This year’s festivities welcomes a country theme and up to 10,000 people are expected to descend on the city’s streets and we invite you to be one of them!
Speaking about this prestigious event, Mr Mayor commented, “The 2024 Mayor’s Carnival Parade & Family Fun Day is a joyful celebration of all things Country, from music to celebrating our local farming heritage and produce.
"I am looking forward to seeing the streets of Lisburn transformed into one big colourful party and to welcoming thousands of visitors to our city. I hope that everyone will come along on Saturday 11 May to enjoy the Mayor’s Carnival Parade as well as the Family Fun Day festivities in Wallace Park.
"In addition to being one of the most, lively events in Northern Ireland’s cultural calendar, the Mayor’s Carnival Parade & Family Fun Day celebrations will also raise money to benefit the Mayoral Charity – Cancer Fund for Children."
Mayor’s Carnival Parade
1pm to 2pm
The celebrations start with the carnival parade leaving Lagan Valley Island at 1pm. Revellers can expect a, vibrant procession of fantastical carnival floats and a spectacular throng of carnival performers, street entertainers and masqueraders shimmying to the addictive rhythms of musical interlude
Excited for one of the city’s main cultural attractions, Councillor Thomas Beckett, Chair of Communities and Wellbeing Committee said: “The Mayor’s Carnival Parade is a fantastic celebration which is enjoyed by all. It is one of Northern Ireland’s biggest carnival parades. I can’t wait to see the creations designed by leading international carnival artists, hundreds of our city’s school children and community groups all depicting the Country theme in an unrivalled display of street arts and creativity.”
Family Fun Day
Carnival Village, Wallace Park 12 noon to 5pm
The park will be full of a rich assortment of live entertainment along with the opportunity to refuel with a range of foods on offer. Live musical entertainment will be on stage throughout the day. More information to follow. 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.
Car enthusiasts can get close to a cavalcade of retro cars, fire engines and tractors on display - everything you need to have a most wonderful day. Assistance dogs only at the family fun day. Donations welcome for the Mayor’s Charity, Cancer Fund for Children. There will be portable toilets, baby changing and accessible facilities in Wallace Park for the duration of the event.
GOOD to KNOW
Carnival Parade Route
The Mayor’s Carnival Parade sets off from ISLAND Arts Centre at 1pm and sweeps its way through Lisburn City Centre via Queen’s Road, Linenhall Street, Market Street, Market Place, Railway Street, Magheralave Road, Wallace Park, Belfast Road and Seymour Street before returning to ISLAND Arts Centre via Queen’s Road. So there will be plenty of opportunity for onlookers to capture the carnival magic as it passes through the streets. Just be sure to select your viewing point early and allow extra time for some traffic disruption.
Entry to the Family Fun Day
Young people aged 13 years and under must be accompanied by an adult. For safety reasons, Wallace Park may have restricted public access in advance of the Family Fun Day celebrations.
Entry is via the Belfast Rd. & Magheralave Rd. entrances. Assistance dogs only.
For more details and other useful information on Mayor’s Carnival Parade check out www.ISLANDArtsCentre.com or check us out on Facebook and Instagram