Discover Belfast’s rich maritime history and the spirit of innovation which will take centre stage with a host of free family festival activities on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September.
The Belfast Maritime Festival will take place along the city’s Maritime Mile, with activities stretching across Queen’s Quay to HMS Caroline in the Titanic Quarter.
Visitors can enjoy nautical-themed fun from 11am each day, including live music and pop-up performances, street entertainers and the colourful Belfast Bazaar, featuring the very best local produce and crafts.
The first ever ‘Science Street’ on Titanic Slipways will host an array of fun interactive activities, demonstrations and live shows exploring topics such as navigation, marine biology, climate change and biodiversity. Whether you’re a seasoned science enthusiast or a curious learner, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
The youngest crew members will love the hands-on activities delivered by Wee Critters and Mini Explorers over at the Kids’ Zone at Queen’s Quay, while a flotilla of vessels and ships will dock at Queen’s Quay and Belfast Harbour Marina, where visitors can hop on board to meet the crew and experience life at sea.
The visiting ships will include Granuaile (Irish Lights aids to navigation tender), Leader (Afloat also adds is a former Brixham trawler built 1892, now N.I's only tall ship), the Brian Ború (sail training ketch, 1961) and La Malouine (a French brigantine / two-masted tall ship).
A diverse music programme, featuring over 40 leading musicians from across NI, will take place in outdoor venues across the Maritime Mile, celebrating homegrown talents and marking Belfast’s status as a UNESCO City of Music.
Featuring Americana, trad, jazz, opera, bluegrass, classical, indie and folk artists, highlights will include the Maritime Festival Showcase on Saturday 9 September, with four leading singer-songwriters and NI Music Prize winners, premieres especially commissioned for the festival, new collaborations and a 30-piece brass band.
Then, on Sunday 10 September, come and experience the power of 25 opera voices performing much-loved classic works together, presented by the award-winning Northern Ireland Opera.
The Belfast Maritime Festival has been organised by Belfast City Council and is supported by Tourism NI, delivered in partnership with Maritime Belfast Trust, Belfast Harbour, Odyssey Trust, the Department for Communities and Titanic Quarter Ltd.
Visitors attending the Belfast Maritime Festival are encouraged to walk, cycle or take public transport to reach the event activities.
Walk or cycle along the quaysides all the way to HMS Caroline. Cycle parking is available outside Titanic Belfast and there are also Belfast Bike docks at the SSE Arena another historic vessel, S.S. Nomadic.
You can also hop on the Glider from Belfast city centre directly to the Titanic Quarter or travel by train to Titanic Quarter Halt.
Sail Training Opportunities
As part of the festival, Afloat adds according to Belfast City Council facebook that there are several Sail Training opportunities aboard one of the vessels that will be on show, the Brian Ború as referred above.
The ketch and its crew will undertake several voyages from Sunday, 3 September to Wednesday, 13 September and we want you to get involved in the sea adventures including Afloat highlights a Belfast-Dun Laoghaire leg via the Isle of Man.
Visit the festival website for more details HERE to get involved.
