HAVE AN EGG-CITING EASTER IN NORTHERN IRELAND @DiscoverNI

NORTHERN Ireland is the place to be for some egg-citing family fun this Easter. This is the message from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) which believes the chocca-bloc programmes of events taking place offer something for everyone.

NITB’s PR Officer (NI) Marie-Therese O’Neill says there will be events happening in every county this Easter which guarantees fun for all the family.

“With the clocks springing forward in the last few weeks, it is great to see longer days and brighter evenings and with the children off school soon for the Easter break, it really is the perfect time to get away and spend some quality time with the whole family.

“Northern Ireland offers lots of wonderful attractions and places to explore and with a fantastic array of events taking place we hope people take the chance to enjoy a short break this Easter.”

To help you to plan your Easter break in Northern Ireland, NITB has highlighted some of the events taking place.

Belfast
Easter at W5 in The Odyssey from April 12 – 27 offers a whole eggs-travaganza of activity from the popular egg racing to daily science demonstrations.

Join the Easter Bunny at Dundonald International Ice Bowl on April 21 and 22 and treat your little bunnies to an egg-citing day with Ice Skating, Tenpin Bowling and Indiana Land playworld all under one roof. Children can be transformed into eggs, chicks and bunnies with face-painting and get creative with craft workshops.
Hop onboard the Easter Eggspress for a steam train adventure from Belfast Central Station to Whitehead on April 21 and 22. There will be two trains each day departing at 11am and 1.30pm and promises fun for the family with Easter eggs for the children. Pre-booking is essential.
Come along for family fun at the Easter Festival in Titanic Belfast from April 19 – 22 with lots of activities taking place in the main atrium including face painting and seasonal themed crafts.

Co Antrim
Follow the Easter Bunny and hop on over this spring to join Mr Hullabaloo and his cast of colourful puppet friends for an Easter Eggstravaganza at the Courtyard Theatre in Newtownabbey on April 12. At Mr Hullabaloo’s Springtime Storybook event, children will be invited to take part in a series of interactive story adventures with a little fairy-tale magic and a captivating adventure, lots of seasonal fun for all is guaranteed.
Join the Living History characters for Easter Fun at Dunluce Castle in Bushmills on April 19 and enjoy some medieval activities. Have a go at egg rolling competitions, hunt the egg and even find out how to dye an egg. Find out why Easter eggs were not always made of chocolate, Easter bunnies used to be hares and how Easter got its name.

Co Armagh
The Easter Egg Trail in The Argory in Dungannon from April 14 – 27 gives people the chance to find the Cadbury’s chocolate treasure with its fantastic egg trail. Enjoy some eggstra Easter fun and activities on Easter Monday and Tuesday with face painting, games and children’s craft activities.

Easter Activity Days For Kids at Craigavon Golf & Ski Centre in Lurgan on April 23 and 24 are perfect for children who are keen to get involved in a variety of land-based activities. An enthusiastic team lead a wide range of activity sessions throughout the day. Activities on offer include, Snowtubing, Skiing, Climbing, Archery and Team Games.

Co Derry
Easter Family and Adventure Activities in Carrowmena Activity Centre in Limavady from April 18- 25 include Climbing, Zip Lining, Archery and Canoeing.
Be an Eggsplorer at Springhill this Easter from April 14 – 17 and have your chance to find the Cadbury’s chocolate treasure with the fantastic egg trail around Springhill Estate in Moneymore.

Co Down
Easter Celebrations at Ulster Folk & Transport Museum in Cultra from April 20 – 22 gives people the chance to take part in egg-rolling down Bleach Green, follow the Easter treasure hunt and work off those chocolate Easter eggs by joining in the street games. Have a go at creating your own Easter art and welcome the new additions to the museums farm including the spring lambs, piglets and baby chicks.

Easter Monday in Bangor on April 21 promises a great day out for all ages with entertainment at the seafront including giant slinkies, Lego workshops and a spring fair with speciality foods and crafts. The highlight of the day will be the spectacular themed parade celebrating Easter.
Bring the children to the Mount Stewart Easter Egg Trail from April 18 – 26 and follow the clues around the Lake Walk and return to collect your egg!

Co Fermanagh
Easter Adventure Camp at the Share Discovery Village in Lisnaskea from April 18-20 is an action packed weekend for 12 – 16 year olds. Take part in an adventure on the Lough Erne Canoe Trail, learn map reading, bushcraft and survival skills.
Take the opportunity to see Crom from a different perspective with the Easter Cot Cruise at Crom in Newtownbutler, Enniskillen on April 20 and 21. Enjoy a cruise around the Lough in Crom’s 100 year old traditional craft and on April 20 come along for some Easter fun as you follow the trail around the estate to locate chocolate treasure.

Co Tyrone
Easter Celebrations at the Folk Park in Omagh from April 19 – 21 gives people the chance to try their hand at the traditional crafts of spinning, basket weaving or rope making. Younger visitors can help feed the spring lambs and young chicks. Enjoy storytelling sessions for all the family within the unique setting of the museum’s exhibit buildings and ‘Take your partner’ for a spring-time hoe-down in the Pennsylvania Barn.

Easter Monday Big Family Picnic in An Creagan Visitor Centre in Omagh on April 21 is a day of outdoor fun for the whole family. Take the opportunity to join other picnickers for a good old fashioned day out. Experience the mad hatters tea party or bring your own picnic. There will be live music from Martello jazz band for the grown-ups, and lots of fun filled activities for the children

People visiting Northern Ireland for Easter can take advantage of NITB’s special accommodation offers throughout April which include a 2 night break with breakfast and one evening meal from only £95pps at Ramada Plaza, Belfast; £200 per room at Ballgally Castle in Co Antrim; £230 in the Armagh City Hotel (accommodation for two adults and two children – children’s dinner not included; £230 per room (also includes a bottle of wine) in Clandeboye Lodge Hotel in Co Down; £89pps in Tower Hotel in Derry~Londonderry; £110pps in Enniskillen Hotel in Co Fermanagh and £110pps in Corick House Hotel & Spa in Co Fermanagh.*

For further information on Easter in Northern Ireland, contact the Northern Ireland Tourist Board on 028 9023 1221 or view on www.discovernorthernireland.com.
*Subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.