Belfast City Council has unveiled a wide-ranging summer schedule of events and park activities, alongside continued investment in inclusive play spaces, to help families enjoy a memorable July and August.

From free park fun days to week-long learning clubs, the programme offers options for all ages. The council's ongoing Playground Improvement Programme also keeps everyday play at the forefront across Belfast's parks and open spaces.

Families can look forward to the following highlights across July and August:

- Summer Fun Days: Free events in parks citywide from 9 July to 20 August, running 1pm to 4pm, with face-painting, balloon-modelling, bouncy castles and lawn games. Artisan markets will also be available for adults.

- Summer Rose Fair: Returning to Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park from 3 to 5 July, featuring a kids' zone with carnival rides, bubble shows, and arts and crafts, plus live music and food stalls.

- Belfast Zoo's Explorers' Club: A week-long summer programme for children aged 7 to 11. This year's 'Noses and Toes' theme explores how animals use their senses, with behind-the-scenes experiences and animal encounters.

- Everyday Play: More than 105 council-maintained playgrounds, with free play ideas and family trails to explore across parks and open spaces. Belfast's designation as a UNESCO City of Music will be celebrated throughout the summer with initiatives for all ages. For teenagers, the council's Teenage Kicks scheme has provided 11 microgrants to local venues and music organisations to stage dedicated under-18s gigs, aiming to boost youth attendance and participation in live music.

The season builds to a major musical finale when Belfast hosts the world-renowned Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann from 2 to 9 August. Streets and venues will be filled with traditional music, offering free family-friendly events, street sessions, dance displays and cultural activities for the whole community.

Creating welcoming, high-quality spaces for everyday play remains central to the summer offer. Recent upgrades at the Musgrave Park Therapy Garden include a wheelchair-accessible roundabout and trampoline, alongside a sensory trail providing a quieter, therapeutic space with varied textures, puzzles and acoustic play equipment. Since 2012, more than fifty playgrounds have been refurbished under this programme to ensure all children can enjoy quality play spaces.

Councillor Jenna Maghie, chair of the People and Communities Committee, said: "We want our parks and summer events to be welcoming, safe, and fun for every child in Belfast.

"Whether families are joining us at a Summer Fun Day, soaking up the atmosphere at the Fleadh, or visiting a local park, we want to ensure children of all abilities and neurotypes can play together and enjoy our city to the fullest.

"By integrating sensory-friendly acoustic equipment, quiet zones, and wheelchair-accessible features into our playgrounds, we are ensuring our spaces go beyond traditional play and become truly welcoming for everyone."

For full details on Belfast's parks, open spaces and playgrounds, visit: www.belfastcity.gov.uk/parks.