Our pick of family events for the Bank Holiday Weekend.

Down

Corries Farm Butchers will host an exciting ‘Fun on the Farm’ family day on Saturday 24th August which will see the farm transform into a myriad of fun and entertainment for all in a bid to raise funds for the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice.   From 12-6pm, the family-run farm in Newtownards will open its gates to welcome children of all ages for a day on the farm. With vintage tractor runs, fire engines, bouncy castles, petting farms from the Ark Open Farm, face painting, helium balloons and much more the event promises to be bigger than ever.

Tyrone

Banyan Theatre Presents “The Elves & The Shoemaker” on Saturday 24th August at the Square Box Ranfurly House.  There once was a poor shoemaker, who worked very hard, but still he could not earn enough to live upon. All he had in the world was gone; he only has just enough leather to make one last pair of shoes… Just when he thinks all is lost, help comes in a very unexpected way!  An adaption of the much loved Brothers Grimm classic fairy tale, using puppetry, object theatre and original music. The story is set in a shoe-maker’s shop and is told in a playful way with gentle audience participation.

Fermanagh

The second Happy Days Enniskillen International Beckett Festival will take place 22nd-26th August 2013.   The Festival is the world’s largest annual multi-arts celebration of Irish Nobel Prize writer, Samuel Beckett, who attended Portora Royal School in the island town.  The festival will present the first major exhibition of material pertaining to Beckett’s work since 2007.

Derry

The Tales of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny will be told in the beautiful surroundings of Ballyscullion Park this Thursday 22nd August. Bring the whole family along to enjoy this outdoor theatre experience Admission is free.  On  Friday get ready for an action packed evening at the Festival of Lights in Ballyronan with many events taking place. There will be the Lough Neagh Rescue Raft Race, Multi-Cultural food stalls, a fire-works display, taster sessions in windsurfing and canoeing, a dance and entertainment will be provided.

Armagh

Imagine a world made entirely of biscuits:  trees, houses and stars in the sky.  Into this beautiful world comes THE GINGERBREAD MAN, creating havoc wherever he goes this Saturday at the Market Place Theatre.  He meets a majestic Cow, a stubborn Goat and an opportunistic Bird. But can GINGERBREAD MAN outwit the dastardly Fox? With a foot tapping ‘Yummy Chase’ soundtrack, this is a tremendously popular story and a visual feast specially devised for younger children aged 3 +.

Antrim

Ireland’s oldest traditional market fair, the Lammas Fair in Ballycastle makes a welcome return on Monday 26th and Tuesday 27th August.  Its exact origin is uncertain but one theory is that it began as a result of the occupation of the area around Ballycastle by the MacDonnell’s of the Isles in the early part of the sixteenth century. At the present day fair, street entertainment and market stalls attract thousands of people to Ballycastle.
Belfast

Join Lagan Legacy over the weekend of the 23rd of August to celebrate the ten year anniversary of the charity which owns and operates the Belfast Barge.  The charity started in August of 2003, with the mission to preserve the history of the Belfast Harbour.  This goal has been achieved goal through the permanent exhibition on board the Belfast Barge, the off site archive of preserve artefacts and documents and their award winning education programme for both schools and adults.  In order to celebrate  the Lagan Legacy’s Harbour Festival was created and will be hosting a number of free events.