Typical of Ireland as a whole, Belfast has a temperate climate, with a narrow range of fairly mild temperatures and plenty of rainfall all year. In summer, between June and August, average temperatures range between 49°F (9°C) and 66°F (19°C). Although rain is possible at any time of year, the summer months are slightly less rainy than the rest of the year. June is the driest and the sunniest month and July is generally the warmest. In winter, between December and February, average temperatures range between 37°F (3°C) and 46°F (8°C). November, December and January are the wettest months. The city seldom gets snow, with an average of less than 10 snowy days a year.The best time to visit Belfast is between April and August, when the city is least wet and overcast. October is a good month to visit for culture vultures as this is when the Belfast Festival - the second biggest arts festival in the UK (behind Edinburgh) - is held. Around the 12 July every year some Protestant marches and parades are held in Belfast; the marches are usually peaceful nowadays, but it is still a tense and potentially violent period in the city and travellers tend to avoid it.
