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Soma is a festival – nourishment for the soul – set deep in the heart of the Mourne Mountains. Every culture values a time of celebration, a time to rejoice with a showcase of artistry and skill.

Soma sources the finest in art and craft, music and dance, history and storytelling, and presents it in the intimacy of a village in one of the most beautiful locations in the world.

Now in our fifth year, the Soma Festival is an annual celebration of culture and heritage, offering a variety of art forms including music, performance, craft and languages and ensuring they are accessible to a wide range of audiences as well as participants.

Set in the Mournes, one of Ireland’s most iconic destinations, the Soma Festival offers opportunities to extend the activities on offer for visitors to the area, from outdoor sports to relaxation experiences, to celebrating culture, heritage and history. Soma also celebrates great local food and drink, connecting with geography and history, incorporating local produce, dishes and local chefs.

The Soma Festival gives visitors the opportunity for a great time out with a choice of things to see and do.

For more information on the festival and the events that will be running during the festival please visit: www.somafestival.com or contact the Director Tiona McSherry by email at: tiona@somafestival.com, you can also keep up to date with the event by following their Facebook page.

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)