The EastSide of the City is getting ready to celebrate the creativity and imagination of one of its literary greats – C.S. Lewis. From 18th – 20th November, EastSide Partnership will present the 10th C.S. Lewis Festival. Everyone is invited to step through the wardrobe door to explore their creativity and imagination and find out more about C.S. Lewis’ strong connections to his childhood home of east Belfast.
The 10th C.S. Lewis Festival, funded by Belfast City Council, will feature a range of exciting new events and firm festival favourites including, C.S. Lewis themed guided walking tours of Strandtown and Belfast City Cemetery, Tumnus Tales, Lewis inspired talks and children’s storytelling.
Other festival highlights include;
Outdoor Cinema Screening of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe – C.S. Lewis Square, a space dedicated to the world of Narnia in east Belfast, is the perfect place to watch The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, the film based on C.S. Lewis’ bestselling book. Popcorn and hot chocolate will be available; you just need to wrap up warm!
Christmas at C.S. Lewis Square – this annual event is even bigger this year and includes: Christmas Urban Market, featuring home-grown produce and locally made products; Narnia Imagination Snow Globes -decorated pods hosting sensory play and storytelling; Arts & Crafts; Face Painting; Character Walkabouts; Street Performers; EastSide Choir performance, culminating with the popular Christmas Tree Light Switch On.
Narnia Minecraft Adventure Workshops – these workshops, specially commissioned for C.S. Lewis Festival, will encourage children to use Minecraft technology to build their very own Narnia – inspired creations from Lewis’ ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’.
Narnia Feast at The Lamppost Café – this evening of Narnia themed food is back by popular demand having sold out during last year’s festival. Guests will enjoy a 5-course tasting menu, inspired by the food described in ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’, in Belfast’s only Narnia inspired café.
Alternative Protestants: Identity and Imagination in east Belfast – this thought provoking panel discussion, taking place at EastSide Visitor Centre, will explore the diverse ways in which Protestants from east Belfast approach cultural, religious and political identity.
Looking forward to the 10th C.S. Lewis Festival Michele Bryans EastSide Partnership said:
“EastSide Partnership has been committed to celebrating C.S. Lewis’ special connection to east Belfast for many years; this has included the creation of C.S. Lewis Square and the delivery of an annual C.S. Lewis Festival in east Belfast for the last ten years. We would like to encourage everyone, especially local families, to come along and get creative at the events taking place from 18th – 20th November. We would like to say thank you to Belfast City Council for supporting this year’s festival”.
Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tina Black said:
“We’re delighted to continue our support for the C.S. Lewis Festival, in this, its tenth year. C.S. Lewis was an intellectual giant – and a writer of international renown, inspired by the beauty of our landscapes to write the Narnia series. His work has been putting Belfast on the map for decades, as well as inspiring countless numbers of people to fall in love with reading. This year’s festival brings an eclectic mix of Narnia-inspired activities to east Belfast – spanning food, film, discussion, walking tours and more. Belfast is very fortunate to be a city of festivals – they play such a valuable role, enriching our individual lives and bringing us together through shared creative experiences. I wish the festival team every success and look forward to seeing lots of people of all ages and backgrounds enjoying this year’s events.”
For full event listings and ticket information visit: www.VisitEastSide.com
Follow C.S. Lewis Festival on Facebook www.facebook.com/CSLewisFestival
