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What's On: St Patrick's weekend fun

Wakeboarding Leprechauns will feature in this year's St Patrick's Day Fun Day in Enniskillen
Wakeboarding Leprechauns will feature in this year's St Patrick's Day Fun Day in Enniskillen Wakeboarding Leprechauns will feature in this year's St Patrick's Day Fun Day in Enniskillen

Jacqueline from Whatsonni.com shares her pick of What's On across the North this St Patrick' Day weekend.

Down

Enjoy a fun day out at Castle Espie for the St Patrick's Day mid-term school break. On Friday March 17, enjoy the LEGO brick trail, a display from Karl Mantella Zoo-2-You and special themed treats at The Kingfisher Kitchen.

Armagh

From Friday March 17 to Sunday March 19, your visit to the Navan Centre will also include a special opening of the Iron Age Dwelling. This is a pre-season chance to meet with the Celtic characters as they relive Celtic life.

Over the weekend they will be making pottery, weaving belts and of course cooking. Join in and experience life as a Celt as you step back to a time gone by.

Fermanagh

The St Patrick's Day Parade and Fun Day returns to Enniskillen this Friday for its 7th year and headlining the parade this year is a spectacular entry featuring moving inflatables. The fun starts at the Broadmeadow with the a range of free activities including bouncy castles, balloon modellers, face painting, zorbs and wandering mascots for all your selfie needs.

New this year is a climbing tower. Freebies on the day will also see chocolate fountains, green candy floss and Lilley's famous themed gelato in abundance.

On the water, we welcome back our battling Ardglass Vikings, jet men, wakeboarding Leprechauns and, as is now tradition, St Patrick himself will be making his amphibious arrival via Castle Island.

Tyrone

Join the Ulster American Folk Park this St Patrick's Day and attend the 'American Wake'. Countless thousands of people left Ireland in the 18th and 19th Centuries. For many, the hours before departure became known as the 'American' or 'Living Wake'.

Watch this dramatic re-enactment complete with music and song. Performances at noon and 2pm.

Derry

Join Hugo Duncan and friends in a St Patrick's night country jamboree at the Riverside Theatre in Coleraine this Friday.

This will be an action-packed evening of music and comedy. Joining Hugo will be Barry Kirwan – nominated for newcomer of the year award at RTE's Country Music Awards, the 'Blue jean country queen' Shauna McStravock, the Mighty 143 himself, BoxCar Brian and the country music legend that is Brian Coll.

Full details at Riversidetheatre.org.uk.

Antrim

Raceview Mill in Broughshane will be playing host to a very special food and craft market this St Patrick's Day. There will be live music, entertainment for the children, and over 40 artisan traders in the market hall from 11am to 3pm.

Raceview operates a dog-friendly policy, so feel free to bring along your fury friend also. Visitors can also enjoy a walk along the Butterfly Riverside Path, a cup of coffee and freshly baked scone in the Red Brick Coffee House and pick up a gift or two in any of the 36 little artisan businesses located along the pretty village street at Raceview.

Belfast

The Merchant Hotel's Fabulous Fashion Teas return on Saturday March 18 and Sunday March 19, with four fashion-forward shows presenting the must-have looks from cutting-edge local designers and leading designer boutiques.

Featuring carefully chosen local designers and high-end boutiques, these are fashion shows with a difference.

:: For more details on these events and to add your events free go to Whatsonni.com. Follow us on twitter @whatsonNI and on Facebook at FB.com/whatsonni.com for news, competitions and what's on near you.