NORTHERN Ireland's cultural calendar is looking busier than ever as three major festivals are set to launch in the Province next week.

The Belfast Children's Festival will unveil its line-up on Monday, the Festival of Fools will launch the next day and the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival is set to reveal its 2008 programme on Friday.

Organisers of the three festivals say this packed catalogue of events reflects not only Ulster's growing diversity, but also the increasing number of people who want quality artistic entertainment here.

Sean Kelly from the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival (CQAF) said: "Belfast is becoming a city of festivals - there's a huge
breadth of activity throughout the year and all those festivals have their own distinct identity and ethos."

He pointed to the social and economic benefits of a rich programme of entertainment, as well as the impact it can have on tourism.

"It adds to the culture of Northern Ireland for any visitors," he said, "they'll most likely find a festival happening when they're here."

He is promising music, theatre, comedy, dance, street theatre and visual arts from the CQAF, which will run from May 1-12.

"When the festival started, its aim was to provide a showcase for new and emerging talent, and the kind of alternative acts you couldn't find elsewhere," he said.

"Over the years, we've had more and more established artists performing but I hope we've kept the alternative vision we began with."

The festival has grown in popularity in a way which mirrors the development of Belfast's Cathedral Quarter in recent years, which has evolved into an artistic and entertainment hub.

The Belfast Children's Festival will be running from May 23 to June 1 and this year's theme will be wind and water.

Director Ali FitzGibbon said she was hoping the 2008 event could emulate the success of last year, when virtually all the performances
sold out.

"We had people from all over Northern Ireland and the Republic who came to see eventsin 2007 - and this year we have an even bigger international line-up," she said.

"A lot of parents want creative things to do with their children, and they see how much more valuable those experiences are in broadening their children's sense of what's possible in life."

The Festival of Fools will be taking to the streets of Belfast at the same time as the CQAF and feature a range or weird and wacky performers brightening up the city.

In addition, the Belfast Film Festival will take place from April 10-19.

And the City of Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival, which runs from May 1-5, had its launch last Thursday.

It will feature 67 artists in 58 venues playing 177 concerts across the city.

Londonderry mayor Drew Thompson said: "This festival represents everything that is great about our city - our love of music, local talented artists, our great hospitality and a friendly welcome."