26th Annual Maiden City Festival gets underway this weekend

The annual Maiden City Festival is getting geared up to swing into action from 3rd-10th August (excluding Sunday 4th) bringing the old city to life!

Celebrating its 26th year, the festival seeks to bring to the fore all the history, culture and tradition associated with the famous Siege of Derry in 1688-89 – an event which shaped European history and the development of parliamentary democracy and civil and religious freedom for all.  

Daytime visitors to the walls will meet characters from the siege story such as Governor Walker, Lundy and Colonel Adam Murray as well as few more ghoulish characters such as the Gravedigger and the Grocer’s Wife and her odd bill of fare! A retelling of the “Story of The Siege” takes place at 12, 2 and 4pm daily in St Columb's Cathedral and Grand Parade will be alive to “The Skirl of the Pipes” Highland dance and bagpiping display from 11am daily.  

One of the highlights of the festival is always the Tea Dances which draw participants from across the city for a dance down memory lane each afternoon from 2.00pm - 4.00pm, Monday 5th – Thursday 8th in The Memorial Hall, transporting the old hall back to the dance hall days of yester-year. 

Evening entertainment in the Memorial Hall kicks off with Legends Tribute Band on Saturday 3rd (8 ‘til late). Monday evening is given over to the children with a magician, face painters and disco with a performance of the “11th Night” as part of the Ulster Scots Drama Summer School before the annual Quiz Night at 9.00pm.  

A lecture on the exodus of the Unionist community at 7.00pm on Tuesday 4th is followed by "The Songs My Father Sang" (8pm) is an evening of traditional music and study of where these tunes originated from, whilst Wednesday sees the "Crimson Players Reunion" reinvigorating the old amateur dramatic club based in the hall for the first time in many years.

Thursday 8th sees the return of the now annual match between Oxford Bulls and ABOD Select at 6pm on Fountain MUGA pitch followed by "Letters from The Siege" featuring William King Memorial Flute Band at 8.00pm. 

These events and more will make for a fun-packed week ahead of the 335th Relief of Derry parade on Satruday, 10th August. Come along and enjoy the 2024 Maiden City Festival. See Maiden City Festival facebook page for further details.