The 18th Belfast Mela Festival is one of Northern Ireland’s largest arts festivals, Belfast Mela brings together music, dance, art, theatre, wellbeing and food from around the world to celebrate the city’s growing cultural diversity. This spectacular multicultural festival which attracted more than 60,000 people last year will once again take place over nine-days.
Starting on Saturday 17 August at 12.30pm at Writer’s Square, the city centre will be awash with a kaleidoscope of colour and creativity as the spectacular Mela Carnival featuring more than 1,000 participants makes its way to City Hall for a wonderful free Mini Mela from 1pm to 4pm.
With extended MELA+ events all week, including a mesmerising fusion of Irish and Indian folk music at the Citadels of the Sun concert; a Caribbean themed Silk Road Supper Club at The Academy Restaurant and Baba Bollywood at the Grand Opera House, the traditional Mela Day then returns to Botanic Gardens onSunday 25 August, bringing a spectacular party in the park to close the festival once again.
Highlights of the 2024 18th Belfast Mela Festival include:
Saturday 17 August: Spectacular Free Mela Carnival through Belfast city centre from 12.30pm at Writer’s Square to City Hall at 1pm. 1,000 participants representing more than 15 different cultural groups will be taking part with pulsating world music and dance and amazing sculptures finishing at City Hall for Mini Mela, where live global on stage performances will be hosted by U105’s Carolyn Stewart and UTV’s Paul Reilly, along with arts workshops.
Tuesday 20 August at Academy Restaurant, York Street – Silk Road Supper Club at 7pm
Experience the flavours of the Caribbean, prepared with locally sourced ingredients Tickets: £50 Booking required.
Wednesday 21 August at Grand Opera House - Baba Bollywood Show - several performances at 10am; 11.30am; and 1pm - Bollywood dancers and special early years facilitators, children and their parents can enjoy and experience the vibrant sounds and colours of India. Tickets: £8 Booking required.
Thursday 22 August 2024 – at 7pm – The MAC – Citadels of the Sun Concert.
Citadels of the Sun is a coming together of diverse, but connected voices in a collaboration of warm, yet exquisite music; joyously bringing together some of the best musicians from the North West of Ireland and Rajasthan. Tickets: £15 Booking required.
Sunday 25 August: Mela Day at Botanic Gardens 12 noon until 6pm. The city’s annual celebration of global cultures hosted by U105’s Carolyn Stewart and UTV’s Paul Reilly. Tickets: £10 adults, £8 concession (children aged between 5 - 15 and the over 60s) £20 family (2 adults and 2 children under 16) Children under 5 go free. Booking required via www.belfastmela.org.uk .
Full Mela 2024 Programme available online at https://belfastmela.org.uk
