Tide and Turf Portavogie Activities

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A celebration of local delicacies, located at the heart of the fishing industry at Portavogie docks. The beautiful harbour village of Portavogie will host a celebration of delicious local produce as well as the Borough's finest food and drink on Saturday 6 September with Tide and Turf. 

Running as part of Ards and North Down Borough Council's Taste Autumn programme of events, Friday 5 - Sunday 28 September 2025, this free to attend family event showcases the food produced around the harbour and surrounding farmland with a focus on seafood and beef.

Your foodie dreams will come true as you savour the seasonal tide and turf produce.

For the full Taste Autumn Ards and North Down programme, click here.

Food Demonstrations

We welcome Chef Anna Haugh back to our Festival Kitchen for cookery demonstration after her visit with us to the Comber Earlies Food Festival in June 2025.

Anna Haugh | Anna began her career in her hometown of Dublin, working in L'Ecrivain with Derry Clarke. She then moved to London, where she worked with Shane Osbourne in Pied a Terre, Philip Howard in The Square and the for the Gordan Ramsay Group. 

In May 2019, Anna opened Myrtle Restaurant in Chelsea. The name Myrtle was inspired but the Irish chef Myrtle Allen, founder of Ballymaloe House. Anna takes inspiration from old Irish recipes, culture and stories, to create a modern Irish cuisine that still has the heartbeat of home. In Myrtle Restaurant there is a large focus on great Irish produce, music and art.

In autumn 2024 Anna opened her second business The Wee Sister - a wine bar inspired by the Irish welcome, with wines made my Itish people around the world and Irish produce. 

Anna has worked on numerous television shows for the BBC. She is the resident chef on the breakfast show Morning Live and for many years has been a regular on Saturday Kitchen as well as being across the MasterChef programmes in the UK. Anna has just finished filming a new cookery programme called Anna's Big Irish Food Tour for the BBC which will air in the UK in 2025. 

Family Fun

Families can enjoy a range of free children’s activities including Exploris touch tank, nautical pitch and putt, an urban beach, Paint your Own children's ceramic maritime decorations

Other activities include...

Clayrazy - Nautical Clay Workshops | Little ones can unleash their creative side with these mini workshops happening throughout the day, making and then taking home a lasting memory of your time at Tide and Turf Portavogie. A lovely fun activity for children.

'Kids Rock' with Kyle Riley | Kyle is widely known for his engaging, entertaining, and energetic shows as part of the annual Ards International Guitar Festival that happens at the Arts Centre ad we are delighted he will be bringing his shows to Tide and Turf Portavogie!

Kyle will lead the children on a musical adventure playing his catchy original tunes, pop songs and traditional children’s music. 

Here the kids don’t just listen to the music, they become a part of the show. We’re going to make big noise with percussive instruments, float with colourful scarves and get lost in a shower of bubbles. 

For your under 8’s, your rock toddlers and little boppers in between. It’s good fun for the whole family. Kid’s Rock, Jump, Shake, Sing!

What a catch! | Find the fish hidden around the venue and claim your goodie bag from the Ards and North Down Borough Council Visitor Information Centre caravan.

Walkabout entertainment from Moo and Ocho the Octopus

Moo

Direct from the Farmyard comes Hettie the Highland Cow, with her barrow brim full of fresh vegetables.

Heading straight for the market, Hettie is joined by Mister Tatters the Badger and Farmer Geddon. Help Hettie to trust in children and don’t forget to ask if they have your favourite veggies in the barrow.

Meet Ocho the Octopus

Get ready to be wowed! Ocho is a giant inflatable octopus -standing 4 metres tall and stretching 7 metres wide, with dazzling LED lights and eight incredible, moving legs that dance, curl, and wave through the crowd.

Ocho isn’t just a showstopper – this gentle giant is interactive, friendly, and full of fun! Controlled by just one puppeteer, Ocho creates magical moments with audiences of all ages.

Music Stage

Cool Hand String Band | 12noon – 2pm | An energetic, bluegrass enthusiasts who bring a modern spin to the genre and Anna's Number are a funky fresh band who inject fun and class into all they do.

Cool Hand String Band blend their collective musical passions, to create a modern sound that will satisfy the musical needs of a wide range of tastes.

The Broken String Band | 3pm – 5pm | Performing the very best in Bluegrass, Old Timey and Acoustic Roots Music

This event has received funding from DAERA’s Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme.