The 28th International Maiden of the Mournes Festival will take place from the 6th to the 13th August 2017. The festival will open with an Old Fair Day, highlighting our cultural heritage and will include farm animals, stalls, hurling making, butter-churning and crafts thus providing opportunities for local farmers, crafts people and businesses.
Each night there will be free entertainment live from the outdoor stage which will have different bands/musicians with seating available and a dance floor for all to enjoy. Alongside this entertainment there will be Jive dance competition open to all ages with prizes across a number of different categories. A Gourmet Food Trail event will highlight the quality produce available in local restaurants with people taking part getting the opportunity to have each course of a meal in a different restaurant in Warrenpoint. A popular event for older people is the Afternoon Tea Dance which includes music and dance from a bygone era with tea and refreshments on offer.
The fireworks extravaganza is one of the highlights of the festival bringing in many families from throughout the council area to the sky alight with an array of colour. Throughout the week there will be a number of events for children including the Little Mr Escort and Little Miss Maiden disco. The Teddy Bears Picnic Day is an open event bringing parents/carers along with children to enjoy a picnic and for the children to enjoy some free entertainment. A Special Sensory Day is an afternoon filled with activities to entertain but specially adapted for children with sensory issues. The Pet Show, which has grown on year on year and sees competitors bring their pets from all over Newry, Mourne and Down and further afield to will run again with support from the USPCA .
The festival will close on Sunday with a grand parade which will involve local communities groups, housing estates and businesses participating in a colourful and fun parade around Warrenpoint.
The highlight of the festival is the involvement of Maidens where young women from across Ireland further afield get to enjoy a week of discovering Newry, Mourne and Down and the winner being crowned the 2017 Maiden of the Mourne at the end of the week.
Prices
Free event (charge for closing night £10 per ticket)
The Illumination of the Haulbowline Lighthouse will begin on Friday 11th August at 10pm until Friday 1st September 2017, in memory of the Heroic crew of Rescue 116.
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