Life

What's On: Portaferry Sails and Sounds Festival, road racing returns to Fermanagh

Jacqueline McGonigle shares her pick of family friendly events taking place across Northern Ireland this week

Portaferry Sails and Sounds Festival starts on Thursday
Portaferry Sails and Sounds Festival starts on Thursday Portaferry Sails and Sounds Festival starts on Thursday

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Portaferry Sails and Sounds Festival on the shores of Strangford Lough and Portaferry, entering its third year, is aiming to add and improve the festival each year with new events and keeping some of the popular traditional events. Highlights this year include Brian Boru Tall Ship, trips on Strangford Lough, kids entertainment, themed food talks and exhibits. June 28-July 1.

ARMAGH

Our Wee Craft Village at Brownlow House in Lurgan will be hosting its first fair on Saturday from 10am-3pm.Kids' crafts, live demos, make and take sessions for all ages, plus craft stalls, with all handcrafted products. The vintage car club will be also be exhibiting outside in the gardens and raising money for various charities. Entrance fee £4.

FERMANAGH

The roads of Fermanagh will echo to the sound of racing bikes for the first time in 66 years when the Fermanagh 100 Road Races return to the county. The Enniskillen and District Motorcycle Club is set to host two days of racing on Friday and Saturday on a three-mile circuit based in the shadow of Cuilcagh Mountain. The race schedule will see a full day of practices on the Friday and on Saturday there will be an 11-race programme with the Richard Britton Memorial Race to be the showcase of the day.

TYRONE

Don’t miss this year’s Cookstown Summer Carnival on Friday. The carnival parade begins at 7pm with all the fun continuing until 10pm, with live entertainment, food village and a fairground. Admission free. Organised by The Hub for all the community.

DERRY

St Lurach’s Maghera Garden Fete and Vintage Rally takes place this Saturday. There will be vintage vehicles, live music, strongmen, afternoon teas, Ulster Scots and Traditional Irish Music and free entertainment for the children. Ritchie Remo and David 'Jonny Cash' Kelly with also be there.

ANTRIM

This Saturday Portrush Heritage Group will stage the sixth adventure of the notorious Pirate Off Portrush, Tavish Dhu, when the town is invaded by the Emperor of The Orient. Be warned, the town will be full of pirates and ninja warriors. Events kick-off at 11am with a Pirates Treasure Hunt, from the Portrush Atlantic Hotel.

BELFAST

It’s party time at Roar and Explore, Daisy Farm Shopping Centre, when Moana, Batman and Spiderman come and play this Friday. There will be plenty of opportunity for photos and play in the roarsome Roar and Explore!

:: 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/www.whatsonni.com for news, competitions and what’s on near you.