Events & What’s Happening
Annual arts festival centred in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter featuring street performance, live music, comedy, theatre, and free outdoor events
💡The free street performances and outdoor stages are perfect for families — kids love the juggling and circus acts
Annual marathon and fun run through the streets of Belfast, one of Ireland's most popular road races with a family fun run option
💡Sign up for the family fun run so kids can participate, and pick a spot along Ormeau Embankment to cheer on runners
Northern Ireland's largest multicultural festival held in Botanic Gardens, featuring world music, dance, food stalls, and arts from dozens of cultures
💡The children's entertainment zone and colourful costumes make it a hit for all ages — arrive early to snag a good spot on the grass
One of the UK and Ireland's leading arts festivals spanning theatre, music, dance, and visual arts across venues throughout Belfast
💡Check the programme for specifically curated family and children's events, which are usually scheduled on weekend afternoons
Free outdoor light and projection festival transforming Belfast city centre with large-scale illuminations and art installations in the run-up to Halloween
💡Wrap up warm and bring a buggy-friendly route through the city centre — the light shows are mesmerising for children of all ages
Continental-style Christmas market in the grounds of Belfast City Hall, featuring craft stalls, festive food, mulled wine, and a big wheel
💡Visit on a weekday morning to avoid the weekend crowds — the ice skating rink and Santa's grotto are must-dos for young children
Annual commemorative events and special programming at Titanic Belfast museum around the April anniversary of the ship's sinking, including talks and exhibitions
💡Titanic Belfast's interactive galleries are excellent for older children; the ship's prow and rides are highlights
Belfast's oldest market held in a Victorian market hall, featuring fresh produce, street food, crafts, antiques, and live music on weekends
💡Saturday and Sunday mornings have live music and a brilliant atmosphere — try the fresh seafood and artisan bread stalls with the kids
The popular Saturday market at St George's with a wide mix of street food vendors, crafts, clothing, and live music in the Victorian hall
💡Arrive before 10am to beat the queues — the atmosphere with live music makes it a lovely family morning out even in winter
Free weekly storytime sessions for young children at Belfast Central Library, with themed reading, songs, and craft activities
💡Best for ages 2–6; check Belfast Libraries' social media for themed weeks and school holiday special sessions
Free weekly 5km community run held every Saturday morning at Victoria Park, suitable for walkers, joggers, and runners of all abilities
💡Children can run with a parent and junior parkrun events are available — it's a wonderful active start to the weekend followed by a café stop
Northern Ireland's premier agricultural show at Balmoral Park, featuring livestock competitions, food producers, crafts, fairground rides, and countryside activities across four days each May
💡The animal rings and countryside activity zones are fantastic for children — wear wellies as the showgrounds can get muddy
Planning Your Visit
Neighborhoods & Areas
Local Tips for Families
- 💡St George's Market runs Saturday 9am–3pm with live music from 10am — arrive before 10am for the best street food selection including Punjabi Spices curry, and grab a spot near the stage before it fills up.
- 💡The Ulster Museum on Stranmillis Road is completely free and houses a genuine Egyptian mummy (Takabuti, unwrapped in Belfast in 1835) plus life-sized dinosaur casts — plan 2–3 hours and park in the Botanic Gardens car park on Sundays when it's cheaper.
- 💡W5 science centre inside the SSE Arena on the Titanic Quarter waterfront is Belfast's best rainy-day option for under-12s — book online in advance as weekend slots sell out, and the on-site café is cheaper than anything in the museum itself.
- 💡Cave Hill Country Park above the Cavehill Road is free to enter and Napoleon's Nose viewpoint (McArt's Fort) gives the best panoramic view over Belfast Lough — the path from Belfast Castle car park to the summit is 45 minutes one-way and manageable for kids aged 6 and up, though not suitable for pushchairs.
- 💡The Black Taxi murals tours of West Belfast cost approximately £10–12 per person when shared between families and last 1.5–2 hours — book directly with local operators like Original Black Cab Tours rather than through hotel concierges to get drivers who grew up in the communities they're describing.
- 💡Titanic Belfast offers a family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) for around £58 — book online at least 48 hours ahead to avoid queues, and allow 3 hours minimum; the shipyard ride inside is a highlight children under 8 will talk about for weeks.
- 💡Belfast's Citybus Glider rapid transit runs along the waterfront to the Titanic Quarter from Europa Bus Centre every 7–8 minutes during the day and costs under £2 per adult with children under 5 free — it's faster than walking from the city centre and avoids parking fees.
- 💡The Crown Liquor Saloon on Great Victoria Street is a National Trust-owned Victorian gin palace with ornate snob screens and gas lighting — families can visit for lunch (the Irish stew is reliable) as it functions as a restaurant until early evening before becoming adults-only.