Newcastle Streets Get Ready for Eats & Beats

Newcastle is gearing up to host Visit Mourne’s brand new Eats and Beats festival this weekend from Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 September.  With two food villages and three stages, it will be it be jam-packed with celebrity chefs, special events, live music, street performers, family fun, and a world of cuisine.

Festival goers can browse more than 60 food, drink, arts and crafts stalls at the Homegrown and World food villages in Donard Park and Castle Park.  Villages will be open from 11am to 8.30pm on Saturday and 11am to 7.45pm on Sunday. The Newcastle Artisan Market, located outside the Newcastle Centre, running from 11am-3pm on Saturday only.  As if that isn’t enough there will also be lots of family fun activities, a sustainability village and a series of fringe events taking place this weekend.  

Visitors can also sit back and relax with a drink at one of the bars located in each of the food villages while being treated to an incredible array of performances offering an eclectic mix of styles and genres that is sure to create a big festival vibe across the seaside town. Live music at the Homegrown stage in Donard Park, the World Music stage in Castle Park and the Rising Stage on the Promenade starts each day from 12noon - be sure to check the various artists set times at visitmournemountains.co.uk. 

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Michael Savage said, “Newry, Mourne and Down is becoming well known for the quality of its catering outlets, food produce, microbreweries and distillers and it has long had a strong track record for producing talented and successful musicians.  It is therefore timely that the Council through its tourism arm, Visit Mourne, is hosting a festival which showcases its strongest assets in one of the district’s most beautiful locations.  All roads will be leading to Newcastle this weekend as the Eats & Beats festival finishes off the Council’s summer events programme on a high.”

On the Homegrown stage in Donard Park its two day line up will be hosted by QRadio presenter, comedian and DJ Ryan Hand.  Award-winning band, Kíla, heralded as one of Ireland's most innovative and exciting bands, will headline the stage on Saturday evening.  While The Undertones, known for one of the best punk anthems of all time – ‘Teenage Kicks’, will rock Newcastle on Sunday evening and delight crowds as they belt out their famous hits.

Anyone looking for something different will find it at the World Food Village and Stage in Castle Park where you can lose yourself in the vibes of Brazilian Samba, Indian Bhangra, Latin, African and many other traditional music forms from bands such as The Mons Wheeler, the Streetwise Samba Band, the Balkan band, Basork whose fusion ensemble draws on Irish, European and Middle Eastern music and the Belfast Community Gospel Choir (BCGC). Award-winning Irish singer/songwriters, Zoe Conway and John McIntyre can also be found on the World music stage on Saturday afternoon. 

The Rising Stage at The Promenade will host new and upcoming acts including singer-songwriter RUE who will join indie-folk duo, Lathya and Downpatrick’s own indie/alternative rock band, The Thing Is.  Parker, Winnie Ama, Jack Devlin and Dark Tropics will also take to the stage over the two-day event. 

For anyone travelling to Newcastle, there will be a Park and Walk located at Bryansford GAC and a Park and Ride will operate from the Northfield site on both days.  Toilets and disabled amenities will be located across the site while Changing Places facilities can be found at Donard Park.

Stay tuned to the Visit Mourne Facebook and Twitter pages where the full festival line-up, carparking and other important festival information will be posted throughout the weekend. Further information on where to stay, eat, and things to do during your stay can be found at visitmournemountains.co.uk.