After a year of refurbishments, the Belfast City Hall events team are itching to show off the £11 million improvements. To celebrate its reopening they've put on a fortnight of films, children's activities and theatre and many of the events are free.

Parade
For the launch of the Belfast City Hall events to mark its reopening children are invited to take part in a carnival parade through the city. Based on the butterflies and caterpillars this looks set to be a colourful and noisy parade that's a perfect start to the fortnight of celebrations.

Beautiful Butterflies
Children can make butterfly and caterpillar masks in workshops in the days leading up to the parade. They will then join the dancers, drummers and puppeteers for a procession through the city streets. There'll also be music in the grounds of the City Hall and a giant butterfly and acrobats.

Live Music
There's a special concert with music from Mojo Fury, Oppenheimer, A Plastic Rose and The Benjamines opening weekend of Belfast City Hall events to celebrate its reopening. The concert is being recorded by BBC Radio Ulster’s Across The Line. Other music events being held as part of the celebrations include recitals, classical concerts, the Inishowen Gospel Choir and a Red Bull DJ showcase.

Free Films
Throughout the fortnight you can enjoy free film screenings. For the Belfast City Hall reopening celebrations the city hall has teamed up with Belfast Film Festival and NI Screen to put on a selection of silver screen favourites, local films and children's movies. Screenings include blockbusters like Mamma Mia! Finding Nemo and Back To The Future. Although tickets are free they must be booked in advance and they're going quick.

Diwali
The Belfast City Hall reopening coincides with a fair few important dates, including Diwali and Samhain. To celebrate these there's traditional entertainment as well as other cultural events including Irish dance, music and a showcase of talent from the Ulster-Scots community.

Theatre Parade
Other Belfast City Hall events taking place during the fortnight include activities for senior citizens such as health checks and writing workshops, exhibitions, talks, tours and fashions shows including a catwalk show as part of Belfast Fashion Week. There's also theatre performances, one of which ties in with the Belfast Festival and will see the actors from the Polish Theatre Company parading through the streets on stilts and motorbikes before ending their show at the City Hall.

For the reopening of Belfast City Hall events take place in and around City Hall from 17th October - 31st October 2009. The parade starts at 2.30pm, 17th October 2009.Tickets can be booked at the Belfast Welcome Centre or by calling 028 9024 6609.