn Patterson reads from his new book ‘Here’s Me Here’, a collection of his writing for print and broadcast. Introducing and interviewing Glenn on the night is BBC NI’s Marie Louise Muir. Purchase a ticket for the show and get a copy of the book free.

Date: Tuesday 25^th August

Event: Altan with Kathleen Turner
Location and time: Stormont Hotel, 8pm
Tickets: £17
Info:
After 35 years together – the longest running line-up of founding members in Irish music – the members of Altan will bring their unique music to the festival and will be  joining  the band for this rare Belfast date will be rising star Kathleen Turner.

Date: Wednesday 26^th August

Event:  A sharing of Traditions – Willie Drennan, Colum Sands, John Trotter, Martin Donohue & Friends
Location and time: Park Avenue Hotel, 8pm
Tickets: £12
Info:
Irish, Ulster-Scots and Scots Gaelic have their subtle differences for sure. What they have in common is a love for stirring music, lore and laugher.  Be prepared to be entertained and enlightened by this eclectic mix of performers.

Date: Thursday 27^th August

Event: Sequamur – WW1 Drama in Scots Gaelic
Location and time: Belvoir Players Theatre, 8pm (also  Fri 28^th)
Tickets: £10
Info:
Following a 5-star review at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this play reflects the life of Headmaster William Gibson whose inspirational leadership led many young many from the Western isles of Scotland to war in 1914.

Date: Saturday 29^th August

Event: Orangefield Park Celebrations
Location and time: Orangefield Park, 1pm to 5pm
Tickets: FREE
Info:
A day filled with family fun – music, street t

Solitude Park in Banbridge is set to twist and shout on Friday 28 August when the Classic Beatles take to the stage at 7.30pm with a musical tribute to the famous Fab Four.

The band will be bringing the unmistakable sound of the Merseybeat to the town with a free concert featuring classics covering the complete Beatles catalogue, from the early mop top era of I Wanna Hold Your Hand and She Loves You through the psychedelic period of Sgt Pepper right up to the final curtain call of Let it Be .

The Classic Beatles, who originate from Co. Wicklow, have been captivating audiences with their note perfect renditions for the past 20 years. The highlight of their career was when they were invited by none other than the man they call the fifth-Beatle, producer Sir George Martin, to perform at the National Concert Hall, Dublin with a 72 piece Orchestra for three sell out shows with Sir George going as far as to say, “the vocal resemblance is uncanny”.

The critically acclaimed act has also received high praises in the media with The Independent declaring “Until someone invents a time-machine, this is probably as close as you’ll get to the real thing.”

So whether you are taking a trip back to your youth or discovering the fab four for the first time why not take a Magical Mystery Tour through Penny Lane, past Strawberry Fields and down the Long and Winding Road to Solitude Park.

For further information contact Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council on 028 4066 0609, go to the council website at www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk or see www.facebook.com/armaghbanbridgecraigavon

Following previous sell-out performances here at The Market Place Theatre, Marie Jones’ hilarious comedy ‘Fly Me To The Moon’ returns for two nights only on Friday 28^th and Saturday 29^th August at 8pm.

Francis and Loretta are community care visitors. Davy, one of their elderly charges, has had a significant win on the horses, but he doesn’t know. When the cash-strapped women learn that Davey will not be around for a considerable time they are faced with a mouth-watering dilemma. How far are they prepared to go for a little windfall that apparently hurts no-one?

Marie Jones is the author of some of the most successful plays ever produced on the island of Ireland, including the fabulous ‘Stones In His Pockets’. She’s one of the few Irish playwrights whose works have consistently been staged back to back on Broadway and New York City’s main stages over the past three decades. ‘Fly Me To The Moon’ investigates whether we are valued more in life or in death.

Tickets priced £16 and £13 (concession) are available through the Box Office on [028] 3752 1821, or online at www.marketplacearmagh.com

And to keep up-to-date with the latest news at the Market Place Theatre, you can follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/marketplacearmagh) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/mptarmagh) where you will find all the latest information, special offers and video previews.

It’s a case of lights, eels and lots of action this bank holiday weekend at Lough Neagh.  Lumarina will light up Ballyronan Marina on Friday 28 August from 7.00pm while the River to Lough Festival will celebrate the world renowned Eel Fishery in Toome on Saturday 29 August from noon.

Lumarina – 7.00pm on Friday 28 August

Lighting up the marina at Ballyronan, join your family and friends at this illuminated spectacular with a fireworks finale on the lough.  Entry is priced at only £3 per person and you can either enjoy live music from 7.00pm or if you’re feeling energetic you can go zorbing, paintballing, take a trip on Segway and for the really adventurous or ultra fit who are up for some daredevil action there’s an assault course!  There’ll be an array of street food and craft to choose from and amusements will entertain the little ones before fire dances, Irish, jive and hip hop dancing will liven up the lough side before the light show and fireworks bring Lumarina to a close.  All activities and amusements are free upon entry.

Eimear Kearney, Marketing Manager, Lough Neagh Partnership, said: “The unique illuminated event, Lumarina has gained a reputation for being a great night out for all the family, becoming a real attraction for the destination.”

This event has been made possible by Lough Neagh Partnership, Mid Ulster District Council and Tourism NI.

More details can be obtained from Lough Neagh Partnership, tel 028 7941 7941 and found at www.lumarina.co.uk or find us on www.facebook.com/Lumarinafestival

River to Lough Festival – 12 noon on Saturday 29 August

The Eel Fishery at Toome will open its doors to showcase the famous Lough Neagh eel for a day of family fun which includes storytelling, an eel exhibition, activities specifically suited to children, factory tours and the all important opportunity to taste this global phenomenon.  Entry is free.

World award winning cookery writer and China Food TV presenter James McIntosh and BBC’s Paula McIntyre will be joined by local chefs, Eddie Attwell of Ard Tara and David Gillmore of James Street South to demonstrate sumptuous eel and other Lough Neagh fish recipes.  Michael Lennon of the White River hotel will cook up a storm in the ‘Taste and Dine’ pop up restaurant offering a unique eel supper priced at £10 for adults and only £5 for children.  There’s even a special 20% discount if you book online in advance at www.rivertolough.co.uk.  Booking is advised to avoid disappointment.  The pop-up restaurant will serve between 12 noon – 4pm.

Pat Close, Chairman of the Lough Neagh Fishermen’s Co-operative Society Ltd said: “The River to Lough Festival promises heritage, culture, history, fun and most importantly, a chance to taste the world renowned Lough Neagh eel. We are confident based on last year’s event that this will truly offer something for all the family to enjoy.”

River to Lough Festival on Saturday 29 August has been made possible by Lough Neagh Fishermen’s Co-operative, Lough Neagh Partnership, Mid Ulster District Council, Tourism NI and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise’s NI Regional Development Programme.

More details can be obtained from the eel fishery, tel 028 7965 0618 and found at www.rivertolough.co.uk

You can follow the festival on facebook – www.facebook.com/rivertoloughfestival and if you’re tweeting don’t forget to use the hashtags #lumarina and #loughneagheels