Belfast Carnival Village To Transform Ormeau Park

Belfast Carnival Village will transform an area in Ormeau Park in June 2016 into a colourful carnival village, a theatrical set with structures that depict Belfast landmarks such as H&W Cranes and the Albert Clock.

Carnival acts, performances and workshops involving 1,000 community participants from local communities across Belfast will attract an audience of 10,000- 15,000.

It is a partnership project led by experienced arts company Beat Carnival with two community-partner organisations: Denmark Street Residents Association and Ballynafeigh Community Development Association.

The Carnival Village, created by Beat Carnival artists, will consist of:

• KidzTown- An interactive children's and young people’s area with creative activity workshops and children's performances.

• Circus City- performance area with Belfast themed performance structures made for circus and street theatre.

• Bandstand- A music area featuring traditional, contemporary and carnival music forms, including Beat’s Big Drums, Street Choir and Carnival Bands and specially composed Belfast Songs.

• Village Green- Featuring a Town Hall structure and will provide facilities for socialising, presentations and discussions, and performances.

• Post Office- An information and project area that highlights international links and exchanges with Belfast’s carnival and communities.

• Samba School- Where attendees get a taste of drumming and other carnival arts related experience by participating in workshops and showcase performances.

• Market Place- food and refreshments.

• Among other features of the site there will be a big-top tent, carnival games stalls and golf with Beat 'Big Head' Characters of Rory McIlrory, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell.

Belfast Carnival Village is supported through the £900,000 Creative and Cultural Fund for Belfast, set up by Belfast City Council and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland in 2014 to bring three years of exciting arts and heritage projects to the city of Belfast. Altogether, seven projects, inspired by Belfast’s rich culture and heritage, are bringing together some of the city’s best art practitioners with community groups all across the city and using a wide variety of arts and media to tell their stories.