There is lots to do over this May bank holiday weekend in Belfast and beyond! Enjoy theatre, music and street performances, or gather the family together for a range of family fun activities.
Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival
The Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival returns from the 02 – 12 May with over 100 live events across Belfast’s City Centre and beyond! Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival will animate the city centre with an 11 day celebration of live music, comedy, theatre, spoken word, literature, eclectic performance and street art.
Festival of Fools
Festival of Fools is the largest festival of free-to-access circus and outdoor performance on the island of Ireland, with over 70 performances taking place in the city centre over one weekend. Enjoy a jam-packed weekend of circus performances, featuring breathtaking acrobatics, gut-busting comedy and jaw-dropping juggling!
Hit the North Block Party
Hit the North’s Block Party will be the climax to their 12th year! Over 60 artists from across the UK, Ireland and internationally take to the streets of Belfast for Ireland’s biggest street art festival.
2024 Moy Park Belfast City Marathon
The Moy Park Belfast City Marathon is one of the leading marathons in the UK and Ireland and is an AIMS certified race. Not to mention, the first and only marathon in Northern Ireland to join the World Athletics Label Road Race Series. The race starts at Stormont and finishes in Ormeau Park, running through all four areas of the City: North, South, East and West.
May Day Weekend
Join for Hillsborough Castle’s May Day Weekend 2024, the perfect way to celebrate the long weekend. There’s something for everyone in the stunning setting of Hillsborough Castle’s 100-acre royal gardens. From a brass band to a royal gun salute, and family crafts to lawn games!
Merry May Day
Always a popular family day out, the Merry May Day celebrations have become a long tradition in the bustling gateway town of Holywood. Enjoy funfair rides, Jump, Jiggle and Jive, the annual Bonnie Baby Competition as well as a fantastic Maypole Programme.
Magnificent May Weekend
Head to Montalto from May 4th to 6th for a whirlwind of fun that will leave your whole family grinning from ear to ear! They have plenty to keep everyone entertained from family fun garden games and farm animals to live music from local musicians.
May Day at Ulster Folk Museum
Come along to May Day at the Ulster Folk Museum on Monday 6th May. Visit their exhibition houses adorned with yellow flowers to fend off the fairies, tie a ribbon on the fairy tree for luck and listen to folklore tales. Watch craft demonstrations by their talented makers, listen to traditional music and get hands-on with Bealtaine activities that the entire family can enjoy.
Blooming May Day at the Whitehead Railway Museum
Set in picturesque Whitehead, why not come down to the Railway Museum this May Day and catch a short trip on site in a carriage hauled by a steam locomotive. Enjoy a leisurely walk around their 5-gallery museum and learn all about steam operations in a bygone time, all included in the ticket price.
May Day Fiesta
On Saturday, May 4th the space behind the ICTU & the John Hewitt pub (Donegall St Place) will be transformed into ‘Larkin’s Square’ for an alcohol-free family fun day.
Spring Walks
Enjoy a walk with family or friends this bank holiday! Make the most of the brighter and longer days. Check out what the most popular hikes and trails in Belfast and beyond are. You might also discover a hidden trail tucked away.
Top 10 Family Attractions in Belfast
Check out the Top 10 Family Fun Attractions in Belfast – there is plenty of entertaining attractions for the whole family to enjoy around Belfast, including W5, Ulster Museum and Belfast Zoo.
Walking Tours in Belfast
Step outside and discover parts of Belfast on foot. No matter your interests, you will find a walking tour for you! Themes include political and historical, food and drink, nature and wildlife, and free self-guided tours.
