THIS year's Belfast Children's Festival (BCF) will take place between Friday March 9 and Wednesday March 14, bringing more than 110 events to 14 locations across the city.
Now in its 20th year, BCF has become one of the largest children’s arts festivals in Ireland and Britain, with the 2017 events reportedly attracting just under 30,000 people.
This year's festival programme features several premieres, including Horses, Getting Dressed, Penguins, Egg-tion Hero and Sensescapes, while regular fixtures such as Mini Mid-Week Magic, Pigeon and Plum’s Vaudeville Cabaret, Acoustic Picnic at Oh Yeah Music Centre and Children’s Books Ireland’s Book Clinic are set to return.
On Saturday March 10 and Sunday March 11 March, BCF will celebrate their landmark anniversary with the Big Botanic Birthday Bash packed with family activities including free children’s art workshops and theatre and music performances including Egg-tion Hero from Maas Theater en Dans (Netherlands), Dance Exposed from Maiden Voyage Dance and Northern Ireland Opera's Little Lullabies, drumming workshops, Sow & Grow workshops and more.
Branar Téatar do Pháistí will present their production of How To Catch a Star by award-winning Belfast author Oliver Jeffers at the Lyric Theatre's Naughton Studio on March 9 and 10, combining world-class puppetry with music and beautiful staging to bring Jeffers' much-loved storybook to life.
Appearing in Botanic Gardens from Friday March 9 to Sunday March 11 (12pm to 6pm) will be The Miracoco Luminarium (Architects of Air), a 'walk-in' sculpture that invites visitors of all ages to explore its maze of winding paths and soaring domes.
Inspired by "natural forms, geometric solids, Islamic and Gothic architecture", the Miracoco Luminarium promises "a sensory experience of light, sound and colour".
:: Full BCF programme and ticket details available Youngatart.co.uk. This year adults will pay the same price as children, with a maximum ticket price of £10 – and many events are free.
