Breastival in the Park, the award-winning summer family festival held in Northern Ireland, will return to Ormeau Park, Belfast on Saturday 2 August 2025.
Now in its ninth year, Breastival continues to be a leading event in the UK and Ireland for families seeking support and celebration around breastfeeding and infant feeding.
Taking place during World Breastfeeding Week (1–7 August), the festival brings together parents, supporters, professionals, and policy makers for a day of connection, learning and visibility.
A Family-Friendly Festival Focused on Support
From 10:30am to 3:00pm, Ormeau Park will host a packed programme of activities designed to support families at every stage of their breastfeeding journey. There will be baby and toddler classes, creative play zones, and workshops tackling topics such as returning to work, feeding beyond infancy, and sleep.
Highlights include:
- Baby yoga and massage
- Storytelling and messy play
- Reflexology and body art stations
- Informal chats in the “stretch tent” on practical parenting topics
- A bustling local marketplace featuring makers and businesses from across Northern Ireland
- Food trucks, picnic areas and live music
Importantly, Breastival has created an inclusive environment welcoming all types of families – whether breastfeeding, pumping, mixed feeding or formula feeding. The emphasis is on community, choice, and respect.
Community Voices Matter
The event provides space for parents to share their stories and feel seen. First-time mum Marie-Lou Moison, attending Breastival for the first time this year, shared:
“I’ve been breastfeeding my 7-month-old since he was born. I believe breastfeeding still isn’t accepted by some people, and I want to show support and be proud. It’s such a beautiful thing to do, and I honestly believe we’re all superheroes.”
For Megan Rea, who first attended in 2024, the event has become a milestone:
“Last year, my little one was 4 months old, and my goal was to still be feeding by this year’s Breastival – and so far, it’s looking good!”
Legislative Backing and Advocacy
This year’s festival will also welcome elected representatives, including Linda Dillon MLA, who has launched a Private Members Bill at the Northern Ireland Assembly to strengthen legal protections for breastfeeding in public spaces.
“Breastfeeding is a public health issue, a human rights issue, and a matter of dignity for mothers and their children,” said Dillon. “No mother should feel shamed or obstructed when feeding her baby – whether directly at the breast or by expressing milk.”
A public consultation on the proposed legislation is open until 24 October 2025. Submissions can be made via:
www.surveymonkey.com/r/JY55YMH
Breastival’s Broader Impact
Founded in 2017, Breastival has welcomed more than 10,000 attendees and played a leading role in shifting attitudes toward breastfeeding in Northern Ireland – a region historically known for having some of the UK’s lowest breastfeeding rates.
Dr Jennifer Hanratty, co-founder and Chair of Breastival, explained:
“From the beginning, we wanted to create a space where breastfeeding is visible, celebrated, and normalised – not hidden or judged. While we’ve seen positive change, there’s still a long way to go in valuing breastfeeding as a public health, environmental and economic issue.”
The event will also coincide with the latest showcase of the #MoreThanMilk exhibition — a powerful photo series curated by Breastival and featuring mothers breastfeeding in everyday spaces across Northern Ireland. The exhibition will open at Stormont’s Long Gallery on 5 August.
Breastival in the Park is free to attend and open to all. Tickets are available via Eventbrite.
For more information, visit Breastival.com or follow @breastivalni on Instagram and Facebook.
