Little Amal: Giant puppet representing global human rights in Belfast this weekend

Little Amal was created in 2021 and has become a global symbol of human rights. Since then, she has travelled over 9,000km across 15 countries on a journey called The Walk.

The striking 12-foot-tall artwork represents all children fleeing war, violence and persecution and has become an international symbol of compassion. She has been welcomed by over two million people and tens of millions online, through creative events led by artists and local communities.

Presented by The Walk Productions, in association with Handspring Puppet Company and local partner ArtsEkta, Little Amal landed in Belfast by boat on Thursday.

Little Amal will spend the night at St Anne's Cathedral tonight (Friday, May 17) where, before her bedtime, community choirs, local musicians and performers who put on a special performance to help her feel at home during ‘Amal’s Dream’ (8pm, doors 7.45pm).Then, tomorrow (Saturday May 18), visitors to Belfast city centre can see Little Amal making her way from Writer’s Square to City Hall, via Bridge Street, High Street and Donegall Place, as she leads a colourful May Queen procession, packed with flowers, wildlife and nature (starts 12.30pm).At City Hall, she will again be greeted by the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Ryan Murphy, before joining him for a special theatre performance, based on Gulliver’s Travels, as part of his Lord Mayor’s Day event.Families can enjoy free nature-inspired arts and crafts, face painting, traditional games, live music and dancing, as well as circus acts and walkabout performers on the lawns, from 12pm to 5pm.Later that evening, Little Amal will travel to CS Lewis Square in east Belfast for ‘Amal in Narnia’, where she will step through the wardrobe with Lucy and Mr Tumnus at a free outdoor show (7pm, doors 6.30pm).On Sunday, May 19, it’s up to Colin Glen Forest Park for a morning with tree planting and poetry (11am, doors 10.30am), followed by a special finale event in the gardens at Belfast Castle (7pm, doors 6.30pm). Against the stunning backdrop of Cave Hill, Little Amal will be presented with gifts of earth, air, water and fire by the people of the godess Danu - Tuatha Dé Danann – to protect her as she travels onward to Newry, Mourne and Down and then finally to Dublin.Free tickets for most Little Amal events have now been allocated, but the May Queen procession and Lord Mayor’s fun day at City Hall tomorrow, Saturday May 18, do not require a ticket to attend. Also taking place in Belfast this weekend to coincide with Little Amal’s time in the city will be Seen - an outdoor art exhibition by award-winning author and illustrator Oliver Jeffers.Taken during a visit with young asylum seekers last year, it features drawings by young people of their hopes and dreams, accompanied by Jeffers’ own portraits of their creators.The exhibition is free to visit and is located at Thanksgiving Square, next to the Beacon of Hope statue. Produced by the Nerve Centre for the Belfast 2024 programme, it will run until May 25.For more details of the Belfast 2024 programme, including Little Amal’s visit, go to belfast2024.co.uk