Tourism NI has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland next week (November 28 – December 4).

• Carols Together, Stormont Parliament Buildings, Belfast, December 2. Join Carols Together and celebrate the start of the festive season. This wonderful evening promises to get you in the Christmas spirit with seasonal readings and entertainment from the fabulous Methodist College Chapel Choir, Mezzo Soprano, Helen Aiken and Opera singer Roland Davitt. Following the concert, guests will be treated to mince pies and mulled wine, there will also be optional tours of the chambers.

• Magherafelt Christmas Market, Magherafelt Town Centre, Derry~Londonderry, December 2 – 4. Showcasing over 25 local artisan food and craft stalls, the market will be the first event to be held in the new refurbished Magherafelt Town Centre.  Come along and enjoy browsing and sampling the locally produced Artisan food and drink; or take time to unwind in the lounge, where you can experience a craft beer, hot mulled wine or even just sit and relax.

• Santa’s House, Castle Ward, Co. Down, December 3. Travel along the illuminated avenue of lights, enjoy the festive sights and sounds in the stableyard, have a go at some Christmas crafts or write a letter to Santa before you head to the basement of the big house where Santa is waiting to say hello and give all the boys and girls a special gift. A truly magical experience for kids.

• Schools Orchestra Winter Concert, The Waterside Theatre, Derry~Londonderry, December 1. String, wind and brass players from across the schools in the North West come together to perform an eclectic mix of seasonal favourites combined with traditional and contemporary repertoire as a celebration of the young talent in our region.

• Christmas Markets at An Creagan, An Cregan, Co. Tyrone, December 1 – 2. Step into a world of festive delights at this two-day festive market. Experience the sights, sounds and smells of the season in inspiring surroundings and find unique and high quality gifts from over 30 handmade crafters. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to find special presents for special people, the perfect place to work your way enjoyably through your Christmas list.

• Castle Espie Ladies Nights, WWT Castle Espie, Co. Down, December 1. Enjoy festive fashions with pop up shops from Sarah Alexandra Boutique and KoKo Boutique, hair and make-up sessions with Nicholas Graham Hairdressing and beauty advice and tips from Roamer Holistic! Pick up fabulous stocking fillers from one of our specialist stalls or get something for yourself on this special ladies’ night out.

• Christmas Cooking Neven Style, Belleek Pottery, Co. Fermanagh, December 2. Enjoy an afternoon of everything Christmas with local celebrity chef Neven Maguire as he helps you to solve all your Christmas Cookery Crisis’s with lots of hints and tips on how to make that all-important Christmas Day Meal an unforgettable success.

• Belmont Road Walking Food Tour, Belfast, December 3. Taste everything from Portavogie scampi to Guinness cake and from Irish tapas to award winning raspberry sorbet! Along the way, Tracey, your enthusiastic Tour Guide will enlighten you with stories about famous people from this area and about local food and drink from Belmont Road and surrounding area.

• Christmas Fair, The Argory, Co. Armagh, December 3. The Festive period is not complete without a visit to The Argory’s Christmas Fair, featuring a number of craft, food and drink stalls, as well as traditional festive entertainment. Soak up the wonderful atmosphere and see the house decorated for the festive season.

• Ronnie Greer Blues Band, Ballymoney Town Hall, Co. Antrim, November 30. Blues Guitar Legend Ronnie Greer makes a welcome return to Ballymoney with his powerhouse band some of the country’s leading musicians. Expect a night of blues, roots soul and a little jazz based music, played with style and conviction by the best in the business.

Tourism NI has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland next week (November 21 – November 27).

• Georgian Day, Various locations, Co. Armagh, November 26. Armagh’s much loved Georgian Days showcases the city in all its festive glory, sparkling in lights as the Ancient Cathedral City goes back to its Georgian roots. More than 70 stalls, hosted by traders in Georgian costumes, will line the streets for a unique experience that cannot be missed.  Highlights include Horse & Carriage rides and an Illuminated Light Show. Some events require booking.  For more information go to www.armagh.co.uk/georgian.

• C. S. Lewis Festival, Various locations, Belfast, until November 22. Step through the wardrobe and celebrate the life and legacy of C.S. Lewis – best known for The Chronicles of Narnia series – at this family-friendly festival. Through a series of events and activities including talks, film, theatre, arts, crafts, readings, music, workshops, exhibitions, tours, children’s activities and spoken word events – everyone is invited to be inspired and walk in his footsteps.

• Christmas Cookery Demonstration, Orchard Acre Farm, November 25. A great night of both fun and learning; with useful tips and insights to help you add new flavours to the Christmas menu, Teresa will help ease the stress of Christmas cooking. The evening includes hot drink and festive treats, lots of tastings and recipes to take home! There will also be a surprise guest appearance by a well-known local food hero.

• Enniskillen Christmas Lights Switch-On, The Diamond, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, November 26. Christmas officially starts in Enniskillen on Saturday 26 November with the Christmas lights switch-on in the town centre. The town will become a hub of live entertainment from late afternoon to mark the start of the Christmas shopping season so come along and get into the festive spirit!

• Whoopi Goldberg: Direct From Broadway, Black Box, Belfast, November 27. Long before she was hosting Oscar broadcasts or holding court on The View, Whoopi Goldberg was wowing audiences on the Great White Way with a one-woman show. Head along to the Black Box for a reminder of what an energetic stage performer and comedienne she was before she started adding actress, awards-show emcee and talk-show dynamo to her resumé.

• Newscastle Christmas Lights Switch On, Main Street, Co. Down, November 26. Newcastle’s annual Christmas Lights Switch On will take place on Saturday 26th November with street entertainment, carol singing with local schools and a special visit from the man himself which promises to be a night for all the family to enjoy.

• Thanksgiving Day, Ulster American Folk Park, Co. Tyrone, November 24. Join the Partridge family for Thanksgiving as they await the return of their only son Joseph.  Immerse yourself in living history and sample the flavour of a Western Pennsylvania rural Thanksgiving in November of 1863, which was the year of the first national day of Thanksgiving.

• Sippy of Culture, Guildhall Square, Derry~Londonderry, November 25 – 26. Over the Course of two days, the Guildhall in Derry-Londonderry will come alive with a selection of the best beers, ciders and distilled drinks, all in one of the most historic buildings in Northern Ireland. Come together, discuss, taste, sample and celebrate the crafting traditions of these masters.

• Susan MacWilliam: modern Experiments Exhibition, F.E. McWillian Gallery & Studio, Co. Down, until November 26. The largest and most comprehensive exhibition of MacWilliam’s work to date, Modern Experiments will present key pieces from the artist’s career with a focus on works created from 1998.

• Declan Nerney, Alley Teatre, Strabane, Derry~Londonderry, November 24. Born in County Longford, join Irish singer Declan Nerney, as he performs some of his greatest songs live on stage at the Alley Theatre.  Booking essential.  Tickets £20. To book call 028 71 884760.

Tourism NI has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland THIS week (October 17 – October 23).

• City of Derry International Choral Festival, Various locations, Derry~Londonderry, October 19 – 23. Created as a joyous celebration of choral music-making, the City of Derry International Choral Festival provides opportunities for competitive and non-competitive participation for singers across a wide range of styles, ensembles and ages. School, local, national and international choirs will bring the city alive with music as they take part in a range of activities from competitions and workshops, to evening concerts and choral trails, in various venues throughout the city.

• Open House Belfast, Various locations, Belfast, October 21 – 23. The Open House Belfast – Architecture & Engineering Festival returns for a second year. Between 21 – 23 October the festival will open up some of the city’s most interesting and exciting buildings and spaces for you to experience for FREE.

• Autumn Cookery Experience, Belle Isle Cookery School, Co. Fermanagh, October 22. Learn to cook or improve your cooking skills with a Cookery Course in the beautiful and tranquil setting of Fermanagh with trained professionals in a bright and welcoming environment. Each cookery experience has a different theme with October 22^nd focusing on ‘Food for Friends’.

• Return to Monster Manor, W5, Belfast, until November 6. Monster Manor is back! And it’s even spookier than last year!! W5’s singing pumpkins, dancing skeletons, floating ghosts, witches and monsters have been joined by some new phantom friends this year. It may be really spooky and a little bit eerie, but Monster Manor is a whole lot of fun. This Autumn, are you and your family brave enough to discover what lurks within the Manor?

• 1916 – Tim McGarry “Goes Over the Top”, Portico, Co. Down, October 22. Following the success of Tim McGarry’s Irish History Lesson the comedian returns with a brand new stand up show and because of the year, it can only be based around the 1916 Easter Rising and the Battle of the Somme.

• At The Mountain of Madness, Marketplace Theatre, Co. Armagh, October 22. Desperate. Incensed. Exhausted. In H.P. Lovecraft’s ‘At The Mountains of Madness’, William Dyer returns from a cursed expedition to the Antarctic. Be drawn into the untold world of the Antarctic, and stumble upon unnameable horrors that lie beyond The Mountains of Madness. Booking required.

• Naturally North Coast& Glens Market, Ballycastle, Co. Antrim, October 23. Fresh aromas, vivid colours, eclectic treasures, buzzing crowds – a mere stroll amongst the many stalls of an Artisan Market are enough to invigorate the senses and whet the appetite.

• Jamz NI, T13, Belfast, October 22. Jamz NI is a brand new all style Hip Hop competition for dancers of all ages and abilities set in the fabulous T13 Belfast.  If you think you have what it takes to be a Jamz NI champion, why not try out in the 1v1 battle for your chance to take the title? An after party in the evening will be for those who wish to dance the night away to some amazing DJ sets.

• Half Term Hallowe’en Fest, The Argory, Co. Armagh, October 22. Look no further for things to do this October half term. Carve out a pumpkin, explore our Hallowe’en trail, try some ghoulish treats in the Café and watch scary movies, if you dare…

• Magheraglass Flute Band presents Marching Band Variety Concert, Burnavon Theatre, Co. Tyrone, October 21. A night of Ulster Scots and cultural music from a wide variety of local marching bands, including Sons of William Melody Flute, Desertmartin Accordion, Moneymore 93 (featuring the snare drum), the Ulster Scots Juvenile Pipe Band, and of course Magheraglass Flute Band themselves.

Please note some of the events require pre-booking. For more details on these and other events click on www.discovernorthernireland.com/events, visit your local tourist information centre or log onto www.facebook.com/discovernorthernireland.

Tourism NI has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland next week (October 3 – October 9).

• Armagh Festival of Food and Cider, Various locations, Co. Armagh, October 5 – 9. The Armagh Festival of Food & Cider is a celebration of tasty local cuisine and cider showcasing all that Armagh City’s many tempting eateries, orchards and breweries have to offer. Diners and craft brew enthusiasts will have the opportunity to sample local hospitality at its best.

• Slow Food Festival, Guildhall Square, Derry~Londonderry, October 8 – 9. This free family-friendly event will incorporate a Slow Food Harvest Fayre, Slow Food Street Food Zone, Family Fun Zone and fringe events including a Made in Derry Slow Food Walking Tour around the city, tours of Butterlope Social Farm at Plumbridge by shuttle bus and an eco-tourism experience at St Columba’s Heritage Centre which will bring to life stories of our forgotten and local foraged foods.

• The Sinatra Years with James Huish and Band, Crumlin Gaol, Belfast, October 8. James Huish, Northern Ireland’s king of swing, and his ten-piece band perform a special concert celebrating the life’s work of the one and only Sinatra, live at Crumlin Road Gaol. Tickets £20. Doors open 7pm, show starts at 8:30pm.

• Model and Collector’s Fayre, Bawnacre Centre, Co. Fermanagh, October 7 – 8. There will be four rooms within the Bawnacre Centre filled with an array of things to see from railway layouts, farm models and homemade displays, football memorabilia, diecast cars, motorbikes, lorries, aircraft, construction displays, wooden toys and crafts to name a few. Many items will be available to purchase on the day.

• Blood Brothers, Millennium Forum, Derry~Londonderry, October 4 – 8. The legendary Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving tale of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with fateful consequences.

• Finding Nemo (Outdoor Cinema), Solitude Park, Co. Down, October 7. Join Nemo, Dory, Marlin and all their fishy friends for some underwater family fun in the open air. The movie takes place in Solitude park, Banbridge, at the seated amphitheatre, so pack your rugs and hampers and come along with friends and family to experience these fun events in the open air.

• Chris Wise and The Hidden Revolution, Voodoo, Belfast, October 4. Manchester experimental, indie rock three piece Chris Wise & The Hidden Revolution bring the very best of frantic manic and menacing melodies, staccato fills, massive crescendos and twisted harmonics to Belfast city for an unforgettable night. Tickets £10. Starts 7pm.

• Macbeth, Alley Theatre, Co. Tyrone, October 6. Once again c21 Theatre Company bring Shakespeare to life on stage.  The production follows the eventful life of the evil Scottish warrior and his power-hungry wife. Prophecy, witchcraft, murder and revenge all play a part in their tragic demise and guarantee a captivating production for audiences of all ages. Tickets £4.

• Donal Lunny Triad, Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre, Derry~Londonderry, October 7. Multi-instrumentalist and trailblazer Donal Lunny is one of the greatest Irish musicians alive, having been at the forefront of Irish Traditional Music for over than 35 years. He will be joined by two other world-class musicians for what promises to be an extraordinary concert.

• Slieve Donard Trek, Slieve Donard, Co. Down, October 8. Celebrate World Mental Health Day by making a real difference by climbing Northern Ireland’s highest peak in AWARE’S Slieve Donard Trek. Walkers must be over 12 and anyone under 18 to be accompanied by an experienced adult walker. www.aware-ni.org/donardtrek

Please note some of the events require pre-booking. For more details on these and other events click on www.discovernorthernireland.com/events, visit your local tourist information centre or log onto www.facebook.com/discovernorthernireland.

Tourism NI has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland next week (August 22 – 28).

• Hilden Beer Festival, Lisburn, Co. Antrim, August 26 – 28. The Annual Hilden Beer and Music Festival will be held during the August Bank Holiday, featuring live music and beer and ale tasting from Lisburn’s premier microbrewery.  Musical acts include Rackhouse Pilfer, Kaz Hawkins Band, The Emerald Armada and David C. Clements with many more to be announced.

• Ultimate Strongman, Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast, August 25 – 28. Feats of human strength and endurance will be played out in some of Belfast’s most historic venues when the Rudridge Ultimate Strongman Giant Weekend takes over the city. Over four days’ contestants will be put through their paces in a series of gruelling challenges – including tyre flips, truck pulling and a car deadlift.

• Lap the Lough, Peatlands park, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, August 28. Lap the Lough is an annual cycle event around Lough Neagh, the largest lake in Ireland and Britain taking place each year on the August Bank Holiday weekend.  Organised by the Upbeat Agency, Lap the Lough aims to increase participation, bike usage and fundraising.

• Northern Ireland Speed Weekend, Eikon Exhibition Centre, Co. Antrim, August 28 – 29. The Northern Ireland Speed Weekend returns for 2016 in what promises to be an adrenaline fuelled, motoring extravaganza.
  The Northern Ireland Speed Weekend will be jammed packed with rally cars, race cars, drifting, sport cars, go-karting, super cars, dragsters, helicopters, stunt shows including parachute displays from the Wild Geese parachute display team, plus lots more to keep you entertained!

• Heretics and Head the Balls, Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, August 26. Comedy stalwart Neil Dougan attempts to compress over five hundred years of culture into his new one-man show. Packed with ‘head the balls’ and ‘heretics’, his show is not to be missed. Show contains adult references. Suitable for 18+ years.

• Belfast Mela Festival, Botanic Gardens, Belfast, August 27 – 28. Celebrating its tenth anniversary in colourfully eclectic style, this year’s Mela will be the most ambitious festival ever! Bringing a wonderful world of international cultures to Botanic Gardens, Belfast, featuring music, dance, arts and performance, including a return of the hugely successful ‘Little Bollywood’, an exciting sensory experience designed for families with babies, toddlers and young children.

• Charles Wood Festival & Summer School, various locations, Co. Armagh, until August 28. This year’s festival marks the 150th anniversary of Northern Ireland’s most celebrated composer of church music. During the week, churches across Armagh will host some 30 events, with international and local musicians performing side by side delivering a feast of choral and organ music, under the expert guidance of Artistic Director, David Hill.

• City of Derry Guitar Festival, various locations, Derry~Londonderry, August 25 – 28. This unique festival is great for all music lovers featuring concerts, guitar master classes, workshops and lecturers in a relaxed atmosphere. During your time at the City of Derry Guitar Festival you will meet and befriend a multitude of musicians and you will take away many valuable experiences.

• Tennents Vital, Boucher Road, Belfast, August 25 – 26. Tennents Vital has been tipped as one of the highlights of the summer in Belfast. Global superstars Avicii, Jess Glynne, Fall Out Boy and Red Chilli Peppers will take to the stage at this year’s music extravaganza. Suitable for ages 16+.

• Summer Jazz, Castle Ward, Co. Down, August 28. Castle Ward’s annual jazz series continues throughout August. Bring a rug and a picnic and enjoy a relaxing afternoon in a tranquil and beautiful setting listening to the sounds of jazz. It’s the perfect way to spend.

Please note some of the events require pre-booking. For more details on these and other events click on www.discovernorthernireland.com/events, visit your local tourist information centre or log onto www.facebook.com/discovernorthernireland. 

Tourism NI has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland next week (September 14 – 20).

• Culture Night Belfast 2015, various locations, Belfast, September 16-20. Returning for its seventh year on the 18^th, Culture Night is set to delight and entertain people of all ages with a vast array of acts and colourful events.  The diverse menu of things to see and do includes tours, trails, music gigs and screenings, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. What’s more, the culture continues for longer, as CNX (Culture Night Extra), showcases an ‘extra’ offering of events starting on Wednesday 16th running until Sunday 20th.

• Get Outdoors Weekend, Castle Archdale County Park, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, September 19. A selection of events will take place to celebrate ‘Get Outdoors Weekend’ including climbing, canoeing and cycling and staff from the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark will be on hand for fossil making and rubbing plus a host of interactive biodiversity activities.

• Armagh Culture Night, various locations, Armagh, Co. Armagh, September 18. Culture Night Armagh is set to take place in Armagh City and across the district on Friday 18th with over 100 free events taking place across 30 venues. The saying ‘Nothing In Life Is Free’ could not be further from the truth, think more ‘the best things in life are free’ as musicians, artists, performers, DJ’s, tutors, writers, authors, poets, tour guides and dancers take to stages and venues to provide an evening of entertainment all for free.

• Bushmills Salmon and Whiskey Festival 2015, Bushmills, Co. Antrim, September 18-20. Bushmills will come alive to the 4th Annual Salmon and Whiskey Festival. Enjoy artisan market stalls with local craft and produce, street performers, whiskey tastings in the Distillery, live traditional music featuring Willie Drennan and Big Al, a guided tour of the Salmon Fishery Station, fly casting demos and kid’s table. Salmon dishes, an ‘Old fashioned’ cocktail demonstration along with the very best of local cuisine and entertainment at restaurants, cafes, guest houses and pubs throughout the town, will keep guests amused during this celebration of local culture, heritage and produce.

• Autumn Fair, Botanic Gardens, Belfast, September 19-20. The annual Autumn Fair returns with a bumper harvest of free entertainment for all ages. Kick up the autumn leaves and welcome in the changing season with an action-packed weekend of music, prize blooms and seasonal produce in Botanic Gardens. From 12.30pm to 6pm each day.

• CultureTECH 2015, various locations, Derry~Londonderry, Co. Londonderry, September 12-20. Enjoy a week-long festival of tech, media, music and games for the whole family. Now in its fourth year, CultureTECH is Northern Ireland’s innovation festival. In 2014 over 43,000 people were welcomed and this September that number is set to increase to over 60,000.

• Omagh Culture Night, various locations, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, September 18. Experience Culture Night in Omagh, a night of FREE entertainment, discovery and adventure. Galleries, churches, historic buildings, artists’ studios, sports clubs and culture centres will open their doors, to welcome people of all ages to sample the area’s cultural and creative offerings for free throughout the evening. A wide variety of organisations including the Royal British Legion, the Tyrone GAA and the main churches in Omagh are opening their doors for free.

• Movilla Cemetery Walking Tour, Newtownards, Co Down, September 20. A testament to people who have lived in Ards over the past 2000 years, Movilla cemetery is more than just a graveyard. This tour uncovers the stories behind the headstones as it explores the significant role that the graveyard’s inhabitants played in the history of the area. You can visit the graves of the Provosts and Burgesses of Newtown, the King’s officials, who were charged with creating a new town by order of James the First’s Borough Charter in 1613. From 2-3.15pm.

• Tesco Taste Festival 2015, Custom House Square, Belfast, September 18-20. Belfast’s Custom House Square will once again be filled with mouth-watering aromas and the very best in local food and drink when ‘foodie’ fans attend this year’s Tesco Taste Festival. The festival which celebrates and showcases all that’s great about Northern Ireland food and drink producers, suppliers and chefs, promises a superb weekend of tasting, demonstrations, cookery tips and recipes using top local produce, and entertainment for all the family!

• Mournes HACK 2015, Mourne Mountains, Co. Down, September 19. Trek through the beautiful surrounding of the Mourne Mountains. Hike across some of the most dramatic and breathtaking scenery in Northern Ireland on our award winning charity challenge. Forest loughs, rivers and bogs await you as you walk in the footsteps of 18th Century smugglers on the Trassey Track.

Please note some of the events require pre-booking. For more details on these and other events click on www.discovernorthernireland.com/events, visit your local tourist information centre or log onto www.facebook.com/discovernorthernireland.