Northern Ireland is gearing up for a vibrant St Patrick’s Day celebration next week, with towns and cities set to turn green in honour of Ireland’s patron saint.
From colourful floats to traditional music and energetic dancers, the streets will come alive with festivities as people gather to mark the occasion.
With St Patrick’s Day falling on a Monday, people are set to enjoy a long weekend filled with celebrations on March 17.
With a packed schedule of events planned, there will be plenty of opportunities to join in the fun, whether it’s watching a parade, enjoying live entertainment, or taking part in cultural activities across Northern Ireland.
Here, we’ve rounded up the top things to do across the region.
Belfast
Belfast’s St Patrick’s Day parade will bring a dazzling display of costume, music, dance and theatrical performances to the city’s streets.
Starting at City Hall at 1.30pm, local dance troupes, schools, community groups and musicians will weave their way through the city centre via Chichester Street, Victoria Street, High Street, Castle Place and Donegall Place, before returning to City Hall.
Belfast TradFest will deliver a four-day music festival from 14-17 March featuring concerts, céilís, displays, pilgrimages, taster sessions, workshops.
There will also be an afternoon of family fun on the day featuring music, dance, food, an all-day céilí and other family-friendly activities at a festival village in Cathedral Gardens and St Anne’s Square from 1pm-5pm.
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Adam, Callum and Eoin Murphy pictured at the St Patrick’s Day parade in Coolgreany.
Co Down
Celebrations are taking place across Newry and Downpatrick — the town named after the patron saint- this year with parades on the 17th at both locations during the day.
There will be festivities taking place across Downpatrick from 12 noon, with the parade kicking off at 1.30pm, departing at the Downshire Estate on the Ardglass Road and following the main route through the town finishing at Rathkeltair Car Park, Lower Market Street.
There will be live music in St Patrick’s Square throughout the day with an artisan market and plenty of children’s activities on offer.
There will also be a Medieval Market and Climbing Wall at the Grove as well as face painting stations and street performers.
Passengers will be able to board The Shamrock Express at the Downpatrick and County Down Railway on the day, with tickets available to purchase from their website.
In Newry City, the St Patrick’s Day Parade will depart from Albert Basin at 1pm and will proceed along Merchants Quay, Sugar Island, ending at The Mall.
There are activities on offer at the Newry and Mourne Museum on the day as well as a dance exhibition and Ceili marquee at Margaret Square and a Kids Zone tent for arts and crafts.
You can also catch Sharon Carroll performing her beautiful harp ensemble in The Quays Shopping Centre and Casino Dixieland Jazz Band in Buttercrane Shopping Centre.
Co Armagh
Armagh’s Home of St Patrick’s Festival returns with an exciting programme of music, art, theatre, film and dance.
One of the highlights is the Vigil Walk which takes place between the two St Patrick’s Cathedrals, the only city in the world to have the honour of having two Cathedrals that share the same name.
The exciting programme for 2025 includes an Irish Whiskey Masterclass, a talk in the Armagh Robinson Library, JigJazz, contemporary Irish dance show, Dawn Light at Navan Centre and Fort, SYSTR, featuring daughters of the celebrated Irish performer Michael McGlynn in concert at St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, Malachy Cush and performers at St Patrick’s RC Cathedral and St Patrick’s Shindig in Market Square Armagh.
The Festival programme runs Sunday 9 March to Monday 17 March 2025.
Finn McCool at the Giant’s Causeway
Co Antrim
Celebrate St Patrick’s Day this year by taking part in the annual Slemish climb on Monday, March 17.
The hub of entertainment will take place at Slemish Car Park, with performances from local musicians; Portglenone Comhaltas, Counties Antrim and Derry Country Fiddlers Association and the Doone Brothers and children’s face painting.
The 1.5km round walk to the summit and back takes approximately one hour up and down and it is advised you wear suitable footwear and waterproof clothing if you are taking part.
You can also celebrate St Patrick’s Day at the Giant’s Causeway this year with lots of family-friendly activities. From whimsical Leprechaun Trails, face painting and Treasure Hunts to Trad Bands and selfie opportunities with resident friendly giant, Finn McCool.
Co Londonderry
Tens of thousands of people are expected to throng the streets of Derry this St Patrick’s Day with a comprehensive programme of music, dance, food and folklore for the council’s 2025 Spring Carnival celebrations.
This year’s programme will incorporate the theme of Forest, Sky and Sea as the city celebrates the arrival of spring and brighter days with activity planned for Guildhall Square, the Craft Village, Waterloo Place and the Guildhall.
The centrepiece will again be the North West Carnival Initiative’s Spring Carnival Parade through the city centre at 3pm featuring flamboyant performances from local dance groups, sports clubs and community organisations.
Starting at Bishop Street car park, the parade will finish at Strand Road car park.
Co Fermanagh
On Monday Enniskillen will burst into life with Jump ‘n’ Jive in 25. There will be an afternoon of free family fun activities at Enniskillen Castle with plenty of entertainment for all ages.
‘The Hand me Downs’ will lead the musical entertainment in Enniskillen before the much-anticipated parade, which will embrace the meaning of St Patrick, and will commence at 3.30pm.
The annual St Patrick’s Day parade will leave Enniskillen Castle and travel through the heart of the town, featuring a vibrant mix of traditional floats and high-energy carnival-style performances.
Face-painting in Downpatrick
Co Tyrone
Omagh is gearing up for an unforgettable St Patrick’s Day celebration from 1pm to 4pm.
This year’s theme, “Snakes Alive in ’25”, promises a lively and family-friendly festival packed with music, dance, and community spirit.
Supported by ‘Housing for All’ Shared Housing Programme the streets will come alive with music from ‘Tis Not Easy’ and St Eugene’s Brass and Reed Band and family fun.
Compered by Radio Star Country favourite DJ Stevie King, the carnival parade will snake its way from South West College along Drumragh Avenue up through the town centre with colourful floats, performers, and groups creatively interpreting this year’s theme.
Following the parade, the very popular ‘Pluck Savage’! will provide live music for a ‘Ceili on the Cobbles’, where the crowd can get involved in favourites such as the Siege of Ennis, the Walls of Limerick and more.
In addition to the entertainment in the town centre, the Strule Arts Centre will host a range of family-friendly activities including arts and crafts, storytelling, face painting and music.
Events will also take place at the Ulster American Folk Park on Sunday 16 and Monday 17 March. Learn about the history of the shamrock as you take in the sounds of traditional Irish music across Ulster and America.
Watch Irish dance performances and see traditional craft demonstrations like basket weaving throughout the day.
Stop by the Mellon House where the table will be filled with traditional foods like colcannon and apple tart, follow the ‘Shamrock Selfie Trail’ and get involved in St Patrick’s themed crafts.