Mayor's Carnival Parade 2024
Join the Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Councillor Kurtis Dickson for the city's largest community street arts party.
Saturday 10 May 2025
Leaving ISLAND Arts Centre at 1.00pm
A fun, community event for all
We want to ensure everyone can enjoy the Mayor's Carnival Parade and Family Fun Day. If you’re planning to attend here’s a few things to bear in mind:
During Family Fun Day in Wallace Park, only assistance dogs are allowed. A quiet zone will also be available for anyone who needs a break. You'll find it opposite the playpark, near the stairs leading to the duck pond.
An Accessaloo is available onsite in Wallace Park for anyone needing accessible toilet and changing facilities.
A sign language interpreter will be on stage in Market Square during the Carnival Parade to allow those with a hearing impairment to follow the MC who will be in Market Square advising on the groups within the parade. A quiet space is also available on the first floor of the Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum.
If you have any other accessibility requirements or questions, please let us know by emailing ParksAndAmenitiesAdmin@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk
Wallace Park opening changes
To allow for the event site to be set up safely, Wallace Park will be closed to the public from Friday 10 May and will not reopen to the public until the Family Fun Day begins at 12 noon on Saturday 11 May.
The event will end at 5pm when the park will once more be closed to the public to allow the site to be cleared and will reopen at 12 noon on Sunday 12 May 2024.
Parkmount Car Park will be closed to the public from Friday 10 May until 12 noon on Sunday 12 May.
Pre-parade activity in the city centre
Street entertainers
Time: 11.00am to 1.00pm
Street entertainers will entertain those in the city centre before the parade starts.
Music
Time: 11am to 1.15 pm
Starting at 11am music will play in Market Square before the parade makes its way through the city.
Lisburn Rock Choir : 11.15am to 12 noon
Lisburn and Banbridge Ukes: 12.15pm to 1.15pm
Mayor’s Carnival Parade
Time: 1.00pm to 2.00pm
The Mayor’s Carnival Parade sets off from ISLAND Arts Centre at approximately 1pm, making its way along Queen’s Road, Linenhall Street, Market Street, Market Place, Railway Street, Magheralave Road, Wallace Park, Belfast Road, and Seymour Street, before circling back to ISLAND Arts Centre via Queen’s Road.
With such a long and lively route, there’ll be plenty of space to join in the fun. Choose your viewing spot early and allow extra time for any traffic disruption.
Family Fun Day
Time: 12 noon to 5.00pm
The beautiful backdrop of Wallace Park will host the ever-popular Mayor’s Family Fun Day from 12 noon to 5.00pm.
A quiet zone is available close to the Magheralave Road Gate with sensory play and storytelling.
The park will throng with a rich assortment of live entertainment along with the opportunity to refuel with a range of food on offer.
Live musical entertainment will be on stage throughout the day. The running order is:
| Time | Entertainment |
|---|---|
| 12 noon to 1.00pm | Lisburn Ukes |
| 1.00pm to 2.00pm | Background music / compere for parade |
| 2.00pm to 3.00pm | Abba-sensations |
| 3.05pm to 4.00pm | Taylor NI |
| 4.00pm to 5pm | Highway 56 |
A busy programme for families to enjoy will include superheroes and princesses, a petting farm, bouncy castles, kiddies’ rides, face painters and hands-on arts and craft workshops while adrenaline junkies can feel a rush of excitement with fun fair rides, and assault course activities.
There will also be an impressive display of Boats, Planes and Cars along with the all new Sustainability Trail - everything you need to have a most wonderful day.
Assistance dogs only at the family fun day.
Donations welcome for the Mayor’s Charity, Emerge Counselling.
There will be portable toilets, baby changing and accessible facilities in Wallace Park for the duration of the event.
Parking
The Mayor’s Carnival Parade & Family Fun Day is a popular event and attracts large crowds. Please note there is no parking available onsite at ISLAND Arts Centre on Sat 10 May, and parking restrictions will be in enforced around Wallace Park.
Visitors are kindly asked to be considerate of the needs of area residents and to plan their travel and parking accordingly.