‘Shutters Up’ night set for town centre

The ‘Shutters Up Night’ will take place on Tuesday, September 30 from 6.00pm to 9.00pm.

The concept is just one of the projects which have emanated from Ballymena Borough Council’s Arts & Events Service after they were awarded an All-Ireland Carnegie Trust Award in May 2014.

A spokesperson said: “Through visual arts, music and cultural collaboration this event is aimed at encouraging people to walk or drive around the town centre, to window shop, include the town as part of an evening walk route and to promote the town centre as a safe and welcoming area in the evenings

Town Centre traders will keep their premises’ lights on, and shutters up to enliven the town centre on the evening of the event

There will also be busking and music on the streets in association with various local music groups and the music department of NRC. A ‘Buskers Showcase’ will be held in the Adair Arms Hotel

Films will be projected onto buildings in town centre along withg live action painting on streets by artists and street art mural painting at the Bandstand.

Other activities include a - Town Centre Heritage walk; Ladies Lock In @ Fairhill Shopping Centre;‘Play Street’ – Wellington Court will be transformed into ‘Play Street’ with activities and large scale games for children; Dog walkers and free dog treats in partnership with The Dogs Trust including ‘Dog Cafés ‘ - water bowls and bowls of free dog biscuits around town; Vintage and latest model cars on display.

Town Centre streets involved will be Mill street, Wellington street, Church street, Ballymoney street, Broughshane street, Greenvale street, Wellington Court

The event will not include any street or road closures and drivers are encouraged to drive around the event

Shutters Up Night is a partnership project between Council’s Arts & Events Service & Ballymena Town Centre Development Group