10 THINGS TO ENTERTAIN YOU IN NORTHERN IRELAND 7-20 OCTOBER

Stuck for something to do?  If so, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) has put together a list of exciting things to do in Northern Ireland during October 7 – 20.

• Belfast FASHIONWEEK, various venues in Belfast, October 10 – 13.  This season’s chic events and runway shows will take place across the city with nightly shows featuring the very best independent designer boutiques, local designers and top names from the high street.

• Morning and Afternoon, The Playhouse Theatre, Co Derry, October 12.  Glistening with moments of visceral self-searching and unexpected tenderness, this play fatefully reconnects the lives of two very different men in two intensely personal stories underpinned to Derry~Londonderry’s recent past.

•  Man on the Moon, Theatre at the Mill, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim, October 12.  Sean Doran has just been fired from his dead-end job.  His girlfriend and child have left him, and the bank has repossessed his house.  Alone by the Half Moon Lake, Sean tries to take sense of his terrible day, taking us on a soul-searching journey through life, love and death via his past, present and future.

• Autumn Pumpkin Fest and Scarecrow Pageant, Castle Ward, Co. Down, October 12 – 13.  Choose from over 2,000 pumpkins which are ready for you to scoop out and carve.  Find the Pumpkin People in their trail, browse an extensive display of local crafts and bring along your very own scarecrow creation to enter into the Scarecrow Pageant.

•  Fermanagh Walking Festival, various locations in Co. Fermanagh, October 12 – 14.  Guided family, intermediate and advanced walks are available during the festival and will be lead by members of the Fermanagh Ramblers, Cooneen Ramblers and Knockatallen Ramblers Walking Club.

• Apple Press Day, Ardress House, Portadown, Co. Armagh, October 13.  Set in the middle of Orchard County, this is the ideal location to hear all about Armagh’s famous apples and have some family fun.  Have a go on the apple press, discover the apple trail and make some apple crafts.

• Belfast Festival at Queen’s, various venues across Belfast, October 17 – 27.  Over the last 50 years, the Belfast Festival at Queen’s has become the largest arts festival in Ireland with events taking place throughout the city including the very best of international and local theatre, dance, visual arts, music and comedy.

•  Baby Rave, The Courtyard Theatre, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim, October 20.  A unique clubbing event for children up to four years old and their parents.  Boogie with your baby to especially composed music in a totally ambient ‘club’ environment which will be dressed with hanging decorations and sensory toys.

•  Spooky Candy and Chocolate Apple Show, Aunt Sandra’s Candy Factory, Castlereagh Road, Belfast, untilOctober 31.   Watch scary lollies being made, make your own chocolate apples and take part in the missing finger quiz.

• Halloween, W5, Belfast, October 19 – November 3.  A frightful feast of family fun awaits with a terrifying deep space adventure with Dino Encounters and Monster Big Hedz.  Halloween activities are free with admission to W5.