Fun for the family at Carnlough carnival

The week-long event, organised by the Antrim Coast Lions Club, aims to provide entertainment for all ages and enhance the profile of the village, while also raising money for good causes. Last year, the carnival raised a whopping 32,000, bringing the total amount to 215,000 since the event started in 2001.

Kicking off the carnival tomorrow is a children’s fun day at 1pm in the harbour car park, with face painting and bouncy castles, followed by fancy dress and a float parade from Beachlands play park at 7pm. An open-air disco will take place after the fancy dress prize giving at the harbour car park until 10pm.

There will also be a range of other evening activities for adults to enjoy, including a table quiz at Glencloy Inn, live music and prizes at the Waterfall Bar and an American Country Night at the Bridge Inn.

On Saturday morning, a children’s scavenger hunt will take place. Registration will be at the carnival office, located in Harbour House. A St John’s Camogie Club fun day will get underway from noon at Stoneyhill football pitch, while a five-a-side boys and girls primary school match will kick off at Glenlough Community Centre at 2pm.

Keen walkers can also take part in a sponsored walk from Cushendall to Carnlough, with the bus leaving Carnlough Bridge at 9.15am.

An art exhibition will be on display at St John’s Primary School from 3pm, and there will be vintage games and pony rides for the more active at Glenlough Community Centre Green from 7pm. In the evening, a disco will take place at the Bridge Inn.

Sunday will see a car boot sale at the harbour car park from noon, followed by bingo at Glenlough Community Centre at 3pm and again at 8.30pm. There will be music at the Glencloy Inn and Bridge Inn that evening.

A programme detailing all the events taking place throughout the week is available from Antrim Coast Lions Club. On Saturday, July 31, the famous Lions Club big charity breakfast gets underway at the Bridge Inn from 10am to 2pm.

A vintage and heritage day fair day will take place from 10am and run through to 5pm, with attractions such as vintage tractors and machinery, horse shoeing and sheepshearing.

A fencing display will is set to begin at the harbour complex from 1pm, followed by the Carnlough Rowing Club’s annual regatta from 2pm to 5pm. Rounding off the day will be an open air barbecue, dancing and fireworks display, starting at 7.30pm.

The carnival comes to an end on Sunday with a raft race at Carnlough beach from 3pm, followed by traditional music at the Bridge Inn from 3pm to 5pm and bingo in the Glenlough Centre from 8.30pm.