Venues across Northern Ireland will be hosting events and activities this August bank holiday weekend. From popular festivals and hidden gems there is something for everyone from Belfast to Ballycastle.
If you’re looking for things to do to make the most of the long weekend we have you covered.
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EMERGE
EMERGE, Ireland’s biggest Electronic Music Festival, is back in 2024 at Boucher Road Playing Fields, August Bank Holiday weekend - it promises to be the biggest yet featuring brand new mind blowing production and some of the biggest global names in electronic music.
The 2024 festival will see a host of world class acts perform, including Patrick Topping, Peggy Gou and an Irish exclusive b2b set from KETTAMA and Skin On Skin plus Emerge festival debuts from the likes of Hannah Laing, Ben Hemsley, DJ Daddy Trance and loads more.
The 2024 Emerge Festival with have an even greater emphasis on the AV experience, truly offering the best audio-visual experience on the island.
This year event has a line-up of more than 50 acts across 4 stages on Saturday and Sunday.
More: EMERGE Belfast stage times and curfew as 50 acts perform across four stages
More: EMERGE: What you can and can’t bring into the festival grounds at Boucher Road
Spice Girl Forever
Kick off the weekend by reliving the pop phenomenon of the Spice Girls with an unforgettable tribute night at Cabaret Supper Club.
On Friday night the stage will be bursting with the energy and iconic music of the world’s most famous girl band.
From “Wannabe” to “Spice Up Your Life,” our talented performers will recreate the charisma and charm of the Spice Girls, ensuring you’re up and dancing all night long.
The evening will be filled with high-energy performances that celebrate the empowerment and catchy tunes that defined a generation. Dress up in your ‘90s best, grab your friends, and prepare for a night of nostalgia and fun.
Get ready to move to the music you grew up with
Belfast By the glass
An alternative history of Belfast through booze. 6 Drinks. 6 Chapters. 6 Stories to be told.
Sit back and sip this Friday and Saturday. Get swept away in the boozy story of Belfast. Enjoy six delicious chapters and drinks, served with spirit by their storytellers.
Sitting by the fire in the elegant parlour of one of the most historic buildings in Belfast, you will sip your way through the stories that make Belfast a city to be admired.
At the beginning of each chapter, you will sample a range of carefully prepared serves involving beer and a range of other Irish spirits. Then whilst you sip, you can watch and listen as an animated world unfolds on the walls around you.
The experience is designed to be as inclusive as possible for our guests specifically including options for alcohol-free versions of both.
Ould Lammas Fair
Ireland’s oldest fair launches with a spectacular fireworks display at the Seafront on Saturday 24th August, perfectly complimented by live music and a twilight market.
There is also a live music concert in The Diamond on Sunday 25th August.
Clandeboye Festival
This years Clandeboye Festival wraps up on Saturday in the historic surroundings of the Clandeboye Estate Co. Down
All-island orchestra Camerata Ireland continue their 25th anniversary celebrations with an exciting concert featuring a new commission by Belfast composer Greg Caffrey, supported by funding from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, and music by Mozart, Sibelius and Mendelssohn. Featuring soloists Barry Douglas (piano) and Aisling Agnew (flute). will perform
The Festival is loved by audiences for its warm and unique atmosphere, and the opportunity to experience world-class music in the historic surroundings of the Banqueting Hall and Chapel.
Belfast Mela Day
Belfast Mela is the city’s annual celebration of global cultures when tens of thousands of visitors come together to celebrate our people and diversity.
Music, dance, arts and culture come together to create a heady, good humoured atmosphere which invites the world into the heart of our city.
The traditional Mela Day then returns to Botanic Gardens on Sunday 25 August, bringing a spectacular party in the park to close the festival once again.
Dockers and Dolls - The art of Terry Bradley at Titanic Belfast
This summer, Titanic Belfast is thrilled to welcome back renowned local artist Terry Bradley for an extraordinary exhibition: Dockers and Dolls!
The Dockers and Dolls exhibition honours the hardworking men and women of Belfast, particularly the Harland & Wolff shipyard workers and their wives.
The exhibition will showcase Bradley’s long tradition of painting the dockers, while also incorporating some of the rich maritime history of the city, his iconic female pieces and his work relating to mental health awareness.
For the first time, visitors also have the chance to enjoy an exclusive immersive experience designed to delve into Bradley’s life and artistic journey. This interactive feature will provide deeper insights into how Bradley’s life experiences have shaped his art and the significant role art plays in his life.
