Join the Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Alderman Amanda Grehan for the city's largest community street arts party.
Saturday 9th May 2026
Leaving ISLAND Arts Centre at 1.00pm
A fun, community event for all
We want to ensure everyone can enjoy the Mayor's Carnival Parade and Family Fun Day. If you’re planning to attend here’s a few things to bear in mind:
During Family Fun Day in Wallace Park, only assistance dogs are allowed. A quiet zone will also be available for anyone who needs a break. You'll find it opposite the playpark, near the stairs leading to the duck pond.
An Accessaloo is available onsite in Wallace Park for anyone needing accessible toilet and changing facilities.
A sign language interpreter will be on stage in Market Square during the Carnival Parade to allow those with a hearing impairment to follow the MC who will be in Market Square advising on the groups within the parade. A quiet space is also available on the ground floor of the Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum. There will be additional toilets available at the Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum including an accessible toilet.
If you have any other accessibility requirements or questions, please let us know by emailing ParksAndAmenitiesAdmin@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk
Wallace Park opening changes
To allow for the event site to be set up safely, Wallace Park will close at 9pm on Thursday 7th May and will not reopen to the public until 12noon on Saturday 9th May when the Family Fun Day event begins. There will be no access to the park for the public during this time.
The event will end at 5pm when the park will once more be closed to the public to allow the site to be cleared and will reopen at 12noon on Sunday 10th May 2026.
Parkmount Car Park will be closed to the public from 9pm on Thursday 7th May until 12noon on Sunday 10th May.
Pre-parade activity in the city centre
Street entertainers
Time: 11.30am to 1.00pm
Street entertainers will entertain those in the city centre before the parade starts.
Music
Time: 11.30am to 1.15 pm
Starting at 11.30am music will play in Market Square before the parade makes its way through the city.
Local musician Nathan Graham will be performing in market square from 11.30am to 12.30pm, warming up the crowd ahead of the Mayor’s Carnival Parade with a feel-good set.
Feel the rhythm in Market Square from 12.30pm, New Orleans jazz band Boom Strutt will bring big brass energy and lively sounds to get everyone in the carnival spirit ahead of the Mayor’s Parade.
Mayor’s Carnival Parade
Time: 1.00pm to 2.00pm
The Mayor’s Carnival Parade sets off from ISLAND Arts Centre at approximately 1pm, making its way along Queen’s Road, Linenhall Street, Market Street, Market Place, Railway Street, Magheralave Road, Wallace Park, Belfast Road, and Seymour Street, before circling back to ISLAND Arts Centre via Queen’s Road.
With such a long and lively route, there’ll be plenty of space to join in the fun. Choose your viewing spot early and allow extra time for any traffic disruption.
Family Fun Day
Time: 12noon to 5.00pm
The beautiful backdrop of Wallace Park will host the ever-popular Mayor’s Family Fun Day from 12noon to 5.00pm.
A quiet zone is available close to the Magheralave Road Gate with sensory play and storytelling.
The park will throng with a rich assortment of live entertainment along with the opportunity to refuel with a range of food on offer.
Live musical entertainment will be on stage throughout the day. The running order is:
| Time | Entertainment |
|---|---|
| 12.15pm to 1.00pm | Wicked Tribute Act by Loc-Down Events |
| 1.00pm to 2.00pm | Background music / compere for parade |
| 2.00pm to 3.00pm | Downtown Centre Choir |
| 3.00pm to 4.00pm | 1940’s style music by The Femmes |
| 4.00pm to 5.00pm | The Jersey Tones |
A busy programme for families to enjoy will include superheroes and princesses, a petting farm, bouncy castles, kiddies’ rides, face painters and hands-on arts and craft workshops while adrenaline junkies can feel a rush of excitement with fun fair rides, and assault course activities.
There will also be an impressive display of planes along with the Sustainability Village - everything you need to have a most wonderful day.
Assistance dogs only at the family fun day.
Donations welcome for the Mayor’s Charity, Action Cancer.
There will be portable toilets, baby changing and accessible facilities in Wallace Park for the duration of the event.
Parking
The Mayor’s Carnival Parade & Family Fun Day is a popular event and attracts large crowds. Please note there is no parking available onsite at ISLAND Arts Centre on Saturday 9th May, and parking restrictions will be in enforced around Wallace Park.
Visitors are kindly asked to be considerate of the needs of area residents and to plan their travel and parking accordingly.
Photography
Please note that filming/photography is taking place at the Mayors Parade and Family Fun Day for promotional and archival purposes. The photographs and recordings may appear on our website, social media channels or in digital/printed publications.
If you would prefer not to be photographed please let the photographer know at the time.