Belfast City Council has set a schedule of St Patrick’s Day events running from 1 to 17 March. The programme covers races, parades, music performances and family activities centred in the city.

The main parade starts at City Hall at 1.30pm on 17 March and follows a route through Chichester Street, Victoria Street, High Street, Castle Place and Donegall Place before looping back. Participants include local dance troupes, schools, community groups and musicians. Earlier that day, the Spar Craic 10K race begins at City Hall at 9am.

Belfast TradFest runs its St Patrick’s Music Festival over five days from 13 to 17 March. After the parade, a festival village operates in the Cathedral Quarter from 1pm to 5pm on 17 March with Highland piping competitions, set and céili dancing, bodhrán circles, pilgrimage walks, a traditional picnic and family activities on stages in Writers’ Square and St Anne’s Square.

Ticketed concerts feature Dougie MacLean and Ursula Burns plus Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh Band and Andy Irvine at Mandela Hall on 14 March; a Pipe Band Extravaganza at City Hall on 15 March; Michael McGoldrick Trio and Music Generation Cross Border Folk Orchestra at Ulster Hall on 16 March; and The Bow Brothers and Aoife Scott Band at The MAC on 17 March.

Féile an Phobail organises traditional music and workshops from 10 to 17 March, with more than 100 sessions on the Féile Trad Trail by musicians from Ireland. St George’s Market hosts live traditional music, trader offers and family events on 14 and 15 March, including acts by musicians from Ards CCÉ.

Spraoi Cois Lao takes place at Custom House Square from 1pm to 4pm on 7 March, organised by Conradh na Gaeilge and Féile an Phobail. Activities cover live music, dance, Zumba, a large céili, beginner taster sessions and Irish-language food stalls.

Seachtain na Gaeilge le Energia spans 1 to 17 March with events for Irish learners and speakers. Lord Mayor Councillor Tracy Kelly noted that the events promote Belfast’s arts, culture and heritage through inclusive programming. Full details appear at www.belfastcity.gov.uk/stpatricks.