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Sunshine and success for Benone’s first Great Outdoors Festival

Sunshine and success for Benone’s first Great Outdoors Festival

Fri, April 01, 2022

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council is celebrating the success of its first ever Great Outdoors Festival at Benone.

Held on March 26th and 27th, this new event celebrated all that the Causeway Coast and Glens has to offer, against the backdrop of one of our most beautiful locations.

The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Richard Holmes, was among those who went along. Speaking afterwards, he said: “Our inaugural Great Outdoors Event was a fantastic showcase of what makes the Causeway Coast and Glens such a stand-out destination – combining our beautiful location with entertainment and family-friendly activities and attractions.

“Its success proves there is a strong appetite for outdoor events like this, and it was fantastic to see so many people there, enjoying themselves in the sunshine and making the most of the fantastic location at Benone.”

The strand and complex provided the perfect setting for the two-day programme, which featured live music, children’s activities and workshops, an artisan market and wild cooking demonstrations.

A short walk along the boardwalk took visitors to a range of beach activities and the sunny skies were filled with colourful kites of all shapes and sizes from the Kitecrew while on the water, there was great interest in the RNLI’s rescue demonstrations.

Back on land, Hot Box were offering ‘hot slots’ in their sea sauna, along with beach volleyball, a chance to meet the Crindle Stables ponies and the team from Blokart World, who were showing off their exhilarating Blokart opportunities.

Council’s Destination Manager, Kerrie McGonigle, added: “This event was made possible by Tourism Northern Ireland, who funded the initiative through its Covid-19 Market Led Product Development Programme.

“This support allowed us to develop this pilot and create a new experience. We were delighted to see families and friends enjoying the beautiful space at Benone, and we now want to build on this for the future.

“Our thanks go to all ours partners who contributed to the success, including Naturally North Coast and Glens Artisan Market, Taste Causeway, Paula McIntyre MBE, NI Survival School, Binevenagh Adventures, Limitless Adventure Centre, RNLI, The Wave Project, Kitecrew Ireland, BlokartWorld, Crindle Stables and Ballymoney Blaze Volleyball, Sea Shed and Waves Coffee Shop. We would also like to offer very special thanks to the team at Stendhal for curating and managing all of the live entertainment and children’s workshops.”

For more information about things to do and see go to www.visitcausewaycoastandglens.com or follow Visit Causeway on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Volunteers from the RNLI who took part in rescue demonstrations during the Great Outdoors Festival held at Benone. Visitors enjoyed live musical performances in the sunshine at the Great Outdoors Festival held at Benone. The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Richard Holmes, pictured at the Great Outdoors Festival held at Benone with Council’s Destination Manager Kerrie McGonigle, Kieran Doherty from Tourism NI and The Singing Chefs. Naturally North Coast and Glens Artisan Market was a popular attraction at the Great Outdoors Festival in Benone, showcasing the best in local produce and handcrafted items. Blokart World showed off their exhilarating Blokart opportunities during the Great Outdoors Festival. The sunny weather added to the atmosphere as families and friends enjoyed the inaugural Great Outdoors Festival. Live entertainment took place on the main stage during Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s first Great Outdoors Festival at Benone. Visitors enjoy a browse at the Naturally North Coast and Glens Artisan Market during the Great Outdoors Festival held at Benone.