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Date: 2 July 2026
Belfast City Council is hosting a wide-ranging programme of summer events and park activities, alongside continued investments in inclusive play spaces, to ensure children across the city have an unforgettable summer.
From free family fun days to week-long educational clubs, the council is providing extensive options to keep children entertained. Alongside these scheduled events, the ongoing Playground Improvement Programme ensures that the city’s parks remain a top destination for everyday play.
Families can look forward to a vibrant calendar of events running throughout July and August:
- Summer Fun Days: Taking place across various city parks from 9 July to 20 August, these free events run from 1pm to 4pm. Children can enjoy face-painting, balloon-modelling, bouncy castles, and lawn games, while adults can browse artisan markets.
- Summer Rose Fair: Returning to Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park from 3 to 5 July, this three-day event features a dedicated kids’ zone with carnival rides, bubble shows, and arts and crafts, alongside live music and food stalls.
- Belfast Zoo’s Explorers’ Club: A week-long summer programme for children aged 7 to 11. This year’s ‘Noses and Toes’ theme allows young explorers to discover how animals use their senses, complete with behind-the-scenes experiences and animal encounters.
- Everyday Play: With over 105 council-maintained playgrounds, families are encouraged to explore the free play ideas and family trails available across Belfast's parks and open spaces.
Belfast's status as a UNESCO City of Music will be celebrated extensively throughout the summer, with dedicated initiatives reaching audiences of all ages. For teens, the council’s Teenage Kicks scheme has awarded 11 microgrants to local venues and music organisations. These funds will host dedicated gigs for under-18s, directly boosting youth music attendance and participation.
The summer's musical programme reaches a spectacular crescendo when Belfast hosts the world-renowned Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann from 2 to 9 August. During this landmark week, the city's streets and venues will come alive with traditional music. The festival will offer a wealth of family-friendly free events, street sessions, dance displays, and cultural celebrations designed to engage and inspire the entire community.
Central to this inclusive summer of events is ensuring that every child has welcoming, high-quality spaces for everyday play. This is highlighted by recent enhancements at the Musgrave Park Therapy Garden, which now features a wheelchair-accessible roundabout and trampoline. A dedicated sensory trail also provides a therapeutic, quieter space with varied textures, puzzles, and acoustic play equipment. Since 2012, over fifty playgrounds across the city have been refurbished under this scheme to ensure all children have quality spaces to enjoy.
Councillor Jenna Maghie, chair of the People and Communities Committee, said: “We want our parks and summer events to be welcoming, safe, and fun for every child in Belfast.
"Whether families are joining us at a Summer Fun Day, soaking up the atmosphere at the Fleadh, or visiting a local park, we want to ensure children of all abilities and neurotypes can play together and enjoy our city to the fullest.
"By integrating sensory-friendly acoustic equipment, quiet zones, and wheelchair-accessible features into our playgrounds, we are ensuring our spaces go beyond traditional play and become truly welcoming for everyone.”
For more information on all of Belfast’s parks, open spaces and playgrounds, visit our parks pages.