Children’s Trust Fund observes Child Abuse Prevention Month
Activities, events around the state culminate in April 26 gathering at State Capitol
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 18, 2022
CONTACT: Bob Wheaton, 517-241-2112
LANSING, Mich. – Michigan’s Children’s Trust Fund is recognizing the importance of preventing child abuse and neglect with a month of activities that will culminate with an April 26 ceremony on the lawn of the State Capitol.
Activities and initiatives through Michigan this month will center on the symbolic blue and silver pinwheel of Prevent Child Abuse America, which serves as a visual representation that everyone plays a role in providing children with a bright future.
The mission of the Children’s Trust Fund to keep children safe and strengthen families across the state takes special significance each April for Child Abuse Prevention Month.
As the only statewide organization dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect, the work of the Children’s Trust Fund – which is within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) – supports local programs and services that touch all 83 Michigan counties.
“Prevent Child Abuse America introduced the Pinwheels for Prevention campaign in 2008,” said Suzanne Greenberg, executive director of the Children’s Trust Fund. “The pinwheels are a representation of child-like whimsy and lightheartedness as well as a vision for a world where all children grow up happy, healthy, and prepared to succeed in supportive families and communities.”
The Power of the Pinwheel is the theme of this year’s pinwheel campaign. Through the 100-plus prevention partners of the Children’s Trust Fund and this year’s statewide partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, supporters of preventing child abuse are planting 50,000 pinwheels in hundreds of gardens throughout the state.
The 14th annual Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Day rally is 11 a.m. April 26 on the steps of the Michigan Capitol. Featured speakers this year include MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel. The inaugural Inspire Award winner for volunteer service and commitment to preventing child abuse and neglect in Michigan will be presented to Sharon Barry of Barry County.
“We are thrilled that our new partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is giving us farther reach to expand and amplify our message for Child Abuse Prevention Month,” Greenberg said. “When we recognize that child abuse and neglect affect each of us and can unite under a common cause, we are giving hope to every child in our state and ensuring Michigan secures a stronger future.”
For information on the Children’s Trust Fund and Child Abuse Prevention Month, visit michigan.gov/ctf.
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About the Children’s Trust Fund
Created by the Michigan Legislature in 1982, the Children’s Trust Fund is Michigan’s only statewide nonprofit organization solely dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect. The Children’s Trust Fund serves as a voice for Michigan’s children and families and promotes their health, safety and welfare by funding effective local programs and services that prevent child abuse and neglect.
Planet Earth is a popular topic at the Museum and Archives of Vernon.
With field trips almost fully booked for the upcoming Earth Expo, the museum is holding a special Earth Day Celebration April 23.
“We received so many incredible submissions for the exhibition, we want to ensure the public has an opportunity to come together and celebrate the creativity, innovation and imagination that is the Earth Expo,” said Amy Timleck, museum program co-ordinator.
“When we talk about climate crisis, it can feel really overwhelming, and what we see through the eyes of local youth is that there is, indeed, hope.”
The Earth Day Celebration will feature special events, including a visit from Kiki the Eco Elf.
Through wildly imaginative story-telling, multi-instrumental music and engaging, interactive games, Kiki the Eco Elf offers performances with a conscientious message.
The museum will also be partnering with the organizers of the Polson Night Market (PNM) for a special pop-up event.
“We’ve always said that we don’t want to be just another market,” said Mayla Janzen, PNM organizer and co-creator. “Having the opportunity to promote local creators, while also celebrating sustainability, felt really aligned with our vision for a unique marketplace.”
Earth Day at the Museum will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 23. Information about which activities during the day are free/paid/by donation are listed at the museum’s website.
The Town of Amherstburg is “thinking green and getting dirty” this Earth Day with two tree planting events for residents to take part in.
The town will host a tree planting at the Libro Credit Centre where volunteers have already registered to plant 50 trees on April 23 at 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
This initiative was brought to town council by the Amherstburg Environmental Advisory Committee and has engaged the partnership of the Town of Amherstburg and the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA).
Residents will be able to enjoy the new trees as their location will border on a nature trail planned for 2022, the town says.
“We all want to work towards a greener and more sustainable future. These two groups came forward with not only an idea but a plan of action,” Mayor Aldo DiCarlo said in a news release. “The goal of these tree-planting projects is not only to directly mitigate climate change but to foster a culture of environmental stewardship. Council declared a climate emergency in 2019, but we can’t do it alone; the enduring challenges of climate change will take every one of us.”
The second activity is the “Essex Powers Map and Grow Program” where residents can pre-register for one of eight tree species to plan at home. There are 192 trees total.
According to the town, with the commitment and expertise of the University of Windsor’s Faculty of Science, the trees’ GPS coordinates will be mapped and their growth documented for years to come.
This initiative was brought forward by the THRIVE Amherstburg group and supported by donars such as Essex Power, University of Windsor, Essex County
Nature, Cerebral Escape Creations, and the Town of Amherstburg .
Tree pick-up is on April 23 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Libro Credit Centre at 3295 Meloche Road.
More information on the events is available at amherstburg.ca/environment.
Master Gardener Open Garden Day and Plant Sale: Harris County Master Gardeners will provide tours of the demonstration gardens and have vegetable plants for sale, while supplies last. Presented by Harris County Master Gardeners with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. 9 a.m.-11 a.m. April 18; 1210 Genoa Red Bluff; more information at hcmga.tamu.edu.
Volunteer Orientation: Mercer Botanic Gardens will discuss volunteer opportunities, maintaining the gardens, educational programs and plant propagation and sales. 6 p.m. April 20; free; 1904 Naplechase Crest, Spring; register by April 18 at hcp4.net/parks/mercer.
Home Planet: Jaime González, of the Nature Conservancy in Texas, will speak on Home Planet: A Panoramic Tour of Greater Houston’s Nature, presenting a panoramic tour of some of Greater Houston’s greatest nature areas. 6:30 p.m. April 18; free; Houston Museum of Natural Science, 5555 Hermann Park Drive; register at hmns.org.
Nine Natives: Beth Clark, landscape architect, will talk on Nine Natives: Creating Simple Gardens, discusses how simple creating a garden is using native plants. 5-7 p.m. April 19; $58; Houston Botanic Garden; register at hbg.org.
Pollinators of Nature Discovery Center: Eric Duran of Nature Discovery Center will exhibit various pollinators that visit the garden in Bellaire. Presented by Native Plant Society, Houston Chapter. 7 p.m. April 21; free; Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, 120 West Loop N.; npsot.org.
Color: A Garden Club of America Flower Show is presented by the Garden Club of Houston. Noon-4 p.m. April 21 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 22; free; Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, 5216 Montrose; gchouston.org.
Spring Fling Festival: Fun and informative, family-friendly event to celebrate spring and Earth Day. Presented by Nature Discovery Center. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 24; free; naturediscoverycenter.org.
The Womery: Meg Tapp, president of the Garden Club of Houston, will explain the process of setting up and maintaining a womery. Presented by Urban Harvest. 5-6 p.m. April 26; $20; register for Zoom at urbanharvest.org.
Women’s Restorative Hike: This beginner-friendly, on-hour hike through Mercer Arboretum’s gardens and forest is for those who believe in the restorative power that nature has on the mind, body and spirit. Presented by Mercer Botanic Gardens. 9:15 a.m. April 26; free; 713-274-4160 or register online at hcp4.net/parks/mercer.
Brandi Keller is a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agent.
Below is a sampling of activities coming up this weekend into next week, including Family Weekend and Day of Remembrance commemorative events. Be sure to check GobblerConnect for additional activities!
Best Easter Egg Hunts in the Austin Area – Image Credit – City of Hutto Facebook Page
Are you looking for Easter Egg Hunts in the Austin area? We are blessed with many Easter egg hunts and festivals this Spring, thanks to local businesses, communities, and churches. Our list outlines the 10 best easter egg hunts that can be enjoyed by toddlers, kids and adults!
Editor’s Note: We at austinot.com bring you up to date with the latest information. However, as always, please confirm before you head out.
Austin Easter Egg Hunt 2022: Events & Activities for Kids and Toddlers
This year Sweet Eats will host its Egg Hunts in a giant 2 acre field packed full of farm-themed hiding places. The first hunt of the day is limited to 20 kids, all other hunts is limited to 50 kids so act fast before it gets sold out!
Best Easter Egg Hunts in the Austin Area – Image Credit – City of Hutto Facebook Page
Hop up to historic Downtown Hutto for this pop-up Easter egg hunt! Stuffed eggs will be scattered all around the East Street area. This is a SELF-SERVE, flexible activity. Bring your own basket/bag to gather eggs anytime from sunrise to sunset Good Friday 4/15 and Saturday 4/16 if there are any left. But please limit yourself to ONE basket/bag per child.
Some BUNNY is hopping into Cedar Park for its annual Egg Hunt! This year, they have extended the Egg Hunt so all can participate anytime from 2–4 p.m. The egg hunt runs throughout the event so every child is guaranteed a chance to find eggs and get a toy or candy prize. Egg hunts are divided into small age groups and have no start time. Enjoy train rides, inflatables, a petting zoo, and photos with the bunny until 3:45 pm.
Hop Hop to the Killeen Athletic Complex, 2201 E. Veterans Memorial Blvd! The egg hunt will start at 6:30pm. There will be FREE photos with the Easter Bunny, free face painting, food truck, music and more.
It’s Finally here, the FIRST Easter Egg Hunt at Suds Monkey’s new location. This year will be the best that the management will have ever put on! Suds Monkey will be breaking it out the hunt by ages and times to make sure that your kiddo’s have the best experience possible. Please be sure to bring your own basket.
Join for a fun Easter Scavenger Hunt! Can you find all of the paper eggs hidden throughout the museum? This fun activity will be available all day, while supplies last!
Image Credit – Huston Tilotson University Facebook Page
Children of all ages are invited to hunt for the thousands of eggs hidden around the Huston-Tillotson University campus during the 2022 16th Annual Community Easter Egg Hunt. The Easter egg hunt features a $500 scholarship prize egg, prize eggs for school supplies and gift certificates, eggs with candy and coins, and filled baskets.
Easter is the Christian holiday that celebrates the day Jesus returned from the dead after being hung on a cross. The holiday is often the marker that kicks off spring gardening and that warmer weather is on the way.
While Easter Sunday is the big day, the holiday is a weeklong affair, known as Holy Week, comprised of certain events and traditions in the Christian religion.
The week begins on Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter, and culminates on Resurrection Sunday, or Easter Sunday.
Throughout the week, Christians will often take part in a variety of ceremonies that include feet washing, gathering palm fronds and abstaining from eating meat.
Good Friday and Easter Sunday services will be taking place across Weld and Larimer counties as well as around the Denver Metro area.(Photo credit Tina Marie Photography)
Christians typically describe Easter as a foundation of their faith and reason behind the belief that Jesus has risen, fulfilling the prophecies recorded in the Old Testament.
Religious or not, the holiday is often filled with family, friends and food.
If you aren’t singing “Here comes Peter Cottontail,” that may be because you don’t know about all the fun and festive events, activities and services taking place in celebration of the holiday.
So take a moment to check out this list of events and Easter services that are taking place before and during the Easter Weekend, or some activities that you can do at home to celebrate the Easter holiday.
Egg hunts for kids and adults, visits with the Easter Bunny and snuggling baby animals are just a few of the Easter events taking place around Weld and Larimer counties. (Greeley Tribune file photo)
Easter Events
Easter egg hunts aren’t just for kids. Adults are invited to take part in The Great Grown UP Golden Egg Hunt beginning Monday online. Hosted by Northern Colorado Credit Union, adults age 21 and older will solve daily clues to win one of two prizes. The event is free to play and more information including rules and a game card can be found by going to https://bit.ly/3NM5J9K.
Dust off your Easter baskets and head over to the Fort Collins Marketplace Easter Event at noon Saturday at College Avenue and Horsetooth Road. Participating merchants will be handing out eggs filled with goodies as supplies last. Festivities will include face painting, balloon twisting, a visit from the Easter Bunny and more. The event is free and open to all ages. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3DN7mzy.
The Ranch Event Complex is hosting a Spring Craft and Gift Show at 2 p.m. Friday, April 15 through 4 p.m. Saturday, April 16 at 5280 Arena Circle, Loveland. In addition to craft and art vendors, attendees can take part in an Easter egg hunt and toss and a chance to win $1,000 in cash. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3u7aUcq.
Westview Church of Christ is hosting a free Easter egg hunt from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 16 at 4151 W. 20th St., Greeley. All ages are invited to come enjoy games, prizes, food, candy and a visit from the Easter Bunny. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3qZ1m1u.
Head over to Sweet Heart Winery at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday for Easter Wine and Chocolate Pairing at 5500 W. Highway 34, Loveland. The event will feature four wines paired with decadent chocolate from The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. The event is open to adults age 21 and older and tickets are $41.94 per person. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3JawPnA.
A community egg hunt is scheduled to take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 16 at Bromley Farm, 1594 E. Bromley Lane, Brighton. The event will feature three different egg hunts by age group, crafts, egg coloring, baby animals, gunny sack races and more. The free event is open to all ages. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3KcrhKn.
Enjoy an Easter brunch and snuggle time with a variety of farm animals at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, April 17 at Broken Shovels Farm Sanctuary, 8640 Dahlia St., Henderson. Attendees of all ages are invited to enjoy food from Way Veg and mix and mingle with piglets, lambs, calves and more. Tickets are $27.24 per person. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3x0cKOp.
The annual Easter Egg Hunt at Wiley Roots Brewing Co. is set for noon Saturday, April 16 at 625 3rd. St., Greeley. Adults age 21 and older are invited to take part in collecting five eggs with the purchase of a full pour. Around 500 eggs will be hidden around the brewery for participants to find and win prizes. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3u4eQuB.
The Great Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt at Village at the Peaks is taking place daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 1250 S. Hover Road, Longmont. Participants will hunt for 60 hidden painted eggs for a chance to win prizes such as gift cards, free meals and $1,000 in cash. For more information, or to print out a game board, go to https://bit.ly/3Kcw6mX.
Celebrate Easter with the White Horse Inn at 10 a.m. Sunday, April 17 at 2750 8th Ave., Garden City. Festivities will include $10 hoppy shots bingo boards, free pool, a golden egg hunt, and eggs filled with prizes. The event is open to adults age 21 and older. For more information, contact the White Horse Inn at (970) 356-5386.
Good Friday and Easter Sunday services will be taking place across Weld and Larimer counties as well as around the Denver Metro area. (Photo credit Anton Petrus)
Easter Services
If you are looking for a Good Friday, Easter Sunday or even a Saturday service to attend, there is no shortage of churches in Greeley, Windsor, around Weld and Larimer counties and beyond.Whether you are looking for a sunrise service, a kid-friendly event or a Spanish service, check out these offerings that are set to take place.
The 75th annual Easter Sunrise Service at Red Rock Amphitheater is scheduled to take place in-person at 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison. Doors open at 4:30 a.m. with the service beginning at 6 a.m. Participants are advised to arrive early and dress warm. Seats can be reserved by going to https://bit.ly/3j4Qfzz. All ages are welcome to attend. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3fpz37m.
Celebrate Good Friday with Windsor Community Church at 6:30 p.m. at 700 Automation Drive. Easter Sunday service will take place at 10:15 a.m. at Windsor High School, 1100 Main St. All ages are welcome to attend. For more information, go to www.windsorchurch.org.
Connections Christian Church is hosting a Good Friday service at 6:30 p.m. an Easter Sunday services at 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. at Roosevelt High School, 616 N. 2nd St., Johnstown. All ages are invited to attend. For more information, go to www.connections.cc.
Journey Christian Church will be offering four different Easter services — 6 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.— Sunday at 4754 W. 31st St., Greeley. The 6 a.m. service will take place outside, so attendees are urged to dress for chilly weather and bring a lawn chair. All ages are welcome to attend any of the four services. For more information, go to www.journeychristian.org.
Easter at Christ Community Church is set for 6:30 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday at 1301 15th St., Greeley. All ages are invited to attend. For more information, go to www.cccgreeley.org.
Grace Community Church is offering Easter Sunday services at 8:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. Sunday at 2033 W. S. 1st St., Johnstown. The 10:15 a.m. service will feature Children’s and Youth ministries. All ages are welcome to attend. For more information, go to www.graceconnect.com.
Greeley Vineyard Church will be hosting three Easter Sunday services — 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. — at 1015 9th Ave. All ages of new and returning members are welcome to attend. For more information, go to www.greeleyvineyard.org.
Easter at Restoration Church is set for 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Embassy Suites by Hilton Loveland Hotel, Conference Center and Spa, 4705 Clydesdale Parkway, Loveland. All ages are invited to enjoy singing, prayer and more. For more information, go to www.restorationchurch.online.
Traverse Christian Church will be holding Easter service at 9 a.m. Sunday at 810 Automation Drive in Windsor. All ages are welcome to attend. For more information, go to www.traversechristian.com.
Celebrate Easter with City Lights Church at 9 a.m. or 11 a.m. Sunday at 4100 20th St., Greeley. Services are open to all ages and will include Crumbl Cookies, a children’s service and a photo area. For more information, go to www.citylights.church.
Chocolate bunnies and eggs as well as other Easter candy and goodies can be found at local supermarkets and stores including King Soopers, WalMart and Target. (Photo credit Tomas Anderson)
Easter activities
Of course, you can always opt to celebrate the holiday at home with family and friends. Here are some fun and creative activities that will make your Easter celebration one for the memory books.
Guess the number of jelly beans is a fun and easy indoor game for all ages. Simply fill up a jar with vibrant colored jelly beans (be sure to count them while filling) and ask each family member and guest to give their best guess. The winner closest to the number without going over receives the entire jar as a prize.
Go with an old school game of egg and spoon races. You can use hard boiled or raw eggs, depending on how much mess you want to clean up and a metal or wooden spoon. Races can be individual or a relay style to kick the competition up a notch.
Make Easter easy by hosting a potluck lunch with friends and family. Ask each guest to bring a side dish, salad, dessert or other item. Pick up some to-go containers at the Dollar Store to pack up and share the leftovers with the crowd.
Like gingerbread houses during Christmas, get the kids and teens involved in building Peeps houses. You can use graham crackers for the walls and roof and frosting to glue it all together. Lay out a variety of decorations such as jelly beans, sprinkles, colored frosting and other candies.
Instead of spending the afternoon in the kitchen cooking the traditional ham or lamb, do a late afternoon picnic with finger foods, sandwiches, chips and dip, fruit and other easy to transport food items. Bring a blanket, some fun books to read to the kids, a couple of outdoor games and enjoy the holiday in the sunshine.
It isn’t really Easter without coloring eggs. Make the project easy by setting up egg coloring outside on the lawn or driveway. Bring out the sidewalk chalk for a full day of coloring and creativity for family members of all ages.
Not really a fan of boiled eggs? Then opt to decorate cupcakes. You can make or buy vanilla cupcakes and decorate them with vibrant colored sprinkles and sugar, marshmallows, food coloring, candies and other fun edible items. For a great vanilla cupcake recipe, check out The Pioneer Woman at https://bit.ly/37iMQdC.
It was around this time two years ago that people across Northern Ireland were beginning to hear more and more about the Covid-19 virus that was spreading across the globe.
he first official case in NI was recorded on February 27 and soon after, it was announced that St Patrick’s Day events here would be cancelled.
Now, with a multitude of activities and festivities confirmed for the first time in three years, many councils and event organisers are seeing this year’s March 17 as an opportunity to not only commemorate the death of Ireland’s patron saint in the fifth century, but to celebrate a renewed sense of freedom and good news across NI.
The Belfast Telegraph has compiled a list of all the greatest gatherings and goings-on throughout all six counties on the big day itself.
Co Tyrone
For those looking to experience a truly traditional St Patrick’s Day, the Ulster American Folk Park just outside Omagh will be letting families discover the food, stories, customs and even dancing that would have taken place on March 17 during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.
Of course everyone can also join in on the fun and festivities of the Strabane St Patrick’s Day Parade, and there’s plenty more similar events across the county, including music, face painting, Irish dancing and amusements at Dungannon’s Hill of The O’Neill.
For something a bit different, you could enjoy a visit to the Wild Atlantic Distillery in Castlederg for their Distillery Tour, where you can hear how they have been inspired by the people and the landscape to create their famous gin, vodka and whiskey.
Co Armagh
Armagh city, where St Patrick built his great stone church in 445AD, making it the centre of the church in Ireland, will be hosting a special Home of Saint Patrick festival, which began on March 10 and is running right until Saturday, March 19. It will combine live music, comedy, art, poetry, theatre, film, dance, debate, history and adventure.
At 2.30pm on March 17, the St Patrick’s Day Community Parade will kick off — a celebration of the Irish patron saint, followed by a family-fun afternoon [with free admission] in the Shambles Market until 5pm.
Co Down
Fancy a Big Paddy Paddle at the Mourne Outdoor Festival? The Life Adventure Centre is inviting people to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in a style similar to that of Patrick when he first arrived locally — by canoe, SUP Board, or kayak — it’s your choice!
It’s a self-guided paddle around Castlewellan and tickets are £29 per person, which includes all your equipment and support on the day.
You can also do something similar in Warrenpoint and begin the day in style on the beautiful shoreline of Carlingford Lough with a Family Paddle from 9.30 to 11.30am or the Paddy’s Day Paddle & Pints from 12.30 to 2.30pm.
The second session of the day follows a similar theme to the morning one, but is followed by drinks off the water and is for adults only. Check out https://discovernorthernireland.com/ for details on how to buy tickets for any of these activities.
Co Antrim
The traditional St Patrick’s Day climb of Slemish will see thousands return for the first time since 2019, with outdoor entertainment in Broughshane village afterwards, including performances from the lively band, Ragaire, the 20-strong Portglenone Comhaltas Group, more traditional music and dance, street theatre, crafts and face painting.
Colin Glen Forest Park is also going mega green for the day with activities including the Black Bull Run and Forest Flyover Zipline sessions from 11am to 3pm. In addition, there will be a bouncy castle, face painting, Irish dancing and a special St Patrick’s Gruffalo and Leprechaun Hunt for little ones, who will get to take home their very own Julia Donaldson and Friends book, sticker and certificate.
Visit colinglen.org/st-patricks-day-at-colin-glen/ online to book tickets for any of the day’s activities.
Co Londonderry
Derry City is hosting a Spring Carnival Parade on March 17 and it aims to feature more than 500 participants.
Guildhall Square will be turned into an incredible live show with animations and local choirs, while Waterloo Place will be filled with traditional Irish musicians, dancers and homegrown delicacies.
The Peace Garden in Foyle Street will be transformed into the Colourful Land of the Little People where children can make a wish on the fairy tree and dance until their feet are sore from 1 to 6pm.
The Spring Carnival Parade will begin at Bishop Street from 3pm with a mythical theme of ‘Rebirth & Renewal’.
Co Fermanagh
Enniskillen town centre will come alive once again with street entertainment including the best of local talent with music from Roslea CCE featuring Blathnaid, Saoirse and Darragh Rooney, Irish dancers Aoife Rooney and Caitlin Flanagan, and Sophie Armstrong from Erne Highland Dancers.
Enniskillen Castle will also be hosting an exciting programme for the whole family with food vendors, market stalls, live music, balloon modelling and a craft fair.
Fermanagh and Omagh District Council confirmed that entertainment will continue into the evening “with so much on offer in the wonderful hospitality and entertainment venues across the Island Town on this global day of celebration”.
Belfast city centre
With plenty of hype around Belfast City Council’s 11-day celebratory lead-up to the main events of March 17, there will be no shortage of things to do on St Patrick’s Day itself.
Try the city’s best-poured pints of Guinness at Bittles on Upper Church Lane or Whites Tavern, one of the oldest taverns in Belfast.
Kelly’s Cellars, built in 1720, is also one of the city’s longest-running pubs and will be full of trad music and great Guinness on the big day too. Another fundamentally Irish-themed pub to try is The Points, which will be hosting an all-day Dublin Road block party, to include 20 bands and DJs over six stages inside with free entry.
Of course, this will have to wait until after you attend this year’s new look St Patrick’s Day parade by Beat Carnival — a colourful, carnival pageant of costume, music, dance, circus and theatrical performance.
Watch as Patrick travels through the streets of Belfast with his giant hound, Spiorad-Spirit (spirit of adventure). He’ll be donning a giant cloak, elegantly patchwork-fashioned from expressions of people and groups throughout Belfast.
All manner of individuals and community organisations in the parade will celebrate their part in the future: varied and different yet strongly united by the instinct for moving forwards together — a cavalcade of carnival dancers, circus artists and musicians reminding us that We are all Patrick, we are all Belfast. The pageant parade will leave from City Hall at 1pm and will travel along Donegall Place, into High Street, Bridge Street, Waring Street and finish on Donegall Street close to Writers Square.
