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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.

Number of results: 782

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Bangor Castle Walled Garden

Bangor

Address

Valentine Road, Castle Park, Bangor, County Down, BT20 4BN

Telephone
+44 (0)28 9127 0069

bangorvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Type

Type:

Garden

It is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet. Varieties of flowers, plants, fruit and vegetables mix with sculptures and a unique fountain with a tongue twister! We are thrilled that the Walled Garden is now open all year round…

Dates

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Dogs accepted by arrangement
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Ava Restaurant & Vin Café

Bangor

Address

132 Main Street, Bangor, County Down, BT20 4AG

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9146 5490

info@theava.co.uk

Type

Type:

Restaurant

Situated in Bangor's town centre directly opposite the bus and train stations. Cosmopolitan in style the Ava Restaurant & Vin Café offers a tapas menu along with a traditional grill menu and fantastic choice of wine.

More Info
Summer Concert – Studio Symphony Orchestra

Bangor

Address

St Comgall’s Parish Hall, 27 Brunswick Road, Bangor, County Down, BT20 3DS

Telephone
+44 (0)28 9127 0069

Price
Price £12.00 to £14.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Classical Music

Join us on Saturday 18 May, in St Comgall's Parish Centre in Bangor, as we celebrate summer with a delightful programme of classical favourites!

Dates

From:
18 May 2024

Price
Price £12.00 to £14.00 Per Ticket

More Info
2 Harbour View

Donaghadee

Address

Apt 2 Harbour View, Bow Street, Donaghadee, Co Down, BT21 0HD

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9188 3940

mac.973@btinternet.com

Type

Type:

Self-Catering

Recently refurbished to a high standard Harbour View luxury apartment offers everything required for a comfortable self catering stay. Situated in the heart of Donaghadee close to all amenities the two bed, two bath apartment is the perfect place.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Leisure Facilities
- Wifi
Loaf Pottery and Coffee Shop

Bangor

Address

24 Main Street, Bangor, County Down, BT19 1JE

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9185 3340

pottery@loafcatering.com

Type

Type:

Café

Our arts centre features a working pottery with an in house potter, pottery for sale, arts classes and activities for children. While our Café offers delicious artisan wood fired pizza, sharing deli boards and a range of sweet treats.

More Info
Boleyhill Farm Cottages - The Milking Parlour

Greyabbey

Address

10 Cardy Road, Greyabbey, Co. Down, BT22 2LS

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4278 8737

judywatt@btinternet.com

Type

Type:

Self-Catering

Boleyhill Farm is situated at the top of a private lane between Strangford Lough and the Irish Sea. The three cottages retain their original character and charm and have been renovated to the highest standard.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Dogs Welcome Inside
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Leisure Facilities
- Wifi
The White House Ballyspurge

Cloughey

Address

Ardminnan Road, Cloughey, County Down, BT22 1QJ

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9182 6846

ardsvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Type

Type:

Historic Sites, Houses, Castles & Buildings

On the coast, two thirds of a mile south east of Cloughey village. This house appears to have been built about 1634 by Roland Savage, a cadet of the Ardkeen family.

More Info
Kearney Village

Portaferry

Address

Kearney Road, Portaferry, County Down, BT22 1QP

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4278 8387

strangford@nationaltrust.org.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

The National Trust

Owned by the National Trust, it is a picturesque 18th century fishing village with scenic coastal walks. There is an abundance of wildlife to be seen. A small visitor centre is open from dawn to dusk, as are the public toilets and car park.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Ards Peninsula Kite Festival

Millisle, NEWTOWNARDS

Address

Millisle Beach Park, Ballywalter Rd, Millisle, NEWTOWNARDS, County Down, BT22 2HS

kites@ardspeninsula.com

Ards Peninsula Kite Festival – A family fun filled day. See the colourful display kites filling the sky. Create your very own kite in our workshop. Food and craft stalls, music and family entertainment including Sand Sculpture and bouncy castle,…

Dates

More Info
Downshire Cottage

Holywood

Address

27 Downshire Road, Holywood, Co Down, BT18 9LX

downshirecottage@outlook.com

Type

Type:

Self-Catering

Downshire Cottage is a charming red bricked terrace house located in the heart of Holywood town centre. It was originally built as a labour's cottage for people working at Belfast Docks, however it has been extended and modernised.

More Info
Ward Park

Bangor

Address

Hamilton Road, Bangor, County Down, BT20 4TA

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9127 0069

bangorvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Public Park

A perfect park in the centre of Bangor. An ideal spot to enjoy the local wildlife and feed the ducks.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Sea Breeze

Bangor

Address

Flat 4, 53 Bryansburn Road, Bangor, Co Down, BT20 3SD

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9146 7181

maryfeeney@live.co.uk

Type

Type:

Self-Catering

Charming, modern apartment with fully kitted kitchen, two spacious double bedrooms (one ensuite, one with separate bathroom) and a separate lounge/dining area. Flat screen TV, free wi-fi. You will be greeted with homemade scones and jam on arrival.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Leisure Facilities
- Wifi
Art and Soul

Holywood

Address

Culloden Estate and Spa, 142 Bangor Road, Holywood, County Down, BT18 0EX

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9042 1066

events@cull.hastingshotels.com

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Exhibition

Art and Soul, the International Art & Sculpture Fair returns to the Culloden Estate & Spa. Over 250 artworks will be on show by some of the biggest names in international and Irish art throughout the immaculately maintained estate gardens and…

Dates

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Barnwell Farm Cottages- Elm Cottage

Greyabbey

Address

8 Ballybryan Road, Greyabbey, Co Down, BT22 2RB

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4278 8488

info@barnwellfarmcottages.co.uk
Gradings
- Four Star Quality Assurance
Type

Type:

Self-Catering

1 of a group of 7 cottages that can accommodate parties of up to 34 people. Elm Cottage is approached by its own pebbled driveway leading to car parking and patio area adjacent to the cottage. Elm Cottage is the largest cottage on the complex.
More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Leisure Facilities
- Wifi
The Bradley Gallery

Bangor

Address

105-107 High Street, Bangor, County Down, BT20 5BD

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9147 3508

info@terrybradley.com

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Art Gallery

Destination spot for Terry Bradley collectors and art enthusiasts from across the globe. Whether you are passing through or spending the day on the beautiful Peninsula, be sure to pop in and experience all that Bradley Art has to offer.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Dogs accepted by arrangement
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Leisure Facilities
- Wifi
The Esplanade

Bangor

Address

12 Ballyholme Esplanade, Bangor, County Down, BT20 5LZ

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9127 0954

info@esplanadebangor.com

Type

Type:

Restaurant

Picturesque setting with bar, restaurant and off licence.

More Info
Facilities

Catering
- Dogs Accepted Inside
Beech Cottage

Newtownards

Address

Ballycastle House, 20 Mount Stewart Road, Newtownards, Co. Down, BT22 2AL

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4278 8357

mdeering@ballycastlehouse.com

Type

Type:

Self-Catering

Tastfully restored cottage with 2 double rooms both ensuite. Downstairs bedroom and bathroom suitable for disabled. Livingroom with fire, kitchen/dinette and full central heating. Quiet rural setting.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Comber Earlies Showcase Dinner, No. 14 at the Georgian House - Comber

Comber

Address

No. 14 at the Georgian House, 14 The Square, Comber, County Down, BT23 5DT

Telephone
028 9131 1106

no14atthegeorgianhouse@gmail.com

Price
Price £65.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Food & Drink

A midsummer gastronomic spectacular! Celebration of local suppliers dinner in the walled garden.
Jim Mulholland, head chef and owner of No 14 The Georgian House in the heart of historic Comber, invites you to a special midsummer evening…

Dates

From:
21 June 2024Open 19:00 - 21:30
From:
21 June 2024Open 19:00 - 21:30

Price
Price £65.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Mahee Castle

Comber

Address

Mahee Island, Ringneill Road, Comber, County Down, BT23 6EP

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9082 3207

scmenquiries@communities-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Castle / Fort

This ruined Tower House commands a position at the north end of Mahee Island in Strangford Lough. The house was built in 1570 by an English soldier called Captain Browne. Today, it is badly ruined but still of considerable interest.

Price
Free

More Info
Feel Good Festival: Daft Punk Tribute

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:

Concert

Immerse yourself in an incredible performance of a fully live authentic DJ mix with the internationally recognised Daft Punk Tribute. With intelligent laser lighting and dancing in the aisles, we're gonna celebrate - One More Time!
Supported by…

Dates

Price
Price £20.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking