A major collaborative commerce and culture project backed by your local newspaper is to culminate in a fun-filled festival on the lower Lisburn Road.

The Arts and Business project, which is being backed by the South Belfast Partnership Board and the South Belfast News, will see a major music and arts festival in picturesque Drumglass Park.

The event on Saturday, October 8 aims to bring a festival flavour to the area with musicians, circus performers, arts and crafts stalls and a variety food market turning the popular family park into a thriving arts hub for the day.

Local traders from the city’s most unique shops and boutiques are also set to welcome the visiting crowds.

The programme, which has already seen ‘My Secret South Belfast’ art workshops held in the Crescent Arts centre, uses the support of local business to help bring arts projects to life.

Local people were encouraged to paint or sketch what they felt was their personal relationship with the south of the city.  The fantastic ‘secret’ works were created with the help of top in-house artists from Crescent, and will be available to view during the festival which will also host a wide-ranging musical programme.

Local trader and performer Kyron Bourke spoke about what visitors can expect on the day.

“Music is one of the key themes of this event, introducing visitors to some of the best in local music in wonderful surroundings,” said the Teatro restaurant owner and well known musician.

“We have a fantastic line-up, from Katie and the Carnival, to the Swing Gals. My own band The Kyrons will also be performing our jump-jive jazz sound, and we can’t wait to play to the crowds in Drumglass. We will also have young buskers along the Lisburn Road extending the festival vibe and attracting even more visitors to Drumglass. This part of South Belfast has never seen an event as ambitious and we hope it will be the success it deserves to be.”

. The workshops were held last month in the Crescent Arts Centre, and

. For more information see next week’s South Belfast News.