Down
Join in with all the craic and banter this St Patrick’s Day at Exploris in Portaferry with their underwater and reptilian friends. Take part in themed arts and crafts in the Crabby Craft club or get your hands wet with daily open pool demonstrations. Plus, lots more surprises for all the family. Book your tickets online (24 hours in advance) to be fast tracked and discounted.
Armagh
Celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day in Armagh with a spectacular display of colour, music, dance and entertainment for all to enjoy as the wonderful procession snakes it way through the city centre. The procession route runs from the Palace Demesne, Irish Street, Ogle Street, Thomas Street, Market Street, Market Street to English Street, onto Cathedral Road, past the Shambles Yard before finishing at the grounds of Cathedral Road Recreation Centre.
Fermanagh
Enjoy a St. Patrick’s Day like no other in Ireland’s only island town, Enniskillen.
Broadmeadow : 1:30pm – 3.30pm, St. Patrick’s Day Water Activities & Family Fun Day, Broadmeadow. Free family fun day at the Lakeland Forum with special guests and activities including face painting, bouncy castles & live music. St. Patrick Arrives at the Broadmeadow for a meet and greet, grab a selfie! St. Patrick leads off the parade from the Forum through our island town. 3.30pm – 4.30pm Festival Parade from The Forum to The Enniskillen Castle.
Town Centre : 2.30pm –3.30pm Street Entertainment featuring a live music entertainment. 3.30pm Main Parade, Performances at East Bridge Street, The Diamond and Church Street.
Tyrone
The long goodbye – in addition to the vibrant music, crafts and festivities for the Ulster American Folk Park St Patrick’s Day Celebrations on Saturday 17 March, costumed guides will be re-enacting the emotive send-off which was carried out by countless thousands of people before their voyage from Ireland to America in the 1700s and 1800s. Known as the ‘American’ or ‘Living Wake’, re-live this dramatic re-enactment complete with music, song and dance as the family gather to bid a sad farewell to the departing emigrant. Normal Folk Park admission pricing applies, for more information visit www.nmni.com
Derry/Londonderry
Celebrate St Patrick’s Day 2018 with an action packed weekend of activities for all the family at the St Patrick’s Spring Carnival, Derry this Saturday and Sunday. The two day festival will be a celebration of Music, Food and Culture and include a number of key events throughout the city including St. Patrick’s Day Carnival Parade, Ubuntu Global Festival and the LegenDerry Food Festival. For more information visit derrystrabane.com/springcarnival.
Antrim
On Saturday 17 March celebrate St Patrick’s Day climbing the slopes of historic Slemish. There are spectacular views, an exceptional outdoor experience and some traditional entertainment on offer as thousands trek up Slemish Mountain this St. Patrick’s Day. Raceview Mill and Broughshane & District Community Association will provide the hub of the event, with free activities for all the whole family to enjoy, from artisan market with live demos, children’s entertainment, small speciality car show and live music.
Belfast
Enjoy a family fun day at Colin Glen this St Patrick’s Day, with a range of activities, including the very popular Gruffalo Trail, Fairy village and Stick man Trails. The event will mark the launch of the Spring/Summer season for the park and visitors will be able to have a go at a range of outdoor activities, such as the climbing wall, zip line, high and low ropes course, laser tag and archery. Of course, being St. Patrick’s Day, the park will be filled with music & entertainers and children will be able to get into the atmosphere with glitter tattoo’s, balloon modellers and bouncy castles. There will also be a food & craft village, so you can take a break from the activities and browse through some of the stalls.
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.
Jacqueline