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Event Highlights

Discover Ards and North Down through our lively events and experiences programme throughout the year.

Annual events are a highlight in our calendar here in Ards and North Down; flagship days out for locals and visitors who travel afar for our renowned programme, which offer free admission and can incur little to no cost.

Please note all events below are for 2024, and more details on each event can be found during the year as the individual event pages are updated.

United Kingdom Pipe Band Championships

The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland Branch (RSPBANI) in conjunction with the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association is delighted to present the United Kingdom Pipe and Drum Major Championships.

The event will take place at Ward Arras area of Ward Park in Bangor, Northern Ireland, on Saturday 18 May 2024, commencing at 10 am and is supported by and Ards and North Down Borough Council. This free to attend event always makes for a fantastic day out.

The impressive showcase of sound and colour fills the air and is a delight to the eyes. Friendly competition creates a really enjoyable atmosphere for all.

Food and Drink Events

Here in Ards and North Down we can't help but love our food and drink! How can we not, with an abundance of quality local makers and producers who use ingredients from our rich tide and turf, and two local distilleries renowned worldwide for their brews and spirits.

Award winning restaurants and eateries showcase the best of our locally farmed ingredients on plates that tantalise the taste buds.Find out more.

We celebrate this offering with our two Taste Ards and North Down events, one in spring and the other autumn.

Taste Summer, Wednesday 19 – Saturday 30 June
Various events will take place across the borough
Featuring Comber Earlies Food Festival on Saturday 22 June

Taste Autumn, Thursday 5 – Sunday 15 September
Various events will take place across the borough
Featuring Tide and Turf, Portavogie on Saturday 7 September.

More info on both of these Taste events to come.

Keep checking back to our website, follow our facebook page or sign up to our ezine for updates.

Experience Ards and North Down

These events detailed are simply some of the highlights during the year however sprinkled in between is a wealth of independently run events, group tours and private tours of a variety of interests, family fun days and so on.

Every year we put together a programme of Experiences that bring together local businesses to create unique days out for you to enjoy in our place.Our coastline makes for a great adventure playground, treated respectfully of course with safety in mind; our countryside dotted with artists and makers, producers, and historic towns and villages, are a canvas of arts and heritage to be explored.

Highlights of this particular programme, which runs from April to January, can include tours and events held in locations not normally open to the public, on water fun such involving paddleboards and kayaks, opportunities to learn new skills in the way of arts and crafts, a chance to devour some scrumptious delights in our local eateries, serving our local ingredients in the finest way possible sure to have you wanting more.

Find out more about our Experience programme.

Calendar Events

April

Our AND Culture section present the Ards Guitar Festival. A programme of mini events and activities that celebrate guitar music locally and afar. Find out more

May

May Day starts off the events programme with the traditional Merry May Day celebrations in the wonderful boutique town of Holywood, our gateway into the borough from Belfast, Holywood District Community Council organise Merry May Day with support from Ards and North Down Borough Council.

The town centre closes its roads to make way for an on street market, food stalls, children's entertainment, live music and of course the dance performance around the May Pole, as well as the Bonny Baby compeitition and the crowning of the May Queen! Children are encouraged to dress up as their favourite characters which always makes for fantastic fun. Local school children, who practice intently in the run up, gather together to dance the traditional steps using ribbons that form a pattern on what is the islands only May Pole, accompanied by live traditional music.

June

The Sea Bangor Festival, held at the city of Bangor seafront over a weekend in June, celebrates our relationship with the sea and our maritime heritage.

Themed entertainment, children's crafts and play, on the water and off water activities, live music (normally accompanied by the chance to dance!),
displays by the RNLI and so much more make this popular event providing nothing but wholesome memories for all the family.

The location of the event serves the additional bonus of plentiful more activity close by in the centre including Pickie Funpark, just a short walk along the promenade around the marina.

Another highlight of June is the Comber Earlies Food Festival, part of our 'Taste Summer' programme. A weekend that celebrates the locally grown and worldwide famous Comber Early potato, whose claim to fame is the PGI status it holds, protected geographical indication (PGI) status, under European law. PGI status recognises the regional importance and distinctive characteristics of the Comber Early potato and means that only new season potatoes harvested from the fields of Comber and the surrounding area can be marketed as new season Comber earlies.

Celebrity chefs such as Jean-Christophe Noveli, Theo Randall and Paula McIntyre have previously joined us in our Demo Kitchen to share their recipes and tips on how to make the most of your Comber Earlies.

There is a surplus of family fun, from potatoe themed crafts, to chilren's fun fair rides, street theatre, live music, an artisan market that showcases our fabulous local makers and producers as well as tractor displays, and more!

Look out for associated events over the weekend including food tours, guided historical walking tours and more.

This festival forms part of our 'Taste summer' programme of events and markets.

August

Every August, the Open House Festival launches a month long programme of arts and culture events ranging from live music sessions, to book clubs, food tours, boat tours and Music in the Park on Sundays in local Ward Park.

In 2022, Open House opened The Court House Bangor, a venue for live music and the arts. Here you will find an all year programme, bringing people together for the best time! Find out more about Open House Festival.

Our own AND Culture produce a fantastic programme of events throughout the year too including workshops and classes, Friday Night Live sessions, theatre, children's crafts and so much more. Find out more about Culture - Ards and North Down.

September

'Taste Autumn' sees us through the end of summer and welcome in the autumn season at the end of August and into September. Tide and Turf Portavogie Food Festival serves as the flagship event to this programme of events and markets that showcase our fine food and drink. The location of this event, in Portavogie, celebrates the world class seafood that arrives to these docks, shipped over the island and afar, from the renowned 'Portavogie prawn' to fresh lobster, mussels and fish catch.

Christmas

In November, we welcome in the festive season to the borough with two council-run family fun events, in Bangor City and in Newtownards, with the Switch On events. These occur normally on the third and fourth Saturdays in the month. Join us for artisan markets, food, entertainment for the little ones and those young at heart, live music and more.

Throughout the borough, the remaining towns and villages choose to welcome in the season their own way. Look out for even more family fun dotted around Ards and North Down in November and December.

Craft workshops, Christmas markets and family shows put the additional sparkle into the festive season in our place.

Find out more about Christmas in Ards and North Down.

Tourism Grant Aided Events

We are also delighted to be supporting a number of local organisations through funding which has contributed to creating a programme of events for all in the community, visitors from inside the borough and outside.

Find out more about Grant-Aided Events.

And there's even more happening in between...

Find out what else the year has in store for you should you visit our part of the Isle, there is something for everyone!

What's on listings

Please note

This serves as a guide to a typical year of events highlights in Ards and North Down, however, details and events subject to change.

There will be a small charge for some activities at events.

Photography and videography may take place at some or all of the above events. Please be sure to inform a member of staff on site if you wish not to feature in stock imagery collected for the promotion of the borough and it's events.

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Proud Mary and her City Limits band

Portaferry

Address

The Portico of Ards, Steel Dickson Avenue, Portaferry, County Down, BT22 1LE

Telephone
028 4272 8808

verity@porticoards.com

Price
Price £25.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Concert

Simply the best tribute to Tina Turner!
Amanda Lane as Tina Turner and her City Limits band are Ireland's no 1 Tribute to the Queen of Rock.

Dates

Price
Price £25.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Sold out: Calendar Girls by Tim Firth

Bangor

Address

Studio 1A, 1A Hamilton Road, Bangor, County Down, BT20 4JP

Telephone
028 9127 0069

bangorvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Price
Price £13.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Theatre

Calendar Girls by Tim Firth, based on the Miramax Motion picture by Juliette Towhidi and Tim Firth.
The art of "fabulous concealment"
Based on the true story of eleven WI members who posed for an Alternative WI Calendar and raised over £5 million…

Dates

Price
Price £13.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Neil Delamere: Neil By Mouth (the night before!)

Portaferry

Address

The Portico of Ards, Steel Dickson Avenue, Portaferry, County Down, BT22 1LE

Telephone
028 4272 8808

verity@porticoards.com

Price
Price £26.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Comedy

Neil Delamere: Neil By Mouth (the night before!)
Second night announced!

Dates

Price
Price £26.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Pirate Queen - Ballywalter

Ballywalter

Address

Ballywalter Pirate Ship Play Park, Springvale Road, Ballywalter, Down, BT22 2PF

Telephone
07835 783 758

Patsy@greenroomproductionsni.org.uk

Price
Price £3.50 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Theatre

Pirate Queen is the world premiere of this gorgeous site-specific production, performed on Ballywalter and Millisle Pirate Ship Playparks, retelling the seafaring adventures of Grace O'Malley or Granuaile, the 16th century historical figure.

Dates

From:
8 June 2024
From:
9 June 2024

Price
Price £3.50 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Santa Cruise

Killinchy

Address

Strangford Lough Activity Centre, Whiterock Road, Killinchy, County Down, BT23 6PT

Telephone
07909721898

strangfordloughactivitycentre@hotmail.co.uk

Price
Price £25.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Christmas Events

Join our merry old elf for a hair raising sleigh ride around the islands aboard our fast speed boat – Black Jacket. Hold onto your santa hats as we fly through the waters of Strangford Lough. You will be carol singing all the way, listening to some…

Dates

Price
Price £25.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Ards Town Centre Cycling Races (Criterium) 2023

Newtownards

Address

Conway Square, Newtownards, BT23 4NP

ArdsCyclingClub@yahoo.com

Type

Type:

Cycling

Ards Cycling Club is planning to hold its traditional annual Criterium event on closed public roads, in the centre of Newtownards. The event, which is being grant supported by ANDBC, has a long and prestigious history, and attracts riders and…

Dates

More Info
The Shamrock Tenors

Portaferry

Address

The Portico of Ards, Steel Dickson Avenue, Portaferry, County Down, BT22 1LE

Telephone
028 4272 8808

verity@porticoards.com

Price
Price £25.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Concert

Featuring performers from both sides of the community in Northern Ireland, with vocalists from London's West End, the country's best multi-instrumentalists and a champion Irish dancer, The Shamrock Tenors show takes you on a journey through…

Dates

From:
7 June 2024Open 19:30 - 21:45

Price
Price £25.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Winter Wreath Workshops Clandeboye Estate

Bangor

Address

The Courtyard, Clandeboye Estate, Bangor, Co. Down, BT19 1RN

Telephone
028 9127 5787

michellemccaughtry@woodlandtrust.org.uk

Price
Price £60.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Workshop

Forage for winter greenery and create a bespoke handmade winter wreath at the exclusive Clandeboye Estate.

Dates

Price
Price £60.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Neil Delamere: Achilles Neil

Portaferry

Address

The Portico of Ards, Steel Dickson Avenue, Portaferry, County Down, BT22 1LE

Telephone
028 4272 8808

verity@porticoards.com

Price
Price £26.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Comedy

Our comedy hero is back on the road with a brand new epic standup show.
Join one of Ireland's favourite comics as he takes on life's absurdities in his own inimitable way. A celebration of the altogether too frequent weaknesses that make us human.

Dates

From:
30 Nov 2024Open 19:30 - 21:30

Price
Price £26.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Dave Elliott: Role Play

Portaferry

Address

The Portico of Ards, Steel Dickson Avenue, Portaferry, County Down, BT22 1LE

Telephone
028 4272 8808

verity@porticoards.com

Price
Price £16.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Comedy

David Hull Promotions Presents – Dave Elliott's Roleplay
Following two headline shows at the famed Ulster Hall and special guest appearances on the Tea with Me Podcast at the SSE Arena and the Blame Game, Dave Elliott is back with his brand-new…

Dates

From:
8 June 2024Open 19:30 - 21:30

Price
Price £16.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Fun and Fantastic Printing at Eden Pottery

Millise

Address

Eden Pottery, 218 Abbey Road, Millise, Down, BT22 2DH

Telephone
+44 (0)28 9186 2300

sales@edenpotteryshop.co.uk

Type

Type:

Craft

Sponge printing on handmade pottery pieces.

Dates

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Easter at Eden

Millisle

Address

Eden Pottery, 218 a Abbey Road, Millisle, Down, BT22 2DH

Telephone
028 9186 2300

sales@edenpotteryshop.co.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Workshop

Easter decorating at Eden, new sponge shapes and pottery shapes and A café full of delicious food!

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Shore Cottage

Newtownards

Address

88 Shore Road, Ballyhalbert, Newtownards, Co Down, BT22 1BJ

Telephone
+44 (0) 7749 324 676

jld_bhd@msn.com

Type

Type:

Self-Catering

More Info
THUNDER ROLLS

Portaferry

Address

The Portico of Ards, Steel Dickson Avenue, Portaferry, County Down, BT22 1LE

Telephone
028 4272 8808

verity@porticoards.com

Price
Price £22.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Concert

If you love Garth Brooks then don't miss this!
Friends in Low Places, Thunder Rolls, The Dance, Beaches of Cheyenne, Unanswered Prayers & all of Garth's biggest hits are performed by a spectacular live band with a performance of a lifetime by…

Dates

From:
26 Oct 2024Open 19:30 - 22:00

Price
Price £22.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Sold out - The Fureys

Portaferry

Address

The Portico of Ards, Steel Dickson Avenue, Portaferry, County Down, BT22 1LE

Telephone
028 4272 8808

verity@porticoards.com

Price
Price £27.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Concert

When The Fureys make their eagerly awaited return visit they will treat their audience to one of popular music's richest legacies.
They are one of Ireland's all-time most acclaimed and influential middle of the road, folk and traditional bands.…

Dates

Price
Price £27.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Feel Good Festival: Pew Bathing Sound Spa - second session

Portaferry

Address

The Portico of Ards, Steel Dickson Avenue, Portaferry, County Down, BT22 1LE

Telephone
028 4272 8808

verity@porticoards.com

Price
Price £20.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Festival

Kick off your shoes, lie on cushioned pews or mats and sink into a sumptuous Sound Healing Spa
Supported by Ards and North Down Borough Council

Dates

Price
Price £20.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Summer Solstice Family We-Treat

Carrowdore, Newtownards

Address

Eastwell Farm, 6 Ballyblack Road East, Carrowdore, Newtownards, County Down, BT22 2HH

Telephone
07865 942 165

riseandshineni@mail.com

Price
Price £45.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Workshop

Family yoga in nature, see the alpacas, welcome the summer solstice with mindful crafts

Dates

From:
23 June 2024Open 14:00 - 17:00

Price
Price £45.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Valhalla Street Theatre Drama Workshops

Newtownards

Address

Palmer Memorial Hall, Mark Street, Newtownards, Co Down, BT23 4DT

Telephone
+44(0)7866 257 157

karen.todd@yahoo.co.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Workshop

Valhalla Street Theatre will be throwing open their doors and welcoming people of all abilities and ages (18 yrs +) to join them in a new programme of free drama workshops, lead by professional drama coach Chris Curry.

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
LUX Beginners Jewellery Making Workshop

Holywood

Address

Holywood, County Down, BT180NJ

Telephone
+44 (0) 7879 698 286

ruth@nisilver.com

Type

Type:

Workshop

LUX Beginners Jewellery Making Workshops in a working Goldsmiths studio followed by some quality relaxation time in her home overlooking Belfast Lough, sipping on non alcoholic NI Silver gin (or Prosecco) with your lovely box of chocolates before…

Dates

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking - Parking Free on public pavement between two drives. Please do not park outside neighbours properties or on our private drive as this needs to be kept clear at all times. Thanks
Piano Recital: Xenia Pestova Bennett performs Hans Otte's "Book of Sounds"

Bangor

Address

Bangor Carnegie Library, 80 Hamilton Road, Bangor, Down, BT20 4LH

Telephone
07938 036 475

mail@xeniapestovabennett.com

Price
Price £5.00 to £10.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Concert

Acclaimed pianist Xenia Pestova Bennett performs Hans Otte's beautiful and healing work for solo piano, 'The Book of Sounds'.

Dates

Price
Price £5.00 to £10.00 Per Ticket

More Info