PREVIEW: The Maiden City Festival 2015
The Maiden City Festival returns this month and will be bigger than ever.
Organised by the Apprentice Boys of Derry, the week long festival has an action packed schedule and will feature over 100 different events across the city, including live music, dance, living history, tours and exhibitions. With over 40,000 people expected to attend, the city will come alive in what will be it’s18th year and will have over 350 performers across eight days.
Launching the programme last month governor of the Apprentice Boys and Festival CoDirector Jim Brownlee said: “We’re delighted to be launching the festival’s 18th programme.
Through music, dance, theatre and pageant we will celebrate Protestant heritage and culture by bringing the old city back to life.
The weeklong programme has something for everyone, and we look forward to welcoming both returning and firsttime visitors to the city.” Speaking about how important the festival is to the city, Jim Brownlee also said: “the Maiden City Festival, since its inception nearly 20 years ago, has done more than any other initiative to tell the story of the Siege and the Planter history of Londonderry.
The festival has been not only a very positive step in regards to community relations in the city, but has also become an economic generator for the city too as many travel from across the UK and Republic of Ireland to participate. The festival animates the city for tourists and visitors.”
Highlights of the festival include Culture Bites, when over 40 of the country’s most talented young musicians will fill the various cafes throughout the city with music. A new addition to the programme this year is The Mountjoy Challenge, which is boat race on the River Foyle, emulating the path taken by the Mountjoy when breaking the Siege in 1689.
With eight action packed days full of a wide variety of events, there is something for all the family and is sure to be another successful week for The Maiden City Festival
You can check out our dedicated page for a full schedule of the events in store here
