As Strabane’s Fair Day gets closer, all stops are being pulled out to ensure Saturday 30th June is a successful day with fun, games and entertainment for all the family. The main parade will travel through the town centre at 1.30pm
Community groups, school children and musicians are preparing for their input to the entertainment. A wealth of activity is happening throughout the district with children learning to play new instruments and perform dance routines and parents and youth leaders have taken a ‘hands on’ role in producing costumes for the parade. Businesses in the town including the Farmers Market are looking forward to the influx of visitors that descend on the town for this very popular annual event.
This year the parade will include carnival razzmatazz relating to the theme of Traditions, Myths and Legends. Maid Marion alias Grainne O’Connor, the Glenelly Rose, will lead the way in an open top vehicle. Plans are afoot to provide a gallant escort for the journey!
The local bands and community organisations are getting into the spirit of the event. St Joseph’s, Strabane Concert ,Sion Mills Independent Pipe band and the Tom. P Mullen Memorial Band will perform the music in the parade and from Letterkenny Community Development Samba Group making their first visit to the town. Local groups have made some amazing carnival props and exciting novelty carnival performers from Belfast, Donegal and Dublin will add further panache to this year’s parade.
The best of the District’s up and coming talent will be performing on stage from 1.00pm. These performers have been hard at work since Easter, producing their own lyrics through the Strabane & District Community Network music development programme. This local talent will perform an eclectic range from rock to traditional music. Making their debut in Strabane later in the afternoon will be Belfast based pop band, The Bizz, a session with Barba Papa a celebration of classic Motown and Stax, the Show band era and classic West Coast flavoured Rock. This group was formed by local guy David Oliver nie McGarrigle, they just released their first single’ I will be your Man’ which guaranteed to compliment all musical ears and tastes .
Other events happening on the day will start at 10.00am with a junior sports competition at Melvin Sports Complex and in the town centre at 1pm there will be fun and games for all ages with street entertainers, acrobats, trapeze artists, clowns, and medieval characters strolling the town. Inflatable castles and a carousel for kiddie’s entertainment will also be available in the Butcher Street Car Park.
Please note that the Butcher Street Car Park will be closed to public parking for the full day.
If you would like any further information on this year’s carnival contact Jean Smyth on 028 7138 2204. For accommodation contact Strabane Tourist Information Office on 028 7138 4444.