Visitors can discover a treasure trove of free activities at this weekend’s Belfast Maritime Festival on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September.

Taking place along the city’s Maritime Mile, with entertainment stretching across Queen’s Quay to HMS Caroline in the Titanic Quarter, the festival celebrates Belfast’s rich maritime heritage and spirit of innovation.

Come along from 11am each day to enjoy live music, street entertainers and activities for all ages. The main festival stage, compered by BBC presenter Gemma Bradley, is at Titanic Slipways, along with the ‘Science Street’ interactive area, a colourful Belfast Bazaar, featuring the very best local produce and crafts, and a picnic area.

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Ryan Murphy said: “There’s so much to see and do at this weekend’s Belfast Maritime Festival, with a fantastic line-up of events to really bring our maritime and industrial heritage to life.

“Come on down to hear amazing live music, shop local at the Belfast Bazaar market, entertain the kids with free activities or even get involved yourself at ‘Science Street’.

“Walk, cycle or take the Glider or train to experience everything the festival has to offer, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the stunning ships which will make Belfast their home for the weekend.”

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.

Aine Kearney, director of events at Tourism NI said: “Tourism NI is delighted to support the return of the Belfast Maritime Festival, a much-needed post-pandemic boost to the wider tourism and hospitality industry with a projected economic benefit of circa £1.5 million.

“The event is a great opportunity to showcase this key Titanic and Maritime Belfast heritage destination and its wealth of visitor experiences. This immersive event will further awaken the giant spirit in our visitors, igniting their sense of discovery and demonstrating the warm welcome Northern Ireland offers to all.”

Activities at Belfast Maritime Festival include:

• Visiting ships and vessels docked at Queen’s Quay and Belfast Harbour Marina: hop on board the Irish Lights vessel Granuaile and tall ships Gunilla, Leader, Brian Boru and La Malouine to chat to the crew and experience life on the high seas!
• Titanic Slipways hosts the festival’s first ‘Science Street’: a chance for young and old to explore areas like marine biology, engineering and navigation through fun interactive activities, demonstrations and live shows.
• Duke Special, Joshua Burnside, Manukahunney, ROE and NI Opera will lead a stellar line-up of over 100 leading musicians from across NI. Hear Americana, trad, jazz, opera, bluegrass, classical and more on the main stage at Titanic Slipways, as well as outdoor venues across the Maritime Mile.
• The Kids’ Zone at Queen’s Quay will be packed full of activities for little explorers, including a sensory area, dance workshops, crafts, face painting, a pop-up aquarium and even a beach to build some sandcastles!
• The free Maritime Mile Through My Lens exhibition at Hamilton Dock, delivered by Belfast Maritime Trust and Belfast Exposed, showcases photographs taken by local communities to demonstrate what they love about living along the waterfront.
• Belfast Lough Sailability will have free participatory taster sessions for visitors, including those with a disability, to experience the fun of getting out on the water.
• Further along at Sailortown, bookable activities include an evening of music, poetry and film, maritime-themed bingo and a chance to explore the beautiful St Joseph’s Church as part of European Heritage Open Days.
• There are also free walking tours, demonstrations of traditional seafaring skills like rope making and boat building, as well as special hydrobike sessions.

For more event information, visit belfastcity.gov.uk/maritime.

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.

Belfast’s Maritime Mile is getting ready to host a two-day jammed packed festival of family fun on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 September.

The Belfast Maritime Weekender will bring the city's maritime and industrial history to life and includes pockets of exciting seafaring activities. They are to take place across Sailortown, City Quays, Donegall Quay, Queen’s Quay and the Titanic Quarter.

The weekend’s daytime and evening activities include live music and dance, nautical themed street performers, playful art and heritage installations, dance picnics for children, walking tours, a treasure trail, a pop-up market, illuminations, and much more.

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Kate Nicholl, said: “With Belfast Maritime Weekender we’re asking people to come on in and enjoy what’s on offer safely. This is our first council event since lockdown and a celebration of our amazing maritime heritage, along the spectacular Maritime Mile.

“Things are a little different this year from our usual Maritime Festival format, but we’re delighted to be giving people an opportunity to get out and about and enjoy ‘mini moments’ of fun. The experience has been designed with safety in mind, and we remind everyone coming along to keep safe and think of others as they enjoy the weekend.

“Look out for more fun-filled events and live music over the coming months as cultural activities make a welcome return to the streets of Belfast.”

The Belfast Maritime Weekender has been organised by Belfast City Council in partnership with Maritime Belfast Trust, and is supported by Belfast Harbour, Titanic Quarter Limited, the Odyssey Trust, Department for Communities and Maritime Mile partners and media partner Q Radio.

Kerrie Sweeney, CEO of Maritime Belfast Trust said: “Maritime Belfast Trust is delighted to partner with Belfast City Council on the Belfast Maritime Weekender, taking place along the Maritime Mile. The Maritime Mile may be only one navigational mile of water but it represents over 10km of iconic, heritage waterfront, comprising Sailortown, City Quays, Queens Quay and Titanic Quarter.

“Throughout the last 18 months, the city’s waterfront has become a real solace for local people to walk, run, cycle and explore. As a charity dedicated to preserving Belfast’s rich maritime heritage, Maritime Belfast Trust has worked tirelessly during this period to strengthen the outdoor experience with playful art and heritage installations, such as Soundyard and Riverbox. The Maritime Weekender is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our achievements and celebrate the re-opening of our attractions and hospitality businesses, in a safe, well managed, open-air environment.”

Ibe Sesay, presenter of Q Radio Drive, said: “After a long 18 months, Q Radio is buzzing to be part of Belfast Maritime Weekender 2021, a home-grown festival and Belfast City Council’s first major event to be held in the city since the pandemic began. Despite the huge challenges presented by the Covid-19 there is a fantastic line-up of attractions celebrating Belfast’s unique maritime history and Titanic legacy, from walking tours, street performers, live music and a pop-up market to name a few!”

While there will be no tall ships this year, Belfast will be welcoming a host of vessels and boats to the quayside, giving visitors an opportunity to climb aboard and discover more about life at sea from the visiting crews. The Irish Lights vessel ILV Granuaile and 1960s old style tug boat Brocklebank will also be in port, with a range of displays, demo racing and other on-the-water attractions all part of the weekend entertainment.

A self-led Maritime Treasure Trail is on offer with theatrical performances along the route, and a range of ticketed tours will take place daily, including Maritime Mile walking tours, photography tours, cycle tours, under the Lagan tours and Glass of Thrones walking tours. You can also catch the powerful National Geographic photography exhibition, ‘Planet or Plastic?’ courtesy of SSE Airtricity and not-for-profit organisation, Sick of Plastic.

The Belfast Maritime Weekender also marks the start of Belfast City Council’s Belfast Music programme, with gigs and performances lined up until December. Aside from buskers and live music across the Maritime Mile, a number of special performances will be happening in some unusual venues including Mindfulness Sound Bath sessions in St Joseph’s Church, an open mic night in the American Bar and a cabaret in the Drawing Office at the Titanic Hotel.

For more event information and to book activities click here.