Our big events cover the gamut, from world renowned and prestigious, to funky and intimate, from families to rock festivals. Festivals celebrate the arts, film, food, music, the Titanic, the Cathedral Quarter, gay pride, roses, urban communities, opera, St. Patrick's Day… and more. Any excuse for a parade of a performance!

A Year in The Life of Belfast
January:
Out to Lunch – a month – long series of theatre, caberet, music and literary events.

February:
Belfast Nashville Songwriters' Festival – celebrating the art of song writing, bringing together artists from both sides of the Atlantic.

March:
St. Patrick's Day – A green tide of costumes, music and family fun.
Belfast Fashion Week – Fashion shows, workshops, seminars and the fashion ball.
Belfast Film Festival – premieres international cinema, talks and stars.

April:
Titanic Made in Belfast – Dedicated to all things Titanic and maritime.
Ulster- Scots Festival – A varied mixture of music, dance, drama, historical talks and exhibitions.

May:
The Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival – This alternative cutting-edge festival gets bigger every year.
Belfast Marathon – great way to tour the city, with a little training!
Belmoral Show – A festival of family entertainment at Ireland's largest agricultural show.
Belfast Children's Festival – An extravaganza of theatre, puppetry, music, literature and visual arts.
Lord Mayor's Parade – ushers in summer with the year's biggest parade.

June:
Opera in the Park – Performances in the beautiful Botanic Gardens.
Orange fest – tradition lives on with pipe bands, banners and drums.
International Rose Week – a sea of colour, waves of scent, at Lady Dixon Park.

August:
West Belfast Festival – Europe's biggest urban community festival attracting international names across the arts, literature and current affairs.
Belfast Pride – highlighted by a fabulous Gay Pride parade with all the glitz and glamour of carnival.

September:
Garden Gourmet – Sample good food in the idyllic setting of the Botanic Gardens.

October:
Halloween – is packed with spooktacular events and ghostly goings-on.
Belfast Festival at Queen's – the largest celebration of the island of Ireland of the arts in all its forms, attracting international artists.

November:
Cinemagic – World Screen Festival for Young People is the first and still the best.

December:
St. George's Christmas Fair & Market – The spirit of the season in a beautiful Victorian covered market.

Excerpt from "introducing/Belfast" by Belfast Visitor & Convention Bureau