10 things to do in Northern Ireland

DiscoverNorthernIreland.com has stacks of fun things to do across NI, from family days out to gigs and cultural events. Here are ten exciting things taking place this week (25 February – 3 March)

1.       BMS International Festival of Chamber Music, Belfast, 1 – 3 March. The International Festival of Chamber Music is Northern Ireland’s premier chamber music event, presenting top international classical musicians alongside outstanding local artists in three days of world-class concerts and recitals at the Crescent Arts Centre.

2.       Frank Carson – Rebel Without A Pause, Newry, 27 February. In this acclaimed one–man show at the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre, we journey with Frank from his Belfast boyhood – where life was so tough even the arms on the chairs had tattoos – through his adventures in the army, and into the world of showbiz where he entertained Royalty, delighted Pope John Paul II and never forgot where he came from.

3.       World Seniors Snooker World Championship, Belfast, 3 March. Players including Jimmy White, Ken Doherty and Stephen Hendry go head to head in a bid to lift the world crown at the Waterfront Hall. 

4.       Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Belfast, 1 March.  From their formation in 2002 and a cameo appearance at T in the Park in 2004 to opening the main stage in their own right in 2014, the past sixteen years have seen the Red Hot Chilli Pipers become the most famous bagpipe band on the planet. They perform this March at the SSE Arena.

5.       Cherishing Mythology, Armagh, 1 March – 6 April. Armagh Art Club’s Biennial Exhibition takes a journey through Mythology, linking with many of the myths and legends familiar to all. From their individual approaches and variety of skills and techniques, the artists open up the inspirational world of make believe and imagination, woven though by threads of reality.

6.       W5 and Giants Joint Ticket, Belfast, 3 March.  Discover over 250 interactive exhibits at the award-winning Science and Discovery Centre and then watch NI’s professional ice-hockey team hit the ice to take on Manchester Storm in The SSE Arena.

7.       Long Meadow Farm Tour, Craigavon, 2 – 22 March. Visit Long Meadow Farm for an unforgettable, fully guided tour in the heart of the Orchard County. Traverse bountiful orchards, explore the cider-making facilities and sample award-winning Irish ciders all in the good company of the friendly and welcoming farm patrons, the McKeever family.

8.       A Vision of Elvis, Belfast, 2 March. Starring Rob Kingsley, winner of The National Tribute Music Awards ‘Official Elvis Show’ and ‘Number One Male Tribute’, A Vision of Elvis is internationally renowned as ‘the best Elvis Presley tribute concert touring the world today’ and is coming to the Waterfront Hall.

9.       Tim Peake Spacecraft and VR Experience, Holywood, 20 February – 11 May. Tim Peake’s Spacecraft, presented by Samsung and the Science Museum Group, is touring the UK and will land at the Ulster Transport Museum on 20 February. The display of the iconic craft will be accompanied by Space Descent VR supported by Samsung, a unique virtual reality adventure narrated by Tim Peake himself.

10.   Pizza and Pottery Night, Bangor, 28 February. Loaf Pottery’s popular pizza and pottery nights begin with a pottery class where their potter will give a demo of throwing a pot on the wheel before teaching a hand building class.

For more information on these events or to plan a short break in Northern Ireland, visit www.DiscoverNorthernIreland.com.