Here are ten exciting things to do 3 – 9 July
- Stendhal Festival, Limavady, County Londonderry, 6-8 July. Roll up to the amazing Stendhal Festival, Northern Ireland’s biggest independent music and arts festival since 2011. Enjoy music, comedy, poetry, a dedicated family programme and a host of visual arts. This year’s line-up consists of legendary reggae band The Wailers, Irish rockers Bell X1, Ivor Novello, award winning jazz musician, Yazz Ahmed, the Roe Valley’s own Cara Dillon, and many more.
- The Derry Girls Experience, Derry~Londonderry, County Londonderry, 4 July. Visit the home of Derry Girls and discover where it all began. The Tower Museum is showcasing original memorabilia from the hit show, like Erin’s diary, Aunt Sarah’s famous pyjamas and Ma Mary’s Woolworths sweater, not to mention the infamous Spice Girls costumes. Step into the set of the Quinn’s household and feel like one of the family. Sister Michael fan? Don’t miss your chance to sit on her chair and roll your eyes at anyone who crosses your path.
- Open-Air Theatre: The Secret Garden, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, 4 July. Chapterhouse Theatre Company is proud to present The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Picnic with friends and family and enjoy this enchanting story, loved by children and adults alike. Relive this tale of secrecy and curiosity in what will be one of the highlights of the summer. The Secret Garden will be performed in the grounds of Enniskillen Castle, a stunning open-air venue for a wonderful evening of theatre under the stars.
- Benone Artisan Market, Limavady, County Londonderry, 9 July. This free artisan market by Naturally North Coast and Glens is an excellent showcase of local food, culture, heritage, and traditions, and it is an ideal destination for anyone looking for an authentic experience. Benone offers visitors an enticing mix of a coastal location with the beautiful backdrop of Binevenagh Mountain. This market aims to keep things authentic, providing an opportunity to meet some of Northern Ireland’s excellent producers and creative small businesses.
- Family Fun at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, Armagh, County Armagh, 4-9 July. Visit the Armagh Planetarium this summer and have fun with science and nature. Jurassic Ark Encounters will be bringing their reptile friends to meet you. Get up close and personal with some of nature’s most fascinating and amazing animals, like snakes, lizards, tortoises and many more. This is an educational learning session about nature’s most fascinating family, the reptiles.
- Comber Farmers’ Market, Comber, Down, 6 July. Come on down to the award-winning Comber Farmers’ Market. There are over 24 regular traders selling artisan food and plants. This market provides a wide range of local produce including breads, cheeses, vegetables, fruit, cakes, traybakes, jams, flowers, chocolates and many more. In addition, the ladies of the church catering committee will be providing morning tea, coffee and homemade scones, buns and biscuits in the church hall.
- Secret Garden, Belfast, County Antrim, 7 July. Enjoy an evening stroll through Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park, famous for the International Rose Garden. This walk will focus on some of the less well-known aspects of the grounds and the local history of the park. The beautiful Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park is comprised of rolling meadows, woodland, riverside fields and formal gardens. The City of Belfast International Rose Garden has made the park world famous, containing over 20,000 blooms in the summer. Don’t miss out on seeing the wonderful blooms!
- Hannah Starkey, Principled & Revolutionary: Northern Ireland’s Peace Women, Belfast, County Antrim, 3-9 July. The National Museums NI has partnered with Belfast Photo Festival to present their newly commissioned body of work by renowned photographer, Hannah Starkey at the Ulster Museum. This co-curated exhibition celebrates and honours the women who helped bring peace to Northern Ireland and pays tribute to their efforts in social and political work. The 21 portraits in this exhibition highlight some of the many women who have been pivotal to peace building and community activism in this country through their work in the political, cultural and social sphere.
- Conleth McGeary The Homecoming Tour, Dungannon, County Tyrone, 7 July. Conleth McGeary will be performing at Ranfurly House Arts & Visitor Centre to share some original music. The ‘Liverpool Irish phenomenon’ (Liverpool Echo) has been quietly penning new music and crafting his new sound in the UAE away from everybody. The Tyrone born singer has taken himself out of the local scene in Liverpool where he resides, to work on his original music which he holds close to his heart and is planning his return with a bang. His Irish ‘Homecoming Tour’ will give you a glimpse as to why he has been reluctant to share his new songs until now.
- DRAGONS at W5, Belfast, County Antrim. Are you ready to come face-to-face with DRAGONS at W5? For centuries one mythical creature has fascinated and enthralled young and old more than any other. This summer, an epic adventure awaits at W5 as you enter a world of Dragons. This thrilling new experience will bring to life these awe-inspiring creatures using large scale animatronics, puppetry, projections, immersive soundscape technology and fully themed environments. Encounter a range of moving, roaring, smoke breathing beasts.
Booking is essential for most activities. Book in advance to avoid disappointment. Subject to availability.
For more information on what’s on or to plan a short break in Northern Ireland, visit https://discovernorthernireland.com/