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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) and Ards and North Down Borough Council are pleased host the United Kingdom Pipe Band Championships on Saturday 18 May in the Ward Arras area of Ward Park, off Gransha Road. 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, working in partnership with the Holywood District Community 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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Four Acres Farm

Donaghadee

Address

41A Craigboy Road, Donaghadee, Co Down, BT21 0LP

Telephone
+44 (0) 7749 113334

kylemcbrides@hotmail.com

Type

Type:

Guest Accommodation

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Dogs Welcome Inside
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
- Parking (free)
Facilities

Leisure Facilities
- Outdoor pool
Plaza Suite 61B

Bangor

Address

63 High Street, Bangor, Co Down, BT20 5BE

Telephone
+44 (0) 7973 940270

colummccloskey@googlemail.com

Type

Type:

Self-Catering

Plaza B apartment is fitted with 3 bedrooms, a kitchen with a fridge and an oven, a flat-screen TV, a seating area and 2 bathrooms fitted with a shower. Towels and bed linen are offered in the apartment. It is located on the busy High Street in…

More Info
Strangford Lough Viking Festival - Peg Loom Weaving Workshop Kircubbin

Kircubbin

Address

6 Loughdoo Road, Kircubbin, County Down, BT22 1HJ

Telephone
+44 (0) 79 6834 2928

kiricottagecrafts@aol.com

Price
Price £50.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Workshop

In use during Viking times, Christine Casey is the foremost exponent of this weaving method. As part of the Viking Festival, come to Christine on Sunday 27th and learn how to use a peg loom a technique used by Vikings to make e.g. bedrolls and…

Dates

Price
Price £50.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Bramble Cottage

Portaferry

Address

8 Loughdoo Road, Ardkeen, Portaferry, Co Down, BT22 1HJ

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4273 8275

pclarke057@aol.com

Type

Type:

Self-Catering

Three bedroom cottage with parking and safe play area, set in a rural location close to the shores of Strangford Lough & National Trust at Mount Stewart, Greyabbey & Castleward Strangford and Northern Ireland Aquarium in Portaferry.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Full Moon Paddle - Pink Moon

Killinchy

Address

Whiterock Bay launch Point, Killinchy, County Down, BT23 6PY

Telephone
+44 (0)7909 721 898

strangfordloughactivitycentre@hotmail.co.uk

Price
Price £45.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Halloween

Join us for a Full Moon Paddle on Strangford Lough this Spring. The Pink moon is unique to witness from the water and no better place to do so, than from a kayak, SUP or canoe on a flat sea.

Dates

Price
Price £45.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Strangford Lough Viking Festival - Jewellery Workshop, Sun 10am

Portaferry

Address

The Hub, Portaferry Sailing Club, 40 Shore Road, Portaferry, County Down, BT22 1JZ

Telephone
028 9182 6846

Price
Price £20.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Workshop

In each workshop, artisan and craftsman Connor Sweeney of Valhallas Silver will take you through the ancient jewellery making techniques. At the end of the workshop, you will be the proud owner of a solid silver pendant or ring.

Dates

Price
Price £20.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Esthers Retreat

Newtownards

Address

74 Donaghadee Road, Newtownards, Co Down, BT23 7EU

Telephone
+44 (0) 7912 870402

Krhoey@hotmail.com

Type

Type:

Self-Catering

More Info
Abbeydene House EHOD 2023

Newtownabbey

Address

20 Abbeydene Manor, Newtownabbey, County Antrim, BT37 9JQ

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9082 3207

ehod@communities-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

EHOD (European Heritage Open Days)

A Beautiful, Charles Lanyone designed, mansion in Newtownabbey

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Lake & Oak Coppersmithing Experiences

Millisle

Address

218 Abbey Road, Millisle, County Down, BT22 2DH

Telephone
+44 (0)7926 121 282

lakeandoak@outlook.com

Price
Price £75.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Craft Workshops and courses

Lake & Oak was founded by Matthew and Caron, professional jewellers and metalsmiths who specialise in the use of copper. Their foundry and workshop is based in Millisle, just outside Newtownards in the heart of the beautiful Ards Peninsula.

Price
Price £75.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
The Big Hide Out

Comber

Address

WWT Castle Espie, 78 Ballydrain Road, Comber, County Down, BT23 6EA

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9187 4146

info.castleespie@wwt.org.uk

Price
Price £9.70 to £25.60 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Nature

Calling all budding birdwatchers! This half term, kids are taking over our bird hides. Borrow a pair of binoculars or get crafty and make your own. Discover the wild birds that live in our wetlands – and how to tell them apart. And let your…

Dates

Price
Price £9.70 to £25.60 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Accessibility
- Ramp to main entrance
Strangford Lough Viking Festival - Sea Swim Like Vikings

Killinchy

Address

Tracey's Farmhouse Kitchen, 52A Ballymoran Road, Killinchy, County Down, BT23 6UD

Telephone
028 9182 6846

Price
Price £30.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Outdoors Event

After sea swimming in picturesque Ballymorran Bay, return to Tracey's Farmhouse Kitchen where you will be welcomed to her warm cosy place with a big roaring fire for some tasty local foods made by Tracey herself.

Dates

Price
Price £30.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Historical Tour of Portaferry

Portaferry

Address

Portaferry, County Down, BT22 1QJ

Telephone
07763898074

brigid@sustainablejourneysireland.com

Price
Price £12.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Tour

A walk and talk tour with some craic thrown in for good measure. Easy pace with more talking than walking.

Dates

Price
Price £12.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Weave a Willow Garden Obelisk in the Walled Garden

Helen's Bay

Address

The Walled Garden, 47 Craigdarragh Road, Helen's Bay, County Down, BT19 1UB

Telephone
+44 (0) 7704 456 109

info@thewalledgardenhelensbay.com

Price
Price £75.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Workshop

Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Old Mill House, for a relaxed, informal willow weaving workshop with willow artist ,Heather Mcdermott, and learn the fundamental skills and techniques required to create a unique willow obelisk plant…

Dates

Price
Price £75.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Port Divine Sunset SUP Guided Tour

Donaghadee

Address

Shore Street, Donaghadee, County Down, BT21 0DG

Telephone
0771 7777995

ultimatesupni@gmail.com

Price
Price £40.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Tour

Port Divine (Donaghadee) Tour with Ultimate SUP NI
Come with us and see the set of the TV show HOPE STREET as we paddle around the coast of Donaghadee.

Dates

Price
Price £40.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Pure Day Spa

Newtownards

Address

48a Ballybunden Road, Killinchy, Newtownards, County Down, BT23 6RF

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9754 3000

info@puredayspa.com

Type

Type:

Spa and Well-being

Pure Day Spa is situated in the naturally tranquil countryside of Killinchy, Co. Down. As you step inside you will be enveloped in a calming atmosphere which will make your stress float away, your spirit free, and your body relaxed.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Homes in Focus: Magheragallan Byre Dwelling

Holywood

Address

Ulster Folk Museum, 153 Bangor Road, Holywood, County Down, BT18 0EU

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9042 8428

info@nationalmuseumsni.org

Price
Price £11.50 to £24.50 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Talks/Lectures

A series of intimate curator talks that take place in the beautiful buildings of Ulster Folk Museum

Dates

Price
Price £11.50 to £24.50 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Eastwell Farm Alpacas

Carrowdore

Address

6 Ballyblack Road East, Carrowdore, County Down, BT22 2HH

Telephone
+44 (0) 7734 905 152

eastwellfarm@gmail.com

Price
Price £5.00 to £20.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Guided Tour

Whether you're on holiday, celebrating a special occasion, looking for a unique adventure with the kids or just mad about alpacas, this experience will be one to remember and a great activity for all to enjoy. All visits are personal and cater to…

Dates

From:

1 Jan 2024to31 Dec 2024Various Opening Times

Price
Price £5.00 to £20.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- Car parking
Ganaway Activity Centre

Millisle

Address

Ganaway Training and Activity centre,, 268 Ballywalter Road, Millisle, County Down, BT22 2LZ

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9186 1297

info@ganaway.co.uk

Type

Type:

Activity Centre

Ganaway is situated on a 13 acre site just outside the village of Ballywhiskin and is an excellent position to facilitate a wide range of outdoor activities.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
The Rapparees

Portaferry

Address

The Portico of Ards, Meetinghouse Street, Portaferry, County Down, BT22 1LE

Telephone
028 4272 8808

Verity@porticoards.com

Price
Price £15.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Concert

The Rapparees are celebrating their 20th year touring, performing and producing folk music.
The Rapparees are marking the occasion in style with a series of concerts that explore and reflect upon their journey so far.

Dates

Price
Price £15.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Seal Bay Cottage

Newtownards

Address

Ballywalter Road, 4 Ballyhaskin Cottages, Millisle, Newtownards, Co Down, BT22 2JP

Telephone
+44 (0) 7977 414 404

Paul@yogen.co

Type

Type:

Self-Catering

Fully renovated in 2020/21, our aim was to deliver the comforts of modern living but as a beach house, it's all about getting outdoors and enjoying the large garden, quiet beach and of course a base to experience the beautiful Ards peninsula.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Dogs Welcome Inside
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Leisure Facilities
- Wifi