Derry Events, Things to Do and Festivals 2014 / 2015

(Derry, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, UK)

Derry is a focal city in Northern Ireland, hosting a rich list of things to do and festivals throughout the year. Timing your visit with Derry festivals adds an enriching layer to your holiday experience and also gives you the opportunity to get involved in a niche area of interest.

Many of the events scheduled in Derry are religious and coordinated through the city's ancient churches and cathedrals. However, there are just as many purely cultural events that focus on Irish music, folklore and dance, with the St. Patrick's Day in March being a real highlight.

Derry Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• New Year's Day - a quiet family-oriented event in Derry, though bigger cities in Northern Ireland have parades

February

• Frost Festival - a fun-filled weekend of sledding, snowshoeing, ice fishing and cross-country skiing, with competitions and exhibitions, as well as numerous indoor activities

March

• Eigse Colm Cille - early March, Irish Literary Weekend held to celebrate the Irish language in Northern Ireland
• Drama Festival - mid-March, lasting just over a week and held at the Waterside Theatre, often attracting the acclaimed 'Belvoir Players' from Belfast
• St. Patrick's Day - March 17th, the city hosts a raucous St. Patrick's Day celebration, while families can gather at the 'alcohol-free' activities zone around the Guildhall

April

• Feis Doire Cholmcille - early April, first held in the 1920s and now attracting some 5,000 competitors, who come to take part in this traditional Irish music extravaganza
• Easter - another important family holiday revolving around a special Mass and family gatherings, with a Fun Run at the Gransha Grounds on Easter Saturday, followed by religious ceremonies held on Easter Sunday
• Jazz and Big Band Festival - late April / early May, the largest jazz event in the whole of Northern Ireland, lasting around five days and staged at venues such as the City Hotel, Da Vinci's, the Gweedore and the Strand Bar

May

• Danny Boy Festival - a fun event with music, games and drama productions in Limavady Borough
• Museums at Night (Nuit de Musées) - mid-May, with local museums staying open until 21:00 and hosting various fun events for all ages
• Annual National Drawing Day - late May, organised by the National Gallery of Ireland and taking place at the Tower Museum, encouraging everyone to draw together
• One World Festival - late May / early June, founded in 2005 and featuring drumming, live music, dancing, exhibitions, international food and workshops. One World is held at various locations, such as the One World Centre and Courtyard
• Carnivale of Colours - late May, week-long circus fun and live entertainment at St. Columbs Park on Limivady Road
• Africa Day Festival - late May, a spectacle comprising African culture, arts and crafts, story telling, music and food
• Liam Ball International Triathlon Weekend - late May, a sporting competition based at the Templemore Sport's Complex

June

• Limavady Guinness Jazz and Blues Festival - this three-day jazz festival is the biggest of its kind in Northern Ireland
• 2D Northern Ireland Comics Festival - early June, held at the Verbal Arts Centre, attracting some big names from the world of comic books and magazines
• Foyle Days - mid-June, a host of family entertainment at the Queen's Quay, next to the River Foyle
• National Bike Week - mid-June, with cycling events staged throughout the city over a nine-day period
• Archaeology Day - late June, when visitors can become an archaeologist for the day at the Tower Museum
• Celtronic Festival - late June, a major electronic music fest first held in 2000 and now drawing thousands to the city

July

• Portstewart Red Sails Carnival - week-long boat festivities staged at Portstewart resort in Derry

August

• Amelia Earhart Festival - mid-August, with live music, drama, film screenings and exhibitions, held at Ballyarnett Country Park
• Feile Charn Tochair - mid-August, a catch-all cultural festival in Maghera
• Sperrins Walking Festival - a three-day outdoor event taking in sites of historical and geological interest

September

• Big Tickle Comedy Festival - early September, when comedy events are staged at venues across the city centre
• Ireland's North West Dancing Championships - mid-September, one of Northern Ireland's biggest Irish dancing competitions
• European Heritage Open Days - mid-September, with many rivate historic buildings opening their doors to the general public over a weekend period
• Waterside Half-Marathon - mid-September, an established race at the Gransha Grounds, including a Family Fun Run
• City of Song Festival - late September, packed with international musicians and known locally as the 'SongFest'
• Northern Ireland International Air Show - a fun family event organised through the City of Derry Airport

October

• Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival - a grand-scale Halloween party complete with fireworks, face painting and a costume competition. This is famously the longest-running Halloween party in the whole of Ireland

November

• Crafts in the City - mid-November, a showcase of local Irish arts and crafts, held at the Guildhall
• Foyle Film Festival - a major movie event in Northern Ireland, held at venues such as the Omniplex, the Nerve Centre and the Orchard Cinema
• Christmas Illuminations - dates vary, but the Christmas Season officially begins when the lights of Strand Road are switched on

December

• Christmas Season - one of the most satisfying times to pay a visit to this city. Midnight Mass is held at the main cathedrals inside the City Walls