Celebrate St Patrick's Day

Be part of Belfast’s St Patrick’s Festival and enjoy exhibitions, music, talks, arts and crafts workshops, children’s colouring competition, tea dances and films all celebrating St Patrick. The festival highlight will be the annual parade and concert on Sunday 17 March 2013. Belfast City Centre will come alive with the annual carnival parade involving community groups from throughout Belfast, professional and amateur performers, musicians and acrobats. The parade leaves Belfast City Hall at 12noon and travels to Custom House Square where there will be a free outdoor concert from 1pm-3pm with an eclectic range of entertainment, including traditional Irish, Ulster Scots, pop and multicultural music and dance. 



St Patrick’s celebrations will also be taking place in St George’s Market with a weekend of family activities including dance displays and more. The Ulster Hall will be holding musical workshops, talks and literary sessions and a photographic exhibition, as well as St Patrick’s dances on Sunday 17 March.  Belfast’s Waterfront Hall will host the annual St Patrick’s Day concert in partnership with BBC Northern Ireland on the evening of Sunday 17 March. Free tickets to this event will be allocated by random draw. You can apply for tickets from 4-18 February 2013, through the BBC Shows, Tours and Events website www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours

There will also be a number of events happening within local communities to mark St.Patrick’s Day. These events are funded by the Council’s Good Relations Unit to assist local organisations to celebrate the day.