Handpicked Highlights for Mela Day

The 16th annual Mela will come to a close with a spectacular return to Botanic Gardens as we transform the park into a global wonderland of music, dance, food and art. Join us to experience one mega cultural extravangaza unfold across one of our city’s most loved parks

A World of Music & Dance
Experience a world of music and dance at the Mela with local artists and communities join our international artists. This year’s showstopping line up features mesmerising music from Belfast Gospel Choir, Boom Strutt Brass Band, N’Famady Kouyate, Anna’s Number, Daisie Conway, Duo Zouk, Luigi Circillo and Eternal Taal; dazzling dance displays from China, Mexico & India; and cultural showcases from the local Bulgarian, Slovakian and Lithuanian communities. If that isn’t enough, you can round of the Mela in style with a dazzling dance finale from our very own South Asian Dance Academy and DJ Abhi Singh.

Mela Bazaar
Up to 100 exhibitors are expected to flock to Botanic Gardens creating a mesmerising marketplace across the park. From food markets and artisan producers to crafts and wellbeing experiences, Mela is a true shopper’s paradise bringing the world into the heart of our city.. Round off your shopping with a visit to the popular Henna Tattooing artists for a beautiful memory of the festival.

Light Years Ahead
Weaving together Irish mythology and the elemental wonder of nature found in Indian storytelling. Storytellers, musicians and circus performers from India, Ireland and the UK will guide the audience through a fantastical otherworld as they try to find light.

World of Words
World of Words is an area of the Mela where your imagination can run wild. Whether it be globally inspired stories for young people, inspirational and conversation and discussion or creative thinking, we are sure you will love our line up of local and international artists and speakers.

Feast of Fire
It’s back! Our eye watering chilli eating competition guaranteed to challenge even the most fiery food lovers. This year, we’ve teamed up with Rock A Doodle Do Hot Sauces to create a special chilli-fired menu that will test your taste buds to the limit.

If it’s all a bit too much you can experience our Mela Cookery Theatre with tasty demonstrations from BBC Great British Menu’s Gemma Austin, Windrush Cuisine, Barrabake House, Food by Fired and our very own Mela Foodies!

Hop on Down to Chinatown
Chinatown set along the beautiful backdrop of the park’s Rose Garden. Enter through our special Chinatown gateway where an installation of traditional lanterns awaits you and explore the delights of China from traditional arts and crafts, street performances and food sampling presented by members of the Confucius Centre.

You, Me & Tea
Enter our special tea emporium for a day long line up of tea-tastic activities for the young and old alike. Have a go at tea leaf reading, blend and taste your own Masala Chai, learn about Ice Tea from Suki Tea and get crafty over some tea and cake with our arts workshops.

Child’s Play at Mela
The colourful spectacle of Belfast Mela makes for an enthralling day out for families. We have an amazing mix of activities on offer especially for youngsters. Culture Land is a magical area of enchantment and craft, sounds and dance, stories and art where young people can journey across the globe on an exploration of culture and traditions.

For a boogie with a difference, head for Little Bollywood. In this specially decorated marquee, with early years facilitators leading children and their adults in music and dance sessions complete with a live DJ, décor and props.

Or why not experience the magic of our Faerie Forest. Journey with us into the park’s secret hidden forest and help us find the fairies living in the park. Keep your eyes peeled, and take a wander around the Mela’s magical Fairy Trail to see if you can find their exquisite homes hidden in the trees.

Green Mela
Green Mela aims to reduce the negative impact that the festival potentially could have on the environment by taking incremental steps to improve our eco-friendly strategy and overall sustainability. Across the site you will see a ban on single use plastic, improvements to recycling and for every attendee we are planting a tree for free in Belfast to reduce the festival’s carbon footprint.