It’s hard to believe the summer holidays are almost over, but no end of summer would be complete without the annual Bluegrass Picnic.

This is the finale to eight weeks of super summer Sundays so come down and spend your bank holiday Sunday in the beautiful setting of Ward Park, soaking up the sounds of American Bluegrass.

Chicago’s Henhouse Prowlers may have the traditional Bluegrass line-up of fiddle, banjo, guitar, stand-up bass and mandolin, but they do things in their own unique style. From lightning-fast picking to sentimental ballads, The Prowlers combine outstanding musical virtuosity with an energetic live performance – The Prowlers’ live show leaves no one wanting.

 

This is a great afternoon to pack a picnic, grab your friends and chill out, listening to great tunes this Sunday between 2:30-5pm.

This is a FREE event.  Please note that Ward Park is an alcohol-free zone. All events are weather dependent and therefore subject to change. This year’s music programme is in association with Open House Festival.

 

Lookout in local press each week for details on each artist or for more information phone Bangor Visitor Information Centre on 028 9127 0069 or visit visitardsandnorthdown.com

Open Mic Night at the Alley Theatre will return to the Alley Theatre this Thursday, 24^th August, featuring an almighty line up and guest host, Gary Elliott.

Locals acts including; Shonagh Forbes, Paul O’Doherty, Juno Hassan, Glen Harkin, Dean Maywood, Jay Jane Kens, Jimmy Tinney, Amy O’Neill, Ruairi McCafferty and The Elliott Duo Band, will take to the stage and showcase their amazing talents to an open audience.

Jacqui Doherty, Venue Manager of the Alley Theatre said: “This is a real opportunity for local artists to not only perform in the intimate Alley Bar but to also try out their new material on the music loving audience. The evening will be joy to all music lovers and is a perfect way to relax with family and friends. The variety of talent we will have on the night, with music styles ranging from folk, pop, country and acoustic music, will ensure everyone is entertained.”

Gary Elliott, host of the Open Mic Night at the Alley added: “This is now the second open mic night at the theatre, since the beginning of summer. After the success of the first open mic night, we knew we just had to hold another. The crowd was amazing and the talent was just spectacular first time round so we’ve decided to make it a regular thing. I’m therefore pleased to now confirm that the open mic nights will continue throughout the autumn, with three dates planned on 5^th October, 16^th November, and 21^st December. Anyone who would like to take part, please get in touch as we would love to have you perform.”

Open Mic Night at the Alley Theatre will take place on Thursday 24^th August. Doors open from 7.15pm with music beginning at 8.00pm. Tickets cost £3.00 and are available online at www.alley-theatre.com, via telephone on 028 7138 4444 or at the door on the evening (tickets will be limited). If you would like to take part in any of the open mic nights, contact Jacqueline Doherty on 028 7188 4760. Keep up to date on all events via the Alley Theatre Facebook and Twitter pages.

Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre in Limavady will host children’s classic ‘Alice Through The Looking Glass’ on Tuesday 22^nd August at 12pm.

Perfect for and families and Alice in Wonderland fans, the performance by Quantam Theatre depicts the adventures of Alice through her mirror into a strange, unknown world. Children can follow Alice’s fantastical trail as she travels across a chess board until she is finally crowned as the queen.

Packed full of Lewis Carroll’s most memorable and enduring characters, Michael Whitmore’s delightful adaption captures the charm of the original story with a modern twist.

To book tickets or to find out more information, please contact Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre on 028 7776 0650 or visit www.roevalleyarts.com

The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Maolíosa McHugh is inviting everyone to a free ‘Family Fun Day’ at the Foyle Arena on Friday 25^th August.

The fun day will benefit and help raise awareness and funds for the Mayors’ chosen charity – AWARE. The charity offers a range of support services and programmes to help and educate people on depression. The Mayor said the fun day was a great way to show support for the charity and an opportunity to provide a fun day out for families in one Council’s finest leisure and event arenas. He added: “The ‘Family Fun Day’ will be a great day out. Parents and their children are invited to come along from 2.00 – 5.00pm to enjoy the activities.

“There is so much planned for the day that will keep the children entertained for hours. Activities will include; face painting, glitter tattoos, bouncy castles, a bouncy castle obstacle course, a photo booth, kid’s carousel, free wall climbing and £1 swims!

“I am very pleased to be in my position as Mayor to host this event and I would like to ask anyone attending to support my chosen charity AWARE, by making a small donation to the charity. Representatives from AWARE will be there on the day promoting the fantastic work they do and answering any questions you many have about their work.”

In addition to the ‘Mayor’s Family Fun Day’, the Foyle Arena is one of a number of Council leisure facilities currently offering a range of summer activities for kids including; swims, squash, badminton, all for just £1 until the end of August.

“I hope families from throughout the city and district and our visitors will come along and take part in the fun filled day of free entertainment at the arena. Kids should be encouraged to be active and outdoors during the good weather and taking part in these events could be the encouragement they need to get out there and get active. Leave the television and laptops at home for a day and take in the fresh air at St. Columb’s Park and enjoy the entertainment on offer at the Foyle Arena.” He added.

Margaret McCrossan of AWARE said, “We really appreciate this support and I would like to thank the Mayor for choosing AWARE as his charity. Our trained volunteers and support groups work with people with depression and bipolar disorders as well as their carer’s. We also deliver information outreach sessions to communities, schools, universities and workplaces and provide support for those in need. Fundraising effort such as this help us to keep going and provide these much needed services. We shall be at the Foyle Area throughout the day to join in the fun activities and provide advice and information on what we can offer.”

The Mayor’s Fun Day takes place on Friday 25^th August from 2-5pm at the Foyle Arena. Further details on leisure and sports activities and facilities throughout Derry and Strabane is available at www.derrystrabane.com.

 

Come and enjoy a very different experience this Sunday 20^th August as Ards and North Down Borough Council’s David Kirk switches roles.

David spends Monday to Friday supervising the gardens in the Borough and making sure they are beautifully kept with a dazzling array of flowers.  This Sunday David will transform into a punk musician with Wasted Talent.

David – ‘can’t wait to perform in his local park’ – he regularly attends the Sunday music sessions and has been looking forward to this opportunity all summer.

He said ‘our music appeals to all age groups – we will be playing two hours of classic punk music from The Clash, The Jam, Sex Pistols, The Ramones, Stiff Little Fingers, Rudi, and many more – so spike up your hair and don’t miss out!’

Sunday afternoon’s performance will take park-goers on a trip down memory lane to their punk hey-day – a new departure for Ward Park!

If you fancy spending an afternoon in the great outdoors, enjoying top class live music, then pack a picnic and don’t miss it! The free event takes place this Sunday from 3 – 5pm.

 

Please note that Ward Park is an alcohol-free zone. All events are weather dependent and therefore subject to change. This year’s music programme is being provided by Open House Festival.

Keep an eye out in local press each week for details on each artist or for more information phone Bangor Visitor Information Centre on 028 9127 0069 or visit:

www.visitardsandnorthdown.com

Belfast Film Festival turned heads when it announced screenings of The Exorcist in a former church, but there are plenty of other site-specific summer events lined up to take your breath away including Top Gun at Ulster Aviation Society (9th September).

The Tom Cruise vehicle is up there with the best of the best high octane airborne movies, so where better to see it than in an aircraft hangar surrounded by some vintage planes that themselves have seen plenty of action?

If slapstick sports comedies are your thing, Belfast Film Festival is teeing up a screening of Caddyshack in Ormeau Golf Club (17th September). Joe Lindsay dons his best plaid pants as host for the evening and there will be prizes for the best ‘golf costumes gone wrong’.

Starring Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield and Bill Murray, this classic from 1980 takes a good-natured swing at a snob-infested golf club in the lead up to its Caddy Day tournament. With hilarious scenes of an inept greenskeeper’s attempts to kill a pesky gopher, Caddyshack will definitely cheer you up if you’re feeling below par.

Building on the success of the T13 urban park in Titanic Quarter, the new South 13 venue on Boucher Road (formerly B&Q warehouse) will be transformed into a Central American jungle for a 30th anniversary screening of Predator (2nd September).

Directed by John McTiernan and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Predator is one of the greatest sci-fi action horror thrillers. This special screening features full cosplay, interactive events and set design to bring you into the experience!

Belfast Film Festival has programmed three cinematic events as part of BFI Britain on Film: Coast and Sea. Celebrating the UK’s coastal and maritime heritage, this BFI Film Audience Network project is funded by the National Lottery.

Grabbers is a 2012 horror thriller about the residents of an island off the coast of Ireland who learn that the only way to survive an invasion of blood-sucking aliens is to stay inebriated. Better get the drinks in then for this outdoor beer garden screening on 15th September at Daft Eddy’s Bar & Restaurant, a beautiful location near the shores of Strangford Lough.

Drumalis House in Larne is the atmospheric setting on 10th September for ‘I Know Where I’m Going!’ Part of the run of consecutive classics that Powell & Pressburger made in the 1940s, it’s the story Joan Webster, a headstrong English woman who embarks on a journey north to meet her wealthy new fiancé, only to become stranded on the Isle of Mull during a tempest.

One of the best films ever made offshore, onshore or anywhere, this is a magnificently expressive and entertaining tribute both to the Western Isles and to the intoxicating effect that people and places can have upon the imagination.

And If you’re blue and you don’t know where to go to, why don’t you go to Young Frankenstein on 23rd September?

Belfast Film Festival brings the Mel Brooks comedy classic to the creepy surrounds of the derelict Downhill Demesne, a stunning National Trust property near Castlerock on the North Coast.

The remains of Downhill House provide the perfect backdrop for this affectionate parody of the horror film genre set in a Transylvanian castle.

Tickets are available online at www.belfastfilmfestival.org or from Visit Belfast on (028) 9024 6609.

The eagerly anticipated Women’s Rugby World Cup is about to land in Belfast and former Ireland international Grace Davitt insists there has never been a better time to enjoy the benefits of training in Northern Ireland’s ‘natural gyms’.

Research has found that exercising in fresh air, rather than behind closed doors is better for your health in terms of improving well-being, self-esteem and Vitamin D levels which is vital to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy.

Therefore, with two major international sporting events – the UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship and Women’s Rugby World Cup – taking place in Northern Ireland this summer, ex-rugby ace Grace, in partnership with DiscoverNorthernIreland.com, has been extolling the virtues of training outdoors.

“When I was a player we used to do a lot of our training outside, especially in the summer,” said Grace, who will be cheering on Ireland throughout the international tournament.

“There are so many different exercises you can do outside which benefit endurance, strength and of course your overall health and so I would encourage everyone to work on their fitness in Northern Ireland’s ‘natural gyms’ this summer. Personally, my favourite exercises and natural gyms include cycling around Strangford Lough and Carrickfergus and climbing Cavehill as well as water sports such as surfing at Portrush.”

Northern Ireland is blessed with a plethora of wonderful locations for outdoor pursuits with the Mourne Mountains, Fermanagh Lakelands and Causeway Coast offering up a variety of different sports and largely for free.

Tourism NI’s Outdoor Development Officer, Sheena Dickson, said. “Northern Ireland is set for a bumper summer of international sport with the Women’s Rugby World Cup taking place at the impressive Kingspan stadium on 22nd and 26th August and the UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship between 8th – 20th August across Northern Ireland.

“We are thrilled to team up with Grace to promote the benefits of exercising outdoors and here in Northern Ireland we are blessed with green space, beautiful beaches, picturesque loughs and incredible mountains which are perfect locations for getting fit.”

The six ‘outstanding outdoor gyms’ in Northern Ireland include:

1. Mourne Mountains

The Mourne Mountains are ideal for those who get bored running on a treadmill as the stunning, panoramic views stimulate the mind. There are routes for all levels, from first-timers to running fanatics. Make a weekend of it and stay at the 4* Slieve Donard Resort and Spa, which caters for walkers. After a tough workout, relax in the spa with massages tailored to recovery and improving flexibility and joint mobility.

2. Slieve Gullion

Hill-walking is a less strenuous way to build endurance and Slieve Gullion in County Armagh is perfect for it. This Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty features mountain paths, forest trails and country roads where you can see the peaks of Croslieve, Slievebrack and Mullaghbane Mountain. Book a guided tour of Slieve Gullion with Walk The Mournes to maximise your experience. Stay at the walker-friendly 4* townhouse, 14 Chapel Lane, in the heart of Armagh city to explore the county’s offerings over a few days.

3. Sperrins Sprint

This scenic, traffic-free route goes through mid-Ulster and takes around 3-4 hours to complete. Eco-adventure company, Far and Wild, offers bike hire as well as a map guide to the route, which includes accommodation, restaurants and historical points of interest. Alternatively, if you’re a thrill-seeking mountain biker, head to Davagh Forest for the 3km green trail, 7.5km blue trail or 16km red trail – which are all full of twists and turns. Rest up at the comfortable 3* Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown and replenish your energy stocks with a meal at the Glenavon House Hotel.

4. Causeway Coast

Surfing is known to improve core strength and balance – so take on Atlantic waves at one of the stunning beaches in Portrush, Portstewart or Portballintrae. Lessons are available for beginners at the likes of Troggs Surf School in Portrush, recently voted as one of the top three surf school in the UK. The Causeway Coast is also known for coasteering, which allows you to explore shallow coastal caves and hidden coves. Book in with specialists Causeway Coasteering, who provide sessions on climbing, swimming, scrambling and caving. After all that action, unwind with fantastic ocean views.at Portballintrae’s 3* Bayview Hotel.

5. Derry~Londonderry

If you want strong arms like our rugby team, you could try your hand at kayaking or canoeing. Families can try out fun canoe sessions at Creggan Country Park. Or for more of a challenge, embark on the Foyle Canoe Trail which runs through the centre of Londonderry, giving paddlers a unique perspective of the Walled City’s Gothic buildings, vast bridges and riverside trains. Afterwards, get some shuteye in the central 4* City Hotel Derry which is close to the famous walls, shops and eateries.

6. Fermanagh Lakelands

Windsurfing is a physically tough exercise which gives your whole body a workout. Take a trip to the Share Discovery Village in Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh which offers the opportunity to windsurf on the county’s famous lakelands. Share also offers skills courses for kids and adults, teaching the basics of windsurfing, canoeing and kayaking. Stay at the contemporary 4* Enniskillen Hotel and enjoy a warm welcome following a day out on the lakes.

Tickets

Tickets to the UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship cost £4. Tickets to the Women’s Rugby World Cup give you access to an entire day’s play – three matches – with prices starting from just £7 for children, £12 for adults and £36 for families. For more information and to plan your short break visit www.discovernorthernireland.com.