The Newry Goes Nashville festival returns from 3 to 5 July with an expanded programme of family activities, according to organiser Newry Business Improvement District (BID). More than 30 venues across the city centre will participate in the weekend event, which combines country music performances with free daytime entertainment.

New for this year are a children's craft workshop where participants can make sheriff badges and another where they can build wooden guitars. Both sessions will be held at Studio 23. A storytelling session at The Bookshelf and a Sign & Rhyme session at Newry Library are also scheduled for Saturday morning.

On Saturday afternoon, Buttercrane Shopping Centre will host Boots & Beats, a Nashville-themed hoedown with live country music, line dancing demonstrations by Academy Dance Studio and appearances by European dance instructor Giovanni Coenmans. Face painting and a mechanical bucking bronco will also be available.

Sunday sees the inaugural Trucks & Tractors display at Buttercrane from 1pm to 4pm, featuring American trucks, tractors and other vehicles in support of Air Ambulance NI. Newry BID will donate £10 to the charity for each vehicle displayed. Simultaneously, The Quays Shopping Centre will hold Join in Jivin', a dance competition with categories for tiny tots, under-12s, teens and adults. Academy Dance Studio delivers the event, with Coenmans as judge.

Across the weekend, a pop-up music trail will place performers such as Ceev, Stephen Murphy and Gabriel Bradley in coffee shops, restaurants and other public spaces. Evening entertainment includes live music in pubs and hotels, with the headline act Friends in Low Places - The Ultimate Garth Brooks Experience performing at the Canal Court Hotel on Saturday night.

Eamonn Connolly, Newry BID manager, said feedback from the inaugural festival was positive, with calls for more daytime and family activities. The expanded programme is designed to bring people together, support local businesses and create a unique festival experience. The full schedule is available on Newry.com, with booking required for some events.