Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s Giant Adventures festivals, and other events, will return this summer after a two-year break.
Wake the Giant, Footsteps in the Forest, and new for 2022, Eats and Beats, will take place in various locations across the district.
The festivals will highlight the region’s mountains, coastline and unique stories of legend and lore.
The programme will kick off with the Wake the Giant festival on Saturday, August 20 and Sunday August 21 in Warrenpoint.
Inspired by the ancient myth of the sleeping giant in the Cooley Mountains, see if you can stir Finn McCool, Ireland’s most famous giant, from his slumber. There will be something for all the family to enjoy with live street theatre, free children’s activities, and performances all around the town.
New to the line-up will be the Eats and Beats festival on Saturday, September 3 and Sunday, September 4 September in Newcastle.
Bringing you the best in local and world food and music, the Eats and Beats festival weekend will see five music stages providing more than 70 free performances.
There will be two homegrown and world food villages with over 80 unique and locally produced food and beverage outlets. Visitors can experience food trails, cooking demos and food sampling, as well as a host of family fun and wellness activities.
Meanwhile, the popular Footsteps in the Forest festival will make a return to Slieve Gullion forest park at the later date of October 27-31.
Having grown in popularity with families since 2016, this year Footsteps in the Forest will celebrate the ancient traditions which mark the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter. The new Halloween-themed festival will have something for all the family.
Visitors will have an opportunity to encounter mythical people, hear their stories of a world that has been forgotten and explore their woodland realm through the magical living storybook tour.
Council chairperson, Councillor Michael Rice said: “In addition to the Giant Adventures festivals there will be an exciting programme of summer events, organised by communities and tourism businesses across the district, that will also celebrate the district’s culture and heritage.
“The development of our festivals under the Giant Adventures brand, together with additional financial support for a range of other established events, is one of the positive steps the Council has taken to position the district as one of the premier tourism destinations in Ireland.”
For details of the Giant Adventures and community and tourism events, go to visitmournemountains.co.uk and follow the Visit Mourne social media platforms.
