Communities Minister has confirmed funding to
support the cultural organisation Orangefest.
Belfast Orangefest, first established by the County Grand Lodge
of Belfast in 2007, is an organisation designed to modernise the
Twelfth of July celebrations to make them more accessible,
inclusive, and relevant to contemporary Belfast. Orangefest
promotes continuous engagement throughout the year, taking on
board concerns and seeking to develop new ways of delivering a
high-quality Twelfth of July event for 2025 and beyond.
Minister Lyons said: “I am pleased to confirm funding of
more than £40,000 from my department for the 2025 Orangefest.
This support will enable Orangefest to engage with other bodies
to make this year's Twelfth of July celebrations an even more
inclusive and family friendly event.
“Orange celebrations are one of the largest,
long-standing events of their kind in Belfast, attracting tens of
thousands of domestic visitors, and year-on-year, increasingly
many more from Great Britain, the Republic of Ireland and many
other parts of the world. This funding will help maximise the
economic, social, and cultural opportunities for Belfast city
centre.”
The rejuvenation of Belfast Orangefest is led by a dedicated
Board of Directors, who are working towards increasing city
centre footfall, supporting tourism growth, developing a wider
community engagement programme, and strengthening inter-community
relations. “Belfast Orangefest…A New Beginning,” the project
funded by the Department for Communities, is supporting the
organisation by providing critical funds for day-to-day
infrastructure and operations.
