Northern Ireland is the place to be this Easter for some egg-citing family fun and Tourism Northern Ireland is encouraging people of all ages to get out and about to enjoy the packed programme of events taking place over the holiday.

Tourism NI’s Communication and Destination PR Officer, Rachel Quigg, has praised the array of activities happening throughout Northern Ireland.

“With schools off for the holidays and the days starting to get longer, Easter is a great time for families and this year there is plenty going on in all parts of Northern Ireland to make sure the holiday is fun, educational and action-packed.

“Whatever your age and wherever you live, there will be something for everybody to do this Easter,” Rachel concluded.

To help you to plan your Easter break in Northern Ireland, Tourism NI has highlighted some of the many events taking place.

Belfast

Easter Afternoon Tea, Titanic Belfast, March 27. Enjoy a wonderful Easter Afternoon Tea in the opulent surroundings of the Titanic Suite for a wonderful celebration by the Grand Staircase.  Live jazz music will add atmosphere to your afternoon as you dine on a delicious selection of finger sandwiches, delicious cakes, sweets and freshly baked scones with clotted cream.

Spring into Easter Festival, City Hall, March 26-29. Enjoy the Easter break by going along to Belfast City Council’s annual Easter Festival which will include a range of fun entertainment such as an unforgettable ‘Nearly True’ walking tour through Belfast City Hall, a Punch and Judy show, themed workshop, farmyard animals, face painters, balloon modellers and much more.

Some Guy Called Hamburger, Belvoir Players, Belvoir Players Studio Theatre, March 28-30.  Theatre goers will enjoy this new play by David Bell which is set in an old folk’s home run by the formidable Mildred Fitch. This comedy will provide fun for the whole family with an entertaining group of characters and a guaranteed evening of fun and laughter.

Co Antrim

Watertop Farm’s Monster Easter Egg Roll, Watertop Farm, Ballycastle, Co. Antrim, March 27-28. Watertop is a family run farm in the Glens of Antrim, with its annual Monster Easter Egg Roll taking place at 2:30pm on Easter Sunday and Monday. There is lots of fun to be had and prizes to be won, as well as a variety of activities taking place around the farm continuing into Easter week.

Naturally North Coast and Glens Easter Market, Marine Hotel, Ballycastle, March 28. Come along to this exciting Easter market where you can browse great quality produce and look for a special Easter egg. Naturally North Coast and Glens Artisan Market has been established for a number of years and gets bigger and better with each event.

Easter Monday Family Fun Day, Ballymoney, March 28. Enjoy a cracking day out at Drumaheglis Marina which will host a range of fun entertainment for all the family including a Punch and Judy show, an Easter Egg hunt, a live DJ and kids characters.

Co Armagh

Old MacDonald’s Farm, Navan Centre and Fort, Armagh, Co. Armagh, March 26-29. Join in with a wacky interpretation of the ever-popular nursery rhyme. Start with some face-painting or mask making so you can be part of the Farm, there’s a real choice of animals to be. Join the gang on an adventure to get to Grandpa’s Farm. Pre-booking for this interactive family sing-along is essential.

Easter Crafts and Games Club, Palace Stables, Palace Demesne, Armagh, March 31-April 1.

Children can enjoy a fantastic Easter at the Easter Craft Club where they can get their hands dirty making traditional Easter crafts, take part in egg rolling, games and of course an Easter egg hunt.

The Good Life Festival at Oxford Island, Oxford Island, Co. Armagh, March 25-26. The Good Life Festival takes place in an area of outstanding natural beauty on the shores of Lough Neagh. It is a fun-filled and creative day out for all the family with ideas and inspiration for getting the best out of life. From up-cycling and restyling to knitting and quilting there will be a wonderful range of handmade products to buy and new creative skills to try out, with a range of comedy, theatre, dance and children’s activities on offer.

Co Down

Castle Ward Easter Fair, Castle Ward, Downpatrick, Co. Down, March 27-28. Enjoy a family fun packed Easter weekend at the stunning Castle Ward. Solve the clues in the Cadbury’s Easter Egg Hunt to win a delicious prize, join in the mad scramble as the annual mega hunt takes place on the front lawn, visit Phil’s Farm, take part in the chicken run race and enjoy a range of local craft and food stalls.

Easter Monday Pirate Invasion, Bangor, March 28. Enjoy a pirate invasion at Bangor Seafront this Easter Monday with a fun filled day featuring the annual Easter Parade, motorbike trial action and lots of pirate themed family fun throughout the day.

Easter Celebrations, Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, March 27-29. If you’re looking for a place where the whole family can work off those chocolate Easter eggs, then the range of traditional Easter activities is just the ticket at the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum. Why not bring your own decorated egg and take part in the great egg-rolling experience down Bleach Green Hill and don’t forget to wear your Easter Bonnet to enter the Easter Bonnet Competition and maybe win a prize.
Co Fermanagh

Easter Activities & Bunny Cruise, Share Discovery Village, Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh, March 27. Come along to Share for a fun filled family day out this Easter, where you can enjoy a range of activities including a Bunny Cruise, face painting, balloon modelling, crafts, games, challenges and much more.

Picnic in the Park, Forthill Park, Enniskillen, March 28. Come along and experience some fantastic fun for the whole family including entertainment from singer Cathy McGovern, Jo Jingles, a free Easter egg trail and face painting, balloon modelling, games and lots of animals such as Easter chicks and rare breed hens.

Easter Monday Family Fun Day, Florence Court, Enniskillen, March 28. Bring your friends and family along to Florence Court for a day of Easter fun for all the family. Keep an eye out for your very own Cadbury chocolate treasure on an Easter egg hunt whilst enjoying live music and other entertainment.

Co Derry~Londonderry

Eggciting Easter Entertainment, Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre, Limavady, Co. Londonderry, March 26. A great way to spend a couple of enjoyable hours with the kids this Easter, Babcock & Bobbins will entertain and amuse all the family with their hilarious antics. The show features Giraffe Unicycles, Stilt Walking, Rola Bola and Fire Breathing.

Easter Egg Hunts at Downhill Demesne & Hezlett House, Castlerock, March 27-29. Come and join a fun Easter extravaganza which will include an Easter egg hunt around the beautiful surroundings of Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne.

Easter Crafts Drop In, Green Lane Museum, Limavady, March 28. Families are in for a treat as they can join experienced craft tutor Thelma Whitehead for an afternoon full of fun and creativity, giving children aged 6-plus a chance to discover new skills whilst creating exciting Easter crafts.

Co Tyrone

Easter Celebrations at Ulster American Folk Park, Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, March 26-28. Stallholders, shopkeepers, travelling journeymen and entertainers are set to keep you amused this Easter as you stroll down Ulster Street witnessing the sights, smells and sounds of a busy market day. Try your hand at traditional crafts, meet the Easter chicks and enjoy story-telling sessions as you travel back in time to April 1916.

High School Musical, Alley Theatre, Strabane, March 31 – April 2. Join the very talented Encore Performing Arts Academy students as they bring the cult classic and Disney Channels smash hit movie-musical to life on stage.  Dance along to an unforgettable cast who will sing and perform their hearts out.

For further information on Easter in Northern Ireland click on www.discovernorthernireland.com/easter.