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Easter family activities to be held across Northern Ireland

Visitors can also hop aboard the 'Easter Eggspress' at the Downpatrick and Co Down Railway over the weekend
Visitors can also hop aboard the 'Easter Eggspress' at the Downpatrick and Co Down Railway over the weekend Visitors can also hop aboard the 'Easter Eggspress' at the Downpatrick and Co Down Railway over the weekend

ON the hunt for something to do over the Easter weekend, then there's no shortage of events and activities across the north.

Belfast City Council is offering families an 'eggcellent' Bank Holiday weekend of fun with a programme of free events based around the City Hall.

Themed arts and crafts workshops, street theatre, face painting, balloon modelling and caricature drawings will be on offer from today until Tuesday.

There's also a replica spitfire display, vintage and sports car displays as well as farmyard fun, while Easter tea dances will be held in the Ulster Hall.

The Lord Mayor's parlour at City Hall will also be open for special tours offering a behind-the-scenes look into the office.

The Woodland Trust is also inviting families to discover the hidden gems of Carnmoney Hill in Newtownabbey this Easter.

Don your walking boots and put a spring in your step today from 11am to 4pm to take part in a self-guided trail through the woodland.

The conservation charity wants everyone - local people and visitors - to feast their eyes upon the natural and built heritage of Carnmoney Hill.

There's also Easter family fun activities at Titanic Belfast, where there's an explorer trail, the chance to meet the Titanic Mascots and new family interactive guide.

Visitors can also hop aboard the 'Easter Eggspress' at the Downpatrick and Co Down Railway over the weekend.

Young passengers will receive a treat from the Easter Bunny and there's also an Egg Trail Hunt. The train will be used for excursions from the town centre from 2pm to 5pm today until Monday.

Or why not spring into action and unleash your inner explorer at Rowallane Garden, Saintfield.

There will be a Easter Chick Hunt on Tuesday from 10.30am-3pm where visitors can explore the nooks and crannies around the garden and hunt for clues to win a prize.

There's also face painting, egg rolling and Phil’s Farm and his animal friends.

Hillsborough Castle in Co Down will also host a weekend of fun family activities including castle building, boat racing and story-telling.

Historic Royal Palaces, the independent charity that cares for Hillsborough Castle, has teamed up with Young at Art, to run family workshops.

On Easter Monday and Tuesday, Lady Alice and friends will enthral youngsters with stories, comedy and music.

Kids will also be invited to the castle’s Throne Room for comedy and sing-a-long or there's a chance to take a seat in the more intimate State Drawing Room for interactive storytelling.

In Strabane today, there's a family fun day of entertainment with a spring theme, to celebrate the end of winter and the start of the spring season.

An Easter Egg Hunt leaving from the Alley Theatre will take participants through the town, where there will be live music performances.

Other events include face-painting, an Easter Egg Workshop and an appearance by the Easter Bunny.

An afternoon of entertainment will take place in Forthill Park, Enniskillen on Easter Monday.

The Picnic in the Park event will include an Easter egg trail, real Easter chicks and rare breed hens.

There will also be face painting; balloon modelling and music by Cathy McGovern from the beautiful bandstand located in the centre of the park.