02 June 2010
Belfast’s new Lord Mayor, Councillor Pat Convery, is inviting the people of the city to join in a massive ‘Puppet Picnic’ later this month, when the Belfast City Carnival, one of the highlights of the city’s cultural calendar, takes to the streets on Saturday 19 June.
The carnival officially introduces the new Lord Mayor to the people of Belfast. Giant floats, big carnival bands, puppets of all sizes and hundreds of performers will parade through the city centre, as participants and onlookers alike anticipate the ‘Puppet Picnic’ at City Hall.
“Over the past few years, the Belfast City Carnival has changed and evolved, and has become a cornerstone of our cultural calendar,” commented Councillor Convery, who was undertaking his first official engagement since being elected Lord Mayor just last night (Tuesday).
“At a time when central government is cutting back on its support for such events, Belfast City Council remains totally committed to supporting cultural activity in all four corners of the city,” he continued.
“Last year, we invested £1.6 million in culture and arts groups, from grassroots level up, not counting the substantial investment we are making, on an ongoing basis, in the continued development of the city’s cultural infrastructure.
“Events such as the Belfast City Carnival are not only good for the people of the city, they are vital in helping our tourism industry in its continued growth, as they provide attractions which visitors want to see.
“I urge everyone to come out and enjoy the thrill and spectacle of what promises to be a wonderful day for all the family,” added the new First Citizen.
BEAT, Belfast’s carnival company, is working with artists and community groups from all across the city to bring the streets alive with colour and sound on carnival day.
David Boyd, Director of BEAT, promises that the Carnival will be a wondrous feast of colour and sound.
“Carnival provides a fun, interactive way for communities to learn about other worlds, people and places, while channelling their creativity to entertain others. The appeal of the summer carnival has grown year upon year and, now in partnership with a range of other organizations, we’ve sought to provide a full afternoon of entertainment that stimulates the senses.”
There will be music and special themed entertainment at the City Hall from 12 noon, and the ‘Puppet Picnic’ gets underway shortly after 2pm, when the parade arrives into the grounds.
The ‘Puppet Parade’, which will leave Custom House Square at 12.30pm for the journey through the streets of the city centre.
The parade itself move along High Street and Bridge Street into lower North Street, from where it will go along Royal Avenue, which provide the best views of the floats and performers, and then into Donegall Place to the front of the City Hall.
The City Hall grounds will be transformed into a giant open air family party zone for the afternoon, with music and entertainment getting the party right the way through to 5.30pm.
The day’s events will be rounded off with a Carnival Party at the Mandela Hall at 8pm.
The Belfast City Carnival is organised by Belfast City Council, with artistic direction being provided by BEAT. The Belfast City Carnival is funded by Belfast City Council, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Arts Lottery, Legacy Trust UK, the Department for Social Development and the European Regional Development Fund under the Peace III Programme.
Further details can be obtained from the Belfast Welcome Centre on (028) 9024 6609 or by visiting www.belfastcity.gov.uk/events