52 | Family Life
Belfast Telegraph | 16 September 2016
Walks,talks,festivalsandfoodm
Between festivals, moonlight boat trips and Star Wars screenings under the night sky, we’re spoilt for choice of things to do over the coming weeks
Sophie Houston is all geared up for Tesco Taste Festival
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One of the biggest events on the calendar, Culture Night is taking place in Belfast, Derry~Londonderry, Armagh and Downpatrick this evening Friday, September 16. This celebration of culture, creativity and the arts spills into shop fronts and onto the streets and includes tasters, tours, talks, trails, demonstrations, activities and gigs. The Belfast event includes over 250 happenings at 100 venues across the Cathedral Quarter and beyond and the fun kicks off at 1pm running through until 10pm. For details check out www.culturenightbelfast. com and for information about the other locations, download the Culture Night app or visit www.culturenight.ie.
Culture Night Belfast
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Mount Stewart Conversations is an unmissable festival weekend of debate, ideas, storytelling, art and music on Saturday and Sunday, September 17-18 at the National Trust property on the Ards Peninsula. The line-up for this inspiring, mind-expanding, one of a kind weekend includes everything from Jonathan Powell, Fintan O’Toole and Prof Alvin Jackson debating ‘Can the Kingdom Stay United after Brexit? to David Aaronovitch discussing ‘Voodoo Histories – How the Conspiracy Theory has Shaped Modern History’ to Ugandan Dance, a Didgeridoo workshop and music from Iain Archer and Ursula Burns. Find out more at www.nationaltrust.org.uk
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Invasion Derry at the Millennium Forum, on September 17–18 will see Ireland’s premier Star Wars costuming club, The Emerald Garrison,
alongside a line-up of talks, and fun interactive activities. Details from www.millenniumforum.co.uk
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Full Moon & Penumbral Eclipse Boat Trip at Castle Ward,on September 17 offers the chance to enjoy the tranquillity of Strangford Lough at twilight, a full moon rising over the water to set off the beautiful scenery of the area. Visit the SeaGen, Angus Rocks Lighthouse, Seal colonies at Cloughey Rocks Nature Reserve and much more. Suitable for ages 3+. Booking Essential: Contact Strangford Sea Safari on 028 4372 3933.
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Country Comes To Town in Portadown, on September 17. This cross-community festival with a rural ethos includes vintage vehicles, country music, walkabout performance, traditional crafts such as blacksmithing and wood-turning, performing arts, food traders and demonstrations. Visit www.countrycomestotown.co.uk.
Crafters will be in attendance at Country Comes to Town
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Foodies will be flocking to the Tesco Taste Festival 2016 which opens at Custom House Square today and
runs until Sunday, September 18. Organised each year by Tesco NI, the admission free annual Festival features over 60 exhibitors, a special FoodNI cookery theatre and entertainment for all the family with Ark Open Farm’s petting zoo, a climbing wall, mascots Mr Tayto and Mr Morelli and live music. The Festival opening times are 2-8pm on Friday, 16th, 10am-6pm on Saturday, 17th, and 10am-5pm on Sunday, 18th. Check facebook.com/tastenorthernireland or use #TescoTasteFestival for updates.
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Star Wars – The Force Awakens brings outdoor cinema to Solitude Park, Banbridge, on September 16. Bring a picnic hamper, rugs and jackets for what is set to be an engrossing evening under the stars. Visit www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.com.
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Discover the majesty of the Sperrins at Derry and Strabane District Council’s Sperrins and Killeter Walking Festival. Run in conjunction with adventure firm Far and Wild, the festival, on September 17-18, includes six hikes through majestic landscape including the new 15k ‘Origins of the Ulster Appalachian Way’ walk on the Saturday. The 8km ‘Up the Moat’ charity challenge walk will leave from Plumbridge earlier that day. There’s a 3km Bat and Moth Twilight Walk on Saturday evening while on Sunday, Killeter is the starting point for the Killeter Camino, a 15km multi-terrain experience, the 8km south Tyrone section of the Ulster Appalachian Way and the 5km Killeter Community Ramble led by the newly formed Killeter Rambling Group. See www.sperrinskilleterwalking.com.
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Festival Lough Erne runs from September 24-25 and will showcase the newly refurbished Enniskillen Castle Museum as well as Fermanagh’s stunning scenery. As this is NI Year of Food and Drink, local producers and chefs will be taking over the food hall and food court along the lough shore. There are canoeing and rowing taster sessions, music acts, street entertainers and face painters, talks and demos. Most of the action is centred on the area around Enniskillen Castle, however, there are also activities at Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark. See www.facebook.com/FestErne or www. festivallougherne.com for updates.
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Aspects Festival returns to Bangor on September 18-25. Highlights of what began life as celebration of Irish literature 25 years ago, include an evening of music and conversation with Van Morrison at the Culloden Hotel, comedian Owen O’Neill in the festival yurt in Bangor Castle walled garden, workshops and discussions on writing, Lady Dufferin in conversation and theatrical performances. Visit aspectsfestival.com for details.
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Following its sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Festival, The Lyric Theatre and New York, Two Sore Legs arrives at the Roe Valley, Limavady, on September 23. Set in 1950s/’60s Belfast, the play tells the true story of Bridget, a young Butlin’s Redcoat, who had six children by a married man. The play explores the scandal, the pain, the joy and the fall-out from this extraordinary family arrangement. See www.roevalleyarts.com for details.