Captivating Capital Celebrations

Belfast's reputation as one of the top European party capitals is moving up a gear ? thanks to events planned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the European Union. A month long series of events will ensure that no corner of the city is left unaware of this momentous occasion.

Work began at the start of the new year with the Council?scommunity and play centres, along with their counterparts in thevoluntary sector, adopting one of the 27 Member States. The purposeof this was to encourage local children to learn about theirEuropean cousins. Each was asked to produce a country banner,develop a dance, create a national costume and learn the lyrics ofa song.

Fruits of the labour will be on display in city centre on Saturday 28 April when the participants parade in Lady Dixon Park. The volume will be turned to max when the Play Day comes alive with a fun filled afternoon of games, workshops, craft activities and sporting competitions. The general public too will be able to learn more about Europe and Belfast?s connections across the continent with an opportunity to make Flamenco fans, Dutch windmills, add to the ?Forest of Thoughts? and sample the expanding range of cuisine that is now offered by the diverse communities of Poland, Spain and Greece who now call Belfast ?home?. To ensure the flavour of the community event is not lost in years to come, a DVD is also being created.

Activity really intensifies in the month of May with a furtherseven events, each targeting a different audience. For the businesscommunity, the launch of an independent report into thecontribution of migrants to the city?s economy will encourage aprogressive and open attitude to this much needed labour supply andoffer practicals upport to those who wish to recruit new cityinhabitants. A week later on 8 May, a seminar to profile howenlargement creates entrepreneurial activity will be held. Adviceon how to tap into the expanding European market place will beoffered to those who want to reach out to pastures new.

Europe Day itself will be a hive of activity. Young people fromcommunity centres will join their Dublin counterparts for a steamtrain journey to the Republic?s capital where they will celebrateEurope 50 years on. A Belfast City Hall reception in conjunctionwith the European Commission?s Office in Northern Ireland will alsotake place and the day will close with a European musical feast inthe Cathedral quarter.

For those energetic Europeans, prizes will be awarded to thosefirst past the post in each of the city?s marathon competitions whoare non-UK and non-Eire citizens.