Huge crowds flock to Newcastle for Eats and Beats Festival

Savouring the sounds, tastes, and magnificent surroundings of Newry, Mourne and Down, huge crowds gathered for the Eats and Beats festival in Newcastle at the weekend.

Food and music lovers in their thousands descended upon the town and were treated to two music stages, local and Northern Irish food producers, and an abundance of food vendors, supported by live music and a world of cuisine.

Festival goers enjoyed delicious fare and drinks at the Producers Pavilion (sponsored by Lexus Belfast) and music lovers danced their way around two music stages, offering the best of homegrown and world music over the two days.

If that wasn’t enough, visitors enjoyed a wonderful line-up of cookery demonstrations from the likes of Paul Cunningham, Mourne Food Adventures and Castlescreen Farm who served up a delicious array of local food over the festival weekend. 

Crowds delighted in over 60 food and drink stalls at the Homegrown and World food villages in Donard Park. Local food and drink producers, experience and hospitality providers delighted food enthusiasts with the wonderful array of delicious food and craft drinks on offer. 

The incredible music line up offered an eclectic mix of styles and genres creating a big festival vibe across the seaside town throughout the weekend. Newcastle reverberated to the sounds of live music from the likes of The Answer, Ryan McMullan, Lemonade Shoelace, Ria Maguire, and Belfast’s very own Brian Kennedy in Donard Park, expertly hosted by Ryan Hand and Ripton Lyndsay. 

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Valerie Harte said, “The sun shone down on Newcastle at the weekend for a fantastic weekend of ‘Eats and Beats’. Crowds from all over Northern Ireland and Ireland, and even from further afield descended upon the town to enjoy a fabulous weekend of live music and wonderful food.”

“Newry, Mourne and Down is becoming well known for the quality of food and drink offering and it has long had a strong track record for producing talented and successful musicians. This first-class food and music festival showcased our strongest assets in one of the district’s most beautiful locations.” 

“The Eats and Beats festival rounded off the Council’s summer events programme on a high but luckily for locals and visitors alike, our autumn programme of events is just around the corner. Full details will be available via the Visit Mourne Mountains website in the coming weeks.” 

Jonathon Lavery, Sales Manager at Lexus Belfast said, “Lexus Belfast is delighted to have sponsored the Producers Pavilion at the 2023 Eats and Beats Festival. As a brand, we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and striving towards a sustainable future. Our aim is to help design the future by delivering Lexus Electrified vehicles and we are glad to be partnering up with the Eats and Beats Festival, who have sustainability and supporting local businesses at the forefront of the event.”

Footsteps in the Forest festival is making a welcome return to Slieve Gullion Forest Park from Wednesday 25 to Monday 30 October. Families and thrill-seekers will encounter enchanting characters, spine-tingling surprises, and immersive storytelling.

In addition to the Giant Adventures festivals there will be an exciting programme of autumn events that will also celebrate the district’s culture and heritage. These events will add to the fantastic offering already in place for both locals and visitors enjoying their summer in the Mourne Mountains & Ring of Gullion. Full details on www.visitmournemountains.co.uk