The Red Sails Festival returns to Portstewart this year for the first time with backing from Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Tourism Events Fund. The six-day event, organised by the Portstewart Community Association, runs from July 19 to July 25.

The festival opens on Sunday with the traditional Blessing of the Boats near the bandstand, a ceremony that acknowledges the power of the sea and honours first responders.

Musical performances throughout the week at the bandstand include acts such as Pure Blarney, The Reillys, the Sensational 70s Superstars, BRÍ and the Limavady Big Band. BBC Radio Ulster’s Hugo Duncan will broadcast live from the festival.

Children’s activities feature Lego digital animation and street dance workshops, a kite display and a butterfly safari on the strand. The programme also includes a comedy club at the Villa, a Tenx9 storytelling event at the Anchor, and a sunset DJ set at Harry’s Shack.

The festival concludes on Saturday, July 25, with a children’s parade featuring superheroes, fire engines and performances by the Causeway Shantymen and Innova Dance Group. A fireworks display at the council buildings at 10.30pm caps the event.

The festival is named after the song Red Sails in the Sunset, written by Northern Ireland songwriter Jimmy Kennedy after a visit to Portstewart. It is supported this year by Radius Housing’s Housing For All scheme, in addition to council funding.

Melanie Rintoul, manager of the Housing For All programme, said Radius Housing has been a long-term partner of the festival and described it as a powerful example of community effort made possible by volunteers. She said she looked forward to another week of events fostering good relations across the community.