Coleraine Twelfth Festival has continued to grow since it was first held in 2006. The programme of events is continually evolving and expanding, and the experience gained every year is being used to develop a festival with something to offer everyone.

The festival in 2010 will run from Saturday 3rd July through to Monday 12th July, and will present a wide and varied programme of events. The 12th of July celebrations will be hosted by Coleraine No.2 District in Portrush on Monday 12th July, when they will be joined by Lodges and bands from Donegal, Londonderry, Limavady and Macosquin.

The exhibition will again be a key event and it will be open from Saturday 3rd to Saturday 10th (excluding Sunday) from 10.30am - 4.30pm; it will also open on Monday and Wednesday evening from 6.30pm to 9pm. There will be a workshop with George Dallas and historical re-enactments to complement the exhibition.

We will have entertainment in The Diamond on Saturday 3rd and Saturday 10th featuring various artists including the Ulster Scots Experience, the Hounds of Ulster and Coleraine Fife & Drum Band. They will be joined by fifers & Lambeg drummers and Scottish, Irish & set dancers. There will also be an opportunity for members of the audience to join in and try a bit of Scottish Country Dancing. The Wee Lassies will be joined by the Eden Accordion Band, Ballinrees Pipe Band and Marbeth Templeton on Thursday 9th in Portstewart Town Hall for our Ulster Scots concert. There will also be entertainment in Portrush at The Amphitheatre on Saturday 10th July from 1pm.

On Monday 6th we are pleased to present 'Coleraine - Plantation Town', a walk around the town centre guided by local historian Robert Anderson; this walk will leave Coleraine Town Hall at 11am and 7pm. Robert will also narrate the river trips on Tuesday 6th, Wednesday 7th, Thursday 8th and Saturday 10th, when he will help us understand the important role the river played in Coleraine being selected as one of the main towns in The Plantation of Ulster.

Christie Park will be the venue on Friday 9th for an evening of entertainment, beginning at 7pm, with various local bands, including Ballyrashane Flute Band, Blackhill Accordion Band, Ballinteer Flute Band and Ballinrees Pipe Band amongst others. There will also be a kiddies' fun day, face-painting, BBQ and river rescue display. The evening will conclude with a grand fireworks display, at approximately 10.30pm, part of Coleraine Borough Council's contribution to the festival.

The finale of the festival will be on Monday 12th July when there will be a carnival parade including an Ulster Scots emigrant ship, King Billy and his foot-soldiers and junior William & Mary. There will be musical entertainment in the Field and a kiddie's fun day.

Click here for 2010 programme.