St Patrick's Day events in Belfast and beyond 2018

The annual St Patrick's Day celebrations are just around the corner so if you're looking to plan something fun to do, look no further.

We've pulled together this handy list of just some of the many St Patrick's Day themed events happening in Belfast and beyond this year.

There's sure to be something to suit the whole family so have a look through the list below and see what takes your fancy.

If you know of a St Patrick's Day event happening near you that you think should be included in our list simply email sheena.mcstravick@belfastlive.co.uk

St Patrick's Day parade and concert, Belfast, March 17

The annual Belfast St Patrick's Day carnival parade will be held on Saturday 17 March 2018, bringing together sporting and cultural societies, community and voluntary associations, youth, church, and parent groups, and individual performers in one of the city's largest, most vibrant parades.

The streets will be awash with colour as the parade departs from Royal Avenue at 11.30am and finishes at Writers Square. After the parade, there will be a free-to-access concert at Custom House Square from 1.30pm.

St Patrick's Weekend at St George's Market, March 16-18

A sea of green and celebrations await at St George's Market on St Patrick's weekend from Friday 16 March to Sunday 18 March.

Bring your friends and family to the award-winning market as they've got your St Patrick's Day celebrations sorted! This jam-packed weekend includes local live traditional music, toe-tapping Irish dancing, family fun shamrock design workshops, delicious Irish stew and the traditional Irish fry from selected traders plus special trader offers and more.

Irish dancers will be performing on Saturday 17 March from 10am – 12 noon. So pop in, soak up the family-fun atmosphere and join in on the unmissable celebrations.

Normal market opening hours apply. For more information, call a member of the market's management team on 028 9043 5704.

St Patrick's Day Family Fun Day at Colin Glen, March 17

Colin Glen Forest Park are hosting a family fun day with a whole host of activities sure to suit kids of all ages.

The park will be filled with music and entertainers and children will be able to get into the atmosphere with glitter tattoo’s, balloon modelers and bouncy castles not to mention the very popular Fairy Village and Gruffalo and Stick man Trails.

There will also be a food and craft village, so you can take a break from the activities and browse through some of the stalls.

Other fantastic activities on the day already confirmed include: Thunder Action Sports (Urban Sports), Mobile Mirco Zoo from Party Animals NI, Casey's Creatures educational animal show, Jump, Jiggle & Jive, Jumping Clay and many more.

As large numbers are expected to attend, there will be no parking available on site. A Park & Ride service will be offered from Black’s Road Park & Ride site. The shuttle service will operate from 10.30am to 3:30pm.

The event takes place on Saturday, March 17 from 11am-3pm and tickets are priced at £4 for children and £5 for adults of £17 for a family pass (2 adults/2 children or 1 adult/3 children).

Some activities will incur a small extra charge i.e SKYTrek, Archery, Laser Tag, Kayaking at £3 per activity.

Book your tickets now online via Colin Glen website.

St Patrick's Day craic at Exploris, Portaferry

Join in with all the craic and banter this St Patrick's Day with some underwater and reptilian friends at Exploris Aquarium. Take part in themed arts and crafts in the Crabby Craft club or get your hands wet with daily open pool demonstrations, plus lots more surprises for all the family.

St Patrick's Weekend at Castle Ward

Spring is in the air at Castle Ward and life is retuning back to the estate as house wakes up from its winter clean to welcome another season of visitors. Join them for a weekend of traditional music between 1pm - 3.30pm in the Stableyard on 17 and 18 March and celebrate the arrival of spring and St Patrick's Day.

You can also join the annual walk through Saint Patrick's country on 17 March. Organised jointly by Down District Council and the Lecale Ramblers, the route includes a mixture of quiet country roads and green lanes. This event is free and a wee dram of whiskey or a tea or coffee is provided at the refreshment point. Due to livestock, this walk is not suitable for dogs. Registration takes place from 10am - 10.30am and the walk begins at 10.45am.

The walk is free, but for other activities and access to the Castle grounds, normal admission applies. National Trust members go free.

For further information contact Downpatrick Tourist Information Centre on 028 4461 2233 or email downpatrick.vic@downdc.gov.uk

St Patrick’s Day Concert with the Ulster Orchestra

Join musicians from the Ulster Orchestra on Saturday 17 March at 7.30pm in the Grade A-listed surroundings of Portico for a fabulous evening of music inspired by Ireland - perfect for St Patrick’s Day.

Amongst the works performed will be Neil Martin’s The Helping Hand, inspired by Seamus Heaney’s poem Station Island, for clarinet, bassoon, horn and string quintet, followed by Lacrimae rerum, a work dedicated to the poet, performed by the string orchestra.

The Ulster Orchestra will be in Portaferry as part of the On Your Doorstep series of concerts. On Your Doorstep is a new initiative for the Ulster Orchestra, in its 50th Anniversary Season, which sees the orchestra play in as diverse a range of venues as possible across Northern Ireland.

Led by violinist Iona Petcu-Colan for this concert, the programme also includes Nonet by Arnold Bax, a beautifully lyrical serenade for the unusual grouping of flute, oboe, clarinet, string quintet and harp.

Priced at just £10 for Over 25s, £5 for Under 25s and free for Under 16s, this concert is accessible to everyone.

Content: Belfastlive