Northern Ireland

NI's largest cultural diversity festival Belfast Mela to begin in Belfast

Local artists John Quinn and Timmy get one of the floats set for the Belfast Mela today (Saturday). Picture by Hugh Russell.
Local artists John Quinn and Timmy get one of the floats set for the Belfast Mela today (Saturday). Picture by Hugh Russell. Local artists John Quinn and Timmy get one of the floats set for the Belfast Mela today (Saturday). Picture by Hugh Russell.

Artists John Quinn and Timmy get one of the floats ready for the Belfast Mela, the north's largest cultural diversity festival, which starts today.

There will be music, dance, art, theatre and food during the festival, which returns to the city following a break of two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Taking place over the next eight days, it starts today with the Mela Carnival through the streets of Belfast.

The carnival parade, which will begin at Writer’s Square, will see 1,500 participants, representing more than 20 different cultural groups, taking part.

The event will finish at Belfast City Hall where there will be an aerial acrobatics displays by Fidget Feet.

There will also be daily Mela Plus events across the city, leading up to the annual Mela Day extravaganza in Botanic Gardens on August 28.