Belfast will celebrate St Patrick’s Day with a citywide programme of events from 1–17 March, organised by Belfast City Council, with music, parades and cultural festivals taking place across the city.
The celebrations culminate on Tuesday 17 March with the annual St Patrick’s Day Parade, beginning at 1.30pm at Belfast City Hall. Featuring dancers, schools, community groups and musicians, the colourful procession will travel through Chichester Street, Victoria Street, High Street, Castle Place and Donegall Place before returning to City Hall. Earlier that morning, the Spar Craic 10K race will set off from City Hall at 9am.
Belfast TradFest will host its St Patrick’s Music Festival (13–17 March), celebrating traditional music ahead of the summer’s Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. Ticketed performances include shows at Mandela Hall (14 March), a Pipe Band Extravaganza at City Hall (15 March), concerts at Ulster Hall (16 March), and a St Patrick’s Day concert at The MAC (17 March).
On 17 March, the Cathedral Quarter Festival Village will run from 1–5pm, with a main stage in Writer’s Square and an acoustic stage in St Anne’s Square, featuring piping competitions, céilí dancing, bodhrán circles and family activities.
Féile an Phobail will also host traditional music events and workshops across the city from 10–17 March, including the Féile Trad Trail, which will feature more than 100 traditional music sessions.
Elsewhere, St George’s Market will host live traditional music and family entertainment on 14–15 March, while Spraoi Cois Lao, the Irish-language family fun day organised by Conradh na Gaeilge and Féile an Phobail, returns to Custom House Square on 7 March (1–4pm).
Running throughout the programme is Seachtain na Gaeilge le Energia (1–17 March), an international festival celebrating the Irish language and culture with events for both learners and fluent speakers.
More information, including full listings and ticket details, is available at the Belfast City Council website.
More St Patrick’s Day events on our Festival Focus page here.
