Northern Ireland’s largest multicultural event will see thousands celebrate diversity this month with the Belfast Mela Festival.
The arts festival brings together music, dance, art, theatre, fashion, wellbeing and food from around the world over nine days from August 19 to 27.
Festivities begin with the spectacular Mela Carnival on August 19 when over 15,000 participants will bring colour to the streets of Belfast together with world music and dance and processional sculpture. The afternoon will finish in the grounds of City Hall where the Mela Global Village will feature world food, dance and breaktaking aerial performances.
Mela+ features a week-long programme of cultural events across the city. Highlights include: a Tea Walking Tour, taking visitors back to 1886; Mementos light and sculpture exhibition celebrating the memories of older people; Orchestral Qawwalli Concert and yoga and wellbeing sessions.
New for 2023, Mela Colours at Botanic Gardens is a high-energy colour party with DJ dancers and live drumming throughout the afternoon, a chill zone and amazing food for people of all ages to enjoy.
Speaking at the festival launch, Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Ryan Murphy said: "The programme this year will feature outdoor events, walking tours, dance and theatre screenings, finishing off with the much-loved festival finale at Botanic Gardens. I would encourage everyone in Belfast to enjoy the annual Mela extravaganza of colour and celebrate our vibrant, diverse and creative city.”
The traditional Mela Day returns on Sunday August 27 as Botanic Gardens is transformed into a massive global party, featuring new cultural zones and exciting new performances for 2023.
This includes the Little Asia Corner, set along the beautiful backdrop of the park’s Rose Garden. Enter through our special gateway where an installation of Japanese Origami cranes awaits you and explore the delights of the Far East from traditional arts and crafts and street theatre to costume displays and food sampling.
Located at the bandstand in Botanic Gardens, the Showcase Stage promotes local artists in the community and this year features a fantastic line up of artists from India, Ireland, Bulgaria, Greece, Zimbabwe including 20-year-old Daisie Conway and Utropiks, an Afrobrazilian duo based In Belfast.
All the fun of our #BelfastMela launch this morning at The Dark Horse.
— Arts Ekta (@artsekta) August 1, 2023
Are you joining us for Belfast’s favourite summer get together?
Full programme at https://t.co/oESdZSnYXP pic.twitter.com/TtH2Vbol9L
Mughal Miniatures is an upbeat and fun outdoor performance, with costumed performers creating vibrant and colourful mini-worlds of dance, music and puppetry. A series of pop-up, living pictures evoke scenes of Indian princely courts and lush gardens, and the glory of the Mughal period with a contemporary twist, undercutting expectations and delighting and surprising passers-by.
Other activities include workshops by Mexican Artist in residence Paula Herrera Martinez, a renewable fashion show Culture Clash, international food demonstrations and the premiere of the South Asian Dance Academy’s new Bombay Dreams provides for a breathtaking finale.
For full Mela 2023 programme and tickets visit Belfastmela.org.uk.
