In Your Space Circus’s signature event, the Carnival of Colours is back!

This time it is going into full party mode as it celebrates its 10^th Birthday. The Circus Arts and Music Festival, which is a family favourite in the North West’s Festival calendar, will be taking place in St Columb’s Park on Saturday 9^th and Sunday 10^th September from 1pm to 6pm both days, with night-time events in the evening.

The Carnival of Colours will be jam-packed with party-themed treats featuring the very best of International Street Theatre from France, Spain, New Zealand and across Ireland. These acts will be performing alongside local artists to present an eclectic mix of sideshows and attractions to guarantee a full quota of belly laughs and a truly magical experience for people of all ages and backgrounds.

A wide range of circus and street theatre shows will be presented from some of the world’s funniest International artists including Gentleman Juggler Martin Bigpig; masters of B-Boy and physical comedy, Umami Dance Theatre Project; the incredible and invisible Strong Lady; madcap Jitterbug Jackson; Magician, ventriloquist and daredevil sword swallower Jack Wise and The Barren Carrousel with their aerial antics.

The headline shows will be supported by performances from the talented young circus stars from across Northern Ireland including Belfast Circus with the Festival being opened by Your Space Circus School’s very own Performance Troupe in the Big Top. If that wasn’t enough, the birthday themed event will add to the party atmosphere with a mini parade, a host of local walkabout characters, live music, storytelling, ceili dancing, circus, bushcraft and arts and crafts workshops, knitting and chatting at the woolly wagon, Carnival games, as well as our usual range of foody offerings to tempt the grumbliest bellies!

The Festival attracts people of all ages from right across the North West and visitors to the city; it brings people together from all walks of life for a shared cultural experience. It also highlights Derry City as an exciting and progressive destination for events and arts activity - there really is something for everybody to enjoy.

We are delighted to have attracted sponsorship from Tourism Northern Ireland under their National Events sponsorship programme. We are also supported by Derry City and Strabane District Council, The Foyle Foundation, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Joe Jackson’s Ice Cream.

Gavin O’Connor, Arts Development Officer, Arts Council of Northern Ireland said: “The Arts Council is delighted to support the 10^th Carnival of Colours through National Lottery funding.  This jam-packed, fun festival brings communities together, offering many opportunities for people, young and old, to experience high quality arts and I would encourage everyone to go along and enjoy.”

On Saturday night Stendhal Festival will be presenting ‘Saturday Night at the Carnival’ featuring Booka Brass Band, PORTS, Roe and The Rumble Club featuring Gavin Povey and the Fabulous Oke-She-Mokes-She-Pops.

Stendhal Festival Director, Ross Parkhill said: Bringing a taste of Stendhal to the Carnival of Colours can help both events raise their profile in the North West. Stendhal is really looking forward to working alongside In Your Space Circus this September; both Stendhal and Carnival of Colours are now celebrated mainstays on the events calendar in our region so teaming up was a no-brainer! Both events bring so much to their areas and have so much potential to reach a much wider audience and really become signature events for Northern Ireland - so if we can bring eyes to the Carnival of Colours through Stendhal and vice-versa, it really is a win-win situation.”

On Sunday, we will host a Family Cabaret for families looking for a special night out together! Tickets for all night-time events can be purchased online at www.wegottickets.com (Search for Stendhal Presents or Family Cabaret)

Carnival of Colours is a showcase and celebration of In Your Space Circus’s year-round work with children and young people from communities across the North West; and our Street Theatre and performance work delivered across Northern Ireland.

Cath McBride, Company and Festival Manager said: “Carnival of Colours has become a key event in the City’s calendar and something our team are very proud and passionate to produce. The Festival provides a superb platform for showcasing local talent alongside international artists. We hope we produce an event that creates an atmosphere of happiness, fun and total enjoyment and provides something for everyone, from the littlest to the biggest circus, arts and music fan!”

If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Derry Now editorial team on 028 7129 6600 for Derry City stories Or 028 7774 3970 for County Derry stories. Or you can email gareth@derrynews.net at any time.