Belfast will be awash with colour, culture and creativity as the 17th annual Mela bursts across the city later this summer.
The week-long wonderland of world music, dance, food and art returns from August 19 – 27, finishing with the spectacular festival weekend at Botanic Gardens.
Botanic Gardens will once again be transformed into a global party of music, dance, food and art for Mela Day on Sunday, August 27 from 12- 6pm.
Read more: Thousands enjoy Belfast Mela Day at Botanic Gardens
To add to this year’s ever-growing programme, a brand new event Mela Colours has been announced and takes place on Saturday, August 26 at Botanic Gardens.
The event will welcome thousands of people for one massive colour throwing spectacular on the Great Lawn and is a great way to extend your festival experience across the bank holiday weekend.
In addition, a week-long series of events will take over the city with the return of the Mela Carnival on Saturday, August 19 through Belfast City Centre and a free family day in the grounds of City Hall afterwards, along with an extended programme of late night music, food events, exhibitions and tours throughout the city all week with the MELA+ programme.
More details of all the wonderful events planned will be announced at the official launch in August, but for now you're being urged to get in early and book your tickets for the highlight events before they sell out!
The highlight events include:
Mela Day - Sunday, August 27 from 12-6pm at Botanic Gardens
Get set to see Botanic Gardens transformed into one massive global party bringing you the best in music, dance, food and art to celebrate the best of our city’s culture and communities.
As always, the organisers have assembled an amazing line up for you to enjoy together with the whole family.
Mela Carnival - August 19 from 12-5pm in Belfast city centre
This year the city centre will be awash with a kaleidoscope of colour and creativity as Mela Carnival returns to the streets.
Bringing together hundreds of participants and artists from across the city and beyond, the spectacular carnival parade will fill the streets with vibrant global costumes, pulsating world music and dance and amazing processional sculpture.
Round off the afternoon in the Mela Global Village at City Hall grounds with food, music, dance and breathtaking aerial performances.
The parade will leave Writers Square at 12.30pm and make its way down Royal Avenue ending at City Hall. The event at City Hall will run from 12noon -5pm.
Mela Colours - August 26 from 1-5pm at Botanic Gardens
Come together with thousands of people for a vivid, powder-throwing, multi-colour frenzy. Get ready to come together to share in music, dance, performance art, and visual stimulation for an unforgettable experience of unity, diversity and inclusion.
Blues, greens, purples, reds, yellows and pinks will come together in a high spirited, fun filled party atmosphere. Enter the purpose built arena in the park for a vivid, power-throwing, multi-colour frenzy. A great chance to have some fun, make new friends and celebrate together as one.
Mela Colours will include:
- Hourly colour throws in the purpose built colour arena
- Live DJ and entertainment on stage
- Colour chill zone
- Baby colours specifically for babies and toddlers
- Food village
You can book tickets for all the events here.
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