All you need to know
With over 100 hours of content our programme has something for everyone. From the Big Top sessions, through to sports, arts and crafts workshops and seminars ranging a wealth of subjects you’ll find numerous ways to have fun, build friendships and strengthen your faith.
Venues
The Big Top
We love The Big Top and it offers such an intimate Worship space. There may be over 2000 people in it but often it feels like God puts his finger right on you. There are deliberately no arts programme in the Big Top, so there’s more time and freedom to engage with God without being rushed away or distracted by sound checks.
Tearfund Cafe
Tearfund is a Christian international aid and development agency working globally to end poverty and injustice, and to restore dignity and hope in some of the world’s poorest communities. The Tearfund Café is located in the first courtyard and is a great place to hang out, learn more about their work and buy hot drinks and baked goods from Belfast-based coffee shop Cafe Smart
Vintage Cafe
The Vintage Cafe is a Summer Madness own venue. If you're looking for a place to chill out and relax or if you would like to buy some Summer Madness merchandise, you are welcome to come in and drink a cuppa while perusing our selection of clothes. All the money made by the Vintage Cafe goes straight back into supporting the festival.
24/5 Prayer Room
The prayer room is a creative and interactive space for you to come and spend time chatting with God through words, art, music, activity and silence. Our desire is that the prayer room will be a place where you meet with God, where you can process what God is saying to you throughout the festival and pray big prayers for your family, friends, church and the nation!
The Hatch
A brand new venue for SM17! Come check out The Hatch for all things creative and arty. From drama workshops, photography workshops and the Canvas Collective there'll be plenty of fun and creativity being hatched here.
YFC & Drop-In
Every afternoon and evening you will be able to pop into the venue and enjoy a game of pool or table tennis, have a go on the X-box or PS4; or just hang out and have a cuppa with one of the YFC Team. Throughout the day, there will also be various competitions and events for those of you who are up for the challenge and in the evening you can spend some time relaxing on one of the sofa’s and enjoy some live music from various local artists. Cage football will be located outside the YFC Drop In.
The Hub
Campus is run by the Methodist and Church of Ireland chaplaincies at Queen’s University, there’s a great selection of drinks, snacks, milkshakes and ice cream and plenty of folk around to ensure you’re well looked after. Somewhere to chill or take timeout from the busy festival.
CIYD Connect
Imagine a space of calm among the Madness. If you are a youth leader, youth worker, committed in your role among young people and you are craving a quiet space to escape the Madness, feel free to drop in, flop into a comfy sofa, enjoy FREE coffee and freshly baked goods. Whilst all goodies are free any donations made will go towards the Twin a Tent campaign for refugee crisis. CIYD welcomes you and your team to enjoy the comfort and calm of this little space.
Activities
Feeling energetic?
Feeling energetic? You are in for a real treat with our activities this year!
We always like a little competitive spirit and as usual, we have the annual 5 a-side football competition; but this year we have added in, Tug-of-War, Ultimate Frisbee, Dodgeball and Tag Rugby.
We'll also have the second ever Summer Madness, ‘It’s a Knockout’ competition.
Back by popular demand is the sailing and canoeing in the harbour.
Salt Factory Sports are also providing a great range of things to jump in to whenever, so whether you want to throw dodgeballs at your friends or re-enact the volleyball scene from Top Gun, they've got you covered.