Orangefest 'is a celebration of culture'
THE Shankill Road in Belfast will host a "celebration of culture" leading up to next month's annual Twelfth celebrations.
This year's Orangefest was launched at the Spectrum centre last night to the sound of the flute and the drum.
A regimental band and the Lambeg drums kicked off a packed programme of events arranged at the Shankill Road venue over the course of the next fortnight.
Following on from last year's inaugural initiative, "Orangefest at Spectrum", which runs until July 10, willfeature marching band concerts, recitals, workshops, slideshows and highland dancing.
The programme of dance, music and drama is designed to educate local people and tourists as well as providing a greater understanding of the Orange tradition.
Programme manager at the Spectrum centre, Bobby Foster, is looking to build on last year's success when up to 2,000 people passed through the centre's doors.
He said: "This is a chance to celebrate our culture in many forms. This year is a slightly tighter and more condensed programme. There will be more of an emphasis on performing."
Belfast deputy lord mayor, William Humphrey, who officially opened this year's event, praised the Shankill initiative.
The DUP man said: "It is great to see the local community has stepped up and is working alongside Orangefest at Spectrum to promote the Twelfth as a tourist event for the city.
"Increasingly it is being seen as something which is positive and should be marketed as being the largest event the city has."
Orangefest is a Belfast-based initiative, aiming at making the Twelfth of July celebrations more inclusive.
Last year, shops in Belfast city centre opened for the first time during the main parade.
The Twelfth is the city's largest event with an estimated 250,000 people taking part or attending.
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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