Crescent Arts Centre
WHERE
Belfast
What it’s like
An arts centre with a family book festival, baby raves and free drop-in activities alongside its theatre programme.
Most of the year this is a working arts venue, but a few events a year turn it into a proper family outing. The Belfast Book Festival is the big one, a week-long event each June with a family fun day and activities built for young readers. There are also Baby Rave sessions if you've got a small one who likes music and low-stakes dancing, and the site mentions regular free and drop-in activities that pop up between the bigger events.
It's open long hours, 9am to 9pm, though the site is honest that times shift depending on the time of year, so a particular event won't necessarily run to those hours. There's no booking link listed, which is a bit of a faff if you like to plan ahead, but it does mean you can call the Box Office directly to sort tickets and mention any accessibility needs at the same time.
Access is properly thought through. There's step-free access throughout with lifts and ramps, a changing places facility as well as standard baby change, and a carer or companion accompanying a disabled customer gets in free. Assistance dogs are welcome too, as long as you flag it when booking so they can allocate the right seats. There's a café on site and a gift shop if the visit needs a small souvenir to round it off.
The book festival week in June is the one to build a day around if reading is your thing, since it's the most concrete family date on the calendar. Outside of that, it's worth keeping an eye out for the drop-in sessions, which sound casual enough to fit around a normal weekend rather than needing a big plan.
Facilities
Need to know
- Wheelchairs
- Wheelchair accessible with lifts and ramps
- Dogs
- Assistance dogs welcome. Inform Box Office when booking
- Opening hours run 9am to 9pm but shift depending on the time of year and event
- Mention accessibility needs to the Box Office when booking so they can reserve the right seating
- The Belfast Book Festival family day is the standout date for younger visitors
- Free and drop-in activities crop up regularly, worth watching for outside the big events
Plan your visit
When is the Belfast Book Festival?
It runs 4 to 11 June each year, with a family fun day and activities for young readers as part of the week. 2026 marks the 16th festival.
Do we need to book ahead?
There's no online booking link listed, so it looks like tickets go through the Box Office directly.
Is it accessible for wheelchairs and buggies?
Yes, there's step-free access with lifts and ramps, plus a changing places facility and standard baby change.
Can we bring an assistance dog?
Assistance dogs are welcome. Just let the Box Office know when you book so they can seat you appropriately.
What if someone needs a carer with them?
A carer or companion accompanying a disabled customer gets in free.
Is there food on site?
There's a café at the centre, and a gift shop if you want to pick something up on the way out.
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