Fun events for NI families – July

So the summer holidays have finally arrived and the kids are delighted – but as a parent you might be wondering how on earth you’re going to fill the next eight weeks and keep them from tearing the house (and your nerves) to shreds!  We’re still keeping fingers crossed for lots of warm, dry weather which means endless days of outdoor play, but if your little terrors get bored of the swingset or if the good old NI rain decides to cut its holiday short, there are plenty of cool activities happening in July!  Here’s our pick of the bunch:

Funny Farm Adventures, Castlewellan

Opens July 5
Famous for its annual ‘Maize Maze’, Funny Farm Adventures offers masses of family attractions each summer including trampolines, climbing walls, a small animal paddock, giant outdoor games, a toddler play area, the fab barrel train and much, much more!

Teddy Bears Picnic at Castle Espie

July 11, 1-3pm
Kids are invited to bring a picnic and their favourite fluffy friend to Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust’s Castle Espie for an enjoyable afternoon in the reserve’s glorious woods.

Barren Carrousels @ Belfast Festival of Fools

July 11, 2&4pm
Rarely seen in this part of Europe, the last remaining members of this 27th generation circus family will dazzle you with back cracking contortions and death defying aerial feats! Ravishing Ruby Barren has devoted her life to perfecting her art form and setting impossibly high standards that only she can achieve. Her daughter Tulip, a child prodigy, desperately attempts to live up to her mother’s expectations only to be upstaged by her two left feet. Prepare to be amazed at their bandwagon of circus antics. High expectations will be rewarded with a high level performance – maybe as much as 6 metres high!

Pirates Picnic at Castle Ward

July 12, 12noon-5pm
Ahoy, me hearties! A fun day out for all the family, come in pirate costume and prepare to seek and find the buried treasure and the pirates roaming around Castle Ward!

Summer Concert & Fireworks, Portrush

July 17

Children’s entertainment, live music and a fantastic fireworks display to conclude the evening at the Recreation Grounds, Ramore Head, Portrush.

Rockets at W5, Belfast

July 19 & 25, 2-4pm.

Get ready for a week long alien invasion. Make your own air powered paper rocket and help repel the alien overlord’s mothership. Can you score direct hits on both it and the alien home planet?  When you’ve finished you can take your rocket home – because you never know when those pesky aliens will return! Tel: 028 9046 7700 for more details.

Birds of Prey @ Belfast Zoo

July 24 & 25, 10.30am-4.30pm

Discover the natural skills of the zoo’s birds of prey during this special event.   Meet birds such as falcons, hawks, buzzards, vultures, kestrels and barn owls in our education centre from 10.30am to 4.30pm.   For more information, call 028 9077 6277 or email events@belfastzoo.co.uk