The first ever ‘Swamp Festival’ is taking place in Belfast at Bog Meadows Nature Reserve on Saturday May 14.
Belfast City Council and Ulster Wildlife have joined forces with cultural arts organisation ArtsEkta to host this special event for the whole family, the first of its kind on the island of Ireland.
It is part of the £5.1 million EU funded Forth Meadow Community Greenway project, which aims to promote the greenway as a shared and safe space for all, as it weaves through both communities from North Belfast, along West into South Central Belfast.
Read more: Belfast pubs get new licences for outdoor entertainments
The council states: "This unique and free fusion festival of music, arts and crafts, storytelling, nature walks, cultural workshops and much more will celebrate the return of the African sedge warblers, willow warblers, house martins and swallows to Bog Meadows."
The day starts at 6am with a special "Dawn Chorus" and finishes with the Forth Meadow Greenway Duck Derby at 4pm. In between it will feature African music from Magwere, and traditional Irish music from local folk band the Doone Brothers on stage throughout the afternoon.
Tickets are free but must be pre-booked via ArtsEkta’s website, which contains the full programme of activities for the festival.
Rose Crozier of Belfast City Council said: “We attracted a tremendous crowd for our first greenway cultural event in March, with the Luminate Festival, so we’re hoping more and more families will join us for this amazing festival - to enjoy this wonderful new space bringing people from all communities together.”
Nisha Tandon of ArtsEkta said: “We are delighted to present the first ever Swamp Festival on this island on behalf of Belfast City Council, following our inaugural Greenway Luminate Festival in March. We look forward to putting on more events throughout the Summer to bring the Forth Meadow Community Greenway to life this year.”
Deborah McLaughlin, Community Engagement Officer with Ulster Wildlife, said: “Every year hundreds of feathered visitors flock to Bog Meadows from Africa to rear their young. This amazing green space, right in the heart of West Belfast, is a fantastic asset, not only for wildlife but for local people to enjoy and we look forward to showcasing it at the Swamp Festival.”
For full details of the Swamp Festival programme, go to ArtsEkta’s website where tickets for this free festival must be booked in advance here.
Read more: Belfast's Queen Street office block gets Council green light
Read more: Belfast Shaftesbury Square regeneration plan to be drawn up at City Hall
To get the latest breaking news straight to your inbox, sign up to our free newsletter.
