Jacqueline shares her pick of what’s on this weekend across NI!

Down

The UPU Plough Fest is coming to Hillsborough’s Plough Inn from Thursday 24th – Saturday 26th August. Aimed at keeping the spirit of the Hillsborough Oyster Festival alive, this festival is not to be missed by locals and foodies across the UK and Ireland. UPU Plough Fest will kick off on the evening of Thursday 24th August with a pop-up restaurant hosted by internationally renowned Brazilian chef, Andre Lima de Luca. Foodies are expected to return to Hillsborough in droves to enjoy the best of barbecue cooking from the king of the fire pit.

Armagh

Learn about foraging for food and the wealth of foods available around the countryside this weekend.  Take a walk around Navan Fort on Sunday 27th August and, under the guidance of the resident expert, collect food to bring to prepare for cooking.  Sample some fayre made with foraged foods like berries, vegetables, apples and even nettles! This is a FREE drop in event from 11.00am to 3.00pm.

Fermanagh

The Harvest 2017 Country Music Festival on 26th & 27th August in Ballinamallard will feature an exciting line up of Irish and International artists.  Get up close and personal to the songwriters behind the songs at the Harvest Café. Enjoy the full festival experience at dedicated Dancing sessions a food village, market stalls, funfair, full bar facilities. Camping options including Glamping, campervan facilities and family camping area are all on offer. The line-up for Enniskillen includes Miranda Lambert, Charley Pride, Maddie & Tae, Nathan Carter, Kip Moore, Jake Carter and more!

Tyrone

The Emerald Garrison, will be Invading Mid Ulster this weekend with the hugely popular Invasion show at the Burnavon Theatre Cookstown!  The show includes a line-up of fun interactive activities as well as an amazing interactive walk around exhibition of life size Props & Sets created by fans!  Meet and pose with over 30 costumed characters including Storm Troopers, Jedi Knights, Bounty Hunters, Clone Troopers, Sith Lords, Wookies and many, many more! Experience Force Training with the Emerald Garrison’s Jedi instructors and have lots of fun learning the ways of the force and battle the dark forces.  Daily shows take place on 26th and 27th August at 10am, 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, 5pm.

Derry/Londonderry

Discover the magic in Maghera Walled Garden on Saturday 26th August when a spellbinding collection of fairies and elves will take over and turn it into an enchanted garden!  Join in the fun from 12.00pm to – 4.00pm for a FREE Family Fun Day which will leave you wanting to become a real life fairy or elf! Whirl through the garden to find all the tiny fairies and elves hidden in the pathways in their homemade wooden houses. Meet Strawberry the Summer Fairy on her HUGE magical throne, as she recites traditional tales underneath the Whispering Story Tree.  Make your own fairy wand or elf hat with one of our own fairies or elves.

Antrim

Enjoy some free family fun and music performances at the Shoreline Festival, Loughshore Park Jordanstown, over the bank holiday weekend.  Usual favourites such as amusements, band concerts, live music, inflatables, outdoor activities, sensory play, street theatre shows and circus skills will be available on both days.  On Saturday night there will be fireworks and live music from Faith, The George Michael Experience and on Sunday evening, Oasis tribute band Roll With It will bring this “Supersonic” weekend to a close. With the exception of the amusement rides, all events and activities are absolutely FREE!  So be ‘shore’ not to miss out on two fantastic and affordable days of fun for all the family before school starts back!

Belfast

Making Waves with Craft NI on board HMS Caroline will return on Saturday 26th August and Monday 28th August.  This is a drop in session between 11.00am and 3.00pm. Fun for all the Family!  Join artist Julie Greenlee on board and learn how to weave using peg looms. Use a variety of wool and fabric strips to create ‘waves’ which will then be joined together and suspended from the ceiling creating colourful, gently flowing waves. This is a free activity, however, normal entrance fees will apply. See www.hmscaroline.co.uk for further information and to book your ticket now.  Drop in sessions between 11.00am and 3.00pm.­

 

For more details on these events and to add your events free go to whatsonni.com. Follow us on twitter @whatsonNI and on facebook at fb.com/www.whatsonni.com for news, competitions and what’s on near you.