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St Patrick's Day is the perfect opportunity for you to get out and about with your family and get the best out of Northern Ireland. With so much to see and do, we’ve rounded up the best activities for families on this upcoming bank holiday!
The believed resting place of St Patrick, Downpatrick puts on quite a show for their namesake every year with their annual parade featuring St Patrick himself! Lots of other costumed characters also join in - dancing and acting alongside traditional music. As it is always a busy attraction, make sure to get down early to secure your spot at the front and of course - a parking space! Other activities you could try out include a history trip to Down Cathedral not only to learn a few facts about the patron saint but to get some of the best views of Downpatrick with a picnic in tow. At the Down Arts Centre there’s plenty for parents too with a Ceili and Artisan Market alongside children’s crafts and facepainting. Under an hour away from Belfast, this road trip promises plenty of St Patrick's day fun - all for free!
Derry / Londonderry puts on a full carnival performance for St Patrick's Day including music, dancing and food across the city’s iconic landmarks of Guildhall Square, The Guildhall and Waterloo Place. Kicking off at 1pm, the parade will feature street performances with traditional music to create a buzzing atmosphere and sea of colour and culture. If you get peckish, there’s plenty of local food vendors in attendance to make sure you get your fix. Another St Patrick's Day hotspot, make sure to get down early to avoid traffic and enjoy everything Derry / Londonderry has to offer this bank holiday!
If you’d rather celebrate St Patricks at the weekend and save your bank holiday to relax, St Georges Market offers the perfect opportunity to get the kids out and introduce them to local producers, artists and crafts. Browse the stalls for trinkets and tasty foods while enjoying live music, Irish dancing and face painting. On Saturday the 15th and 16th St Georges will have live performances from Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ), making your St Patrick's day experience feel as fun and lively as possible - if you break out in a jig, we don’t blame you!
If you fancy getting the family out in the fresh air and away from the hustle and bustle of city life, Hillsborough Gardens allows you to do just that whilst still enjoying the festivities. Wander the beautiful gardens of Hillsborough whilst enjoying live music and stopping for some live storytelling. To keep the kids interested, look out for signs of spring and count how many daffodils and bluebells you can spot!
If you’d like to step back in time, The Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh and the Ulster Folk Park in Holywood have lots of St Patrick’s day festivities taking place. At the Ulster American Folk Park you can learn about the history of the shamrock, watch Irish dancing and learn about basket weaving. There’ll also be lots of St Patrick's themed crafts for your little ones (or your big ones!) to keep everyone entertained. Live performances from bluegrass band Cool Hand String Band should also keep Mum and Dad interested! At the Ulster Folk Park in Holywood you can also enjoy traditional music, Irish dancing and hear folklore tales about Irish legends including St Patrick himself. The family can enjoy demonstrations of ploughing and horeshoeing, and if you get hungry there’s samples of tasty colcannon to try. Actors in full costume will also be on hand to give your day that extra special authenticity.
As always, our weather in Northern Ireland can be a little unpredictable, so if outdoor activities aren’t possible you can always try some St Patrick’s Day baking using our Dale Farm products. From double cream to whipping cream to topping with ice cream, we can help assist in all of your rainy-day bakes. To get some baking inspiration, head to our socials!
