The annual Maiden City Festival begins in Derry.
The eight-day event is expected to attract over 10,000 visitors to the city to enjoy a wide-varied programme of music, dance, theatre, pageant, tours and exhibitions.
Now in its 15th year the festival, organised by the Apprentice Boys of Derry, offers something for everyone and allows the Protestant community in the city to make a positive contribution to the current life of the city.
Festival director Jonathan Burgess said: “The city will truly come to life and we are hoping for the sun to shine on the town for the whole week! If the rain does make an appearance, it won’t dampen our spirits though. Lots of the performances take place indoors.”
Highlights include the Scottish Highland Dance Competition and Ulster Highland Dance Championships taking place from 10.00am to 4.00pm in the Millennium Forum, featuring around 150 dancers from as young as four years old.
The “Siege Story” – being staged in St Columb’s Cathedral daily at 12 noon, 2.00pm and 4.00pm – is will give audiences an insight into what happened during 1688-1689 Siege.
Siege Tales – being taking place in First Derry Presbyterian Church each day at 10.00am and 4.30pm – will see eight colourful characters telling tales from the Siege – the Presbyterian minister, the grocer’s wife, the gravedigger, the fat man, the French general, the gunner’s wife and the defender.
The festival will end on Saturday next with the Relief of Derry Pageant from noon to 12.30pm at Carlisle Circus and the Relief of Derry celebrations when up to 15,000 people are expected to take part in the annual Apprentice Boys parade through the city.
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