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Taste Summer in Ards and North Down

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Taste and Enjoy...
  1. Free Event - Comber Earlies Food Festival
    This is a FREE event - no ticket required. The event is focused around food and drink with stalls featuring local artisan producers, an artisan bar offering the best of local distilleries and breweries, celebrity chef demonstrations showcasing the famous Comber Earlies potato as well as Brass bands, children's entertainment and a vintage tractor display.
  2. Comber Earlies Food Festival Plan Your Trip
    To make your day our as enjoyable as possible, please use this Plan Your Trip Section, which will give you more information about, how to travel to the event by car or public transport, parking, shuttle buses, as well as, event site useful information - covering topics including: Visitor Information Caravan | Recycling | Accessibility | First Aid | Lost children and Vulnerable adults | Dogs | Stay sun safe.
More foodies favourites...
Local providers are running lots of fabulous foodie activities across the borough as part of this celebration of food and drink, find out more and book some delicious treats below….
  1. Strawberries ready to be picked
    *Date varies, subject to availability. Experience the joy of handpicking luscious strawberries at Flavour First, just outside Donaghadee. A family-friendly event that brings people together to savour the sweetness of summer.
    1. Male and female couple at kitchen table with Tracey.  The male is pouring baking flour from bag into a bowl.
      Tracey's cottage is located only 30 minutes from Belfast in a Marine Nature Reserve on Strangford Lough. Join her to make Soda and Wheaten Breads and to enjoy a feast of homemade treats around the Farmhouse Kitchen table. A hands on experience.
      1. 1 Jan 202431 Dec 2024
    2. Peg loom wall hanging
      This workshop involves the process of using peg looms and simple weaving frames, together with a variety of coloured fibres, yarns and fabrics to create unique pieces of wall art. Just bring yourself and your enthusiasm!
      1. Clandeboye House
        You can enjoy a luxury afternoon tea in the glorious Banqueting Hall, filled with fine paintings, fabulous beams and a rich sense of history, followed by a visit to the Armory in the Mansion House.
        1. Potato graphic with information on the Big Foodie Quiz, date, time, price and location.
          Bring your appetite for knowledge and join McBrides on the Square for a night of fun, food trivia, and friendly competition.
          1. Tracey sitting with a couple enjoying bakes goods and tea
            Enjoy the beauty of Strangford Lough from your own canoe and relax in the serenity of your surroundings before tucking into tasty treats in an 18th century thatched cottage in an area of outstanding natural beauty just 40 minutes from Belfast.
            1. Quiz night at The Copeland Distillery
              Come and join the team at the Copeland Distillery for a quiz night hosted by the amazing Ginger Pete!
              1. Walled Garden 1
                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 showcase dinner in his beautiful walled garden.
                1. Paddleboarders of all ages standing with boards and paddles back from a session on the waters of Ballymoran Bay
                  Master the basics of staying afloat on a stand-up paddleboard and tour around the beautiful little islands on Strangford Lough. Afterwards. once you’ve worked up an appetite enjoy homemade pizza prepared by Tracey and Joe in their alfresco pizza oven!
                  1. Image of a brown and black dog with a certificate in front with the name Bandit on it.
                    Shadowing the main event, the Comber Earlies Food Festival in the Comber Leisure Centre Carpark, Jim and Joanne Mulholland have a select range of quality cuisine for dogs along with dog related craft, toys and recreational items for every type of devoted dog owner.
                    1. Photo of the Rollo Gillespie Monument standing tall in the centre of Comber Square
                      Comber may be small in size but is big in terms of history. Come along to discover what we mean!
                      1. Collage of Teddy's, one pictures is a selection of Teddys in a picnic basket, then a picture of the back of two Teddys as they sit on the grass, and a
                        Join Maxemoo Café in Millisle for a whimsical Teddy Bear's Picnic! Bring along your favourite teddy bear for a delightful afternoon of fun and food.
                        1. Artist Jenni Robinson
                          Join local landscape artist Jenni Robinson for an immersive day of art, based around the beautiful Walled Garden in Bangor.
                          1. Four people jumping off a paddleboard into water
                            Enjoy nature while paddleboarding on Strangford Lough and feast on delicious homemade soda bread in Tracey's Farmhouse Kitchen!
                            1. Copper mug
                              Create your own copper cup at Lake & Oak Coppersmithing's Sip and Solder workshop. No experience needed - just bring your enthusiasm! Sign up now for a fun and creative experience with complimentary coffee, tea, and treats.
                              1. Collage of two images, left hand side close up of No 14 Restaurant sign and right hand image, chef Paul Cunningham standing with his arms folded.
                                With Paul and Jim working side by side in the kitchen, you can be sure that you will enjoy an evening of culinary delight and get to grab a glimpse of what this guest 'secret chef' offers up in his dining experiences with a seven course tasting menu.
                                1. Collage of food associated with Italy, garlic tomato and green herbs, the Italian flag and a pizza on a wooden board with herbs and tomatoes surroundi
                                  Indulge in a taste of Italy at Maxemoo Cafe's Pop-Up Italian Night! Join us for an unforgettable culinary journey featuring authentic Italian flavors and ambiance.
                                  1. opo
                                    Fully Licenced the Friday Night Supper Club at The Old Post Office Lisbane has a vibrant atmosphere exceptional food and a great Wine list
                                    1. An image of a microphone with info on Craft Beer and comedy
                                      Laughs on tap, join us for a night of laughs and great beer. Ronan Linesky will be bringing along 4 of Northern Ireland's best Comedians. Indie Füde will have the Raclette Machine melting some beautiful cheese over a plate of freshly dug Comber Earlies and Alex Da Costa will be playing the tunes to keep us all entertained.
                                      1. Field with cows and a group of people listening to tour guide. And a set up of wild dining in the field with haybales, tables and blankets.
                                        Join Ballyboley Dexters for an unforgettable gathering to celebrate farm-to-fork dining sourced from like-minded producers, all amidst the beauty and warmth of their farm. This is an immersive experience where every bite tells a story of local passion and dedication. Don't miss this unique opportunity!
                                        1. Echlinville Distiller
                                          Experience Excellence with a tour and tasting at The Echlinville Distillery, home of some of Ireland's best known whiskeys, gins and poitín.
                                          1. Exterior of No. 14 Georgian House Comber, looking from Courtyard into the Walled Garden, with picnic benches and shrubbery in view
                                            Chef Jim Mulholland is joined by guest chef friends from across Northern Ireland in a kitchen garden erected to provide live demos across a two-day event.
                                            1. Ariel view - Strangford Lough, home of the Mahee Island Mermaid
                                              Come along to this relaxing workshop and find out more about this tale, and through more stories and fun crafts you might even find your own 'inner mermaid.'
                                              1. 2 images, one on left the up close of a butterfly and the one on the right little girls walking away with butterfly wings in a green garden
                                                A fun filled family friendly event with local artist Mrs Maker. After a farm walk during which you will hear about bees and Dexter cattle you let your kids creative skills soar decorating their own set of wings whilst you enjoy a Dexter Burger cooked on the Trailblazer BBQ and cool drink.
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