The Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival and Out To Lunch are annual festivals of music, comedy, theatre, art and literature which take place in January and May in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Marking its 20th anniversary in 2025, Out to Lunch is a vibrant arts festival in Belfast that showcases a mix of local and internationally acclaimed talent. A key event in the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival calendar, this lively festival takes over the city’s rejuvenated cobblestoned trading quarter around Belfast Cathedral, now a thriving hub of culture and creativity. The festival features an exciting line-up of top acts and emerging talent. Past performers have included legends like Janis Ian, The Strypes, Arlo Guthrie, Hazel O’Connor, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Billy Bragg and Nish Kumar. For its 2025 edition, the line-up already includes comedians Lucy Porter, Shaparak Khorsandi and Andrew Maxwell, alongside legendary folk-rock pioneers Lindisfarne, iconic 80s electronica band 808 State and award-winning singer-songwriter Emily Barker. A unique highlight of the festival is its Opera for Lunch and Opera for Tea sessions where you can enjoy captivating cabaret performances while indulging in a light meal. With a diverse programme of around 60 events, performances take place across a range of unique venues including the Black Box, historic buildings, pubs, churches and galleries. A Festival Rooted in History Out to Lunch originated as part of the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival,...