Comber Earlies Food Festival

About

** Please note, this event took place on 22 June 2024. These are some of the activities that took place. Keep an eye on this page for exciting details of the 2025 event **

 

This is a FREE event - no ticket required to attend the event.*

Part of the Ards and North down Taste Summer Programme of events. To view the full programme, click here.

Comber Earlies Food Festival is organised by Ards and North Down Borough Council and supported through collaboration with Comber Regeneration Community Partnership - CRCP and Comber Earlies Growers' Co-operative. 

The annual Comber Earlies Food Festival is a wonderful day out filled with family fun, cookery demos in the Festival Kitchen and activities that celebrate the Comber Earlies potato which holds PGI Status.

Returning to Comber Leisure Centre Car Park on Saturday 22 June, 11am - 5pm enjoy a wealth of artisan food and drink stalls, vintage tractor display, celebrity chef demos, children's entertainment and lots more foodie favourites at this free family event! 

Come along to Comber and celebrate its famed potato, with chefs showcasing their culinary talents, discussions with food heroes, live music throughout the day, and an Artisan Bar – why not try a local beer brewed by McBride’s in the Square, Comber as well as other breweries from the area? A festival not to be missed! 

 

Festival Kitchen

Rachel Allen | A bestselling cookery writer, TV chef and celebrated teacher at the world-famous Ballymaloe Cookery School in County Cork, Ireland.

She is a popular figure in the culinary world, with an international audience for her bestselling cookery books and food writing, her live demonstrations, and her much-loved television programmes. Rachel was co-host of Good Food Channel’s Market Kitchen, has appeared on BBC’s Saturday Kitchen, and currently co-hosts The Restaurant alongside Marco Pierre White for RTE as well as writing a weekly food column for the Sunday Independent. Read more about Rachel.

Lotte Duncan | is a skilled and highly experienced broadcaster. We are delighted to welcome Lotte back to Comber for the festival this year. Recognised as a leading authority on English cooking, she brings thirty years of food experience to her television presenting, live stage hosting and compering with a light, friendly and humorous touch. Read more about Lotte.

Local chefs | There will also be a variety of local chefs wowing us with their culinary talents, including, Jim Mulholland from No. 14 The Georgian House, Comber, along with Gavin Murphy from The Old Inn, Crawfordsburn.

Festival Kitchen Schedule (subject to change)

Lottie Duncan | 11.00 - 11.30
Rachel Allen | 11.30 - 12.00
Jim Mulholland (No14 Georgian House) | 12.00 - 12.30
Rachel Allen | 12.30 - 13.00
SERC College | 13.00 - 13.30
Gavin Murphy (The Old Inn) | 14.00 - 14.30
SERC College | 15.00 - 15.30
Rachel Allen | 15.30 - 16.00
SERC College | 16.00 - 16.30

Food Producers Stage 
12noon – 5pm

Local food producers showcase their products as they chat with Lotte Duncan throughout the day.

Food Producers Schedule (subject to change)

12:00    Richard Orr - William Orr and Sons
12:30    Wayne Adair/Artie Clifford - Papas Mineral Company/Blas na hEireann
13:00    Catriona Hill - Hill’s Mix Tape
13:30    Jack Hamilton - Mash Direct
14:00    Gareth Irvine - Copeland Distillery
14:30    Bryan Boggs - Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt
15:00    Stephen & Lorraine Alexander - Ballyboley Dexters    
15:30    Carlos Capparelli - Capparelli Cooks
16:00    Will Taylor - Glastry Farm Ice-cream

 

Comber Cookery School

Try your hand at some traditional Comber Earlies recipes, cook your own delicious dish, under South Eastern Regional College chefs’ guidance.

 

Recipe inspiration

There are many ways to cook these famous potatoes, here is some inspiration for you to try at home - Comber Earlies recipes.

 

Childrens activities 

Enjoy walkabout entertainment, fun with Mr and Mrs Potato Head, ride on tractors, soil pit, sensory activities and paint your own ceramic themed decoration to take home with you. And keep an eye out for golden spuds, hidden throughout the event site. If you find one bring it to the Visitor Information Caravan (Opposite the Leisure Centre entrance within the event site) to claim your prize. (One prize per person)

 

Comber Earlies Food Festival Passport
Saturday 22 June | 11am – 5pm | Comber multiple locations

On Saturday 22 June, pick up your Comber Earlies Food Festival Passport to enjoy lots of fun at locations around the town.

Visit 13 locations around the city and get your passport stamped at each participating business * check individual store timings*.

From food and drink, to arts, crafts, gaming and more….All participating retailers will have activities, giveaways or offers, to entertain the kids who visit their shops.

Then bring your completed passport to the Visitor Information Caravan located in Comber Leisure Centre Carpark, to claim your prize on Saturday 22 June, 11am - 5pm.

Passports will be available from 11am on Sat 22 June at the Visitor Information Caravan located in Comber Leisure Centre Carpark (opposite the Leisure Centre entrance) or in any of the participating businesses - *check individual store timings*
Passport activities are free but are subject to change and availability.

Find out about Comber Earlies Food Festival Passport and participating businesses.

 

Music Entertainment
Stage | Leisure Centre Car Park 

12.30pm - 2.30pm | Stick With It Band

3pm – 5pm | The Broken String Band

For over 15 years, the Broken String Band have been purveying great bluegrass, roots and string band music.

The band have played at many major events and festivals, in Belfast and beyond, from private parties to ‘The One Show’. Their eclectic repertoire – from Doc Watson to Aerosmith – keeps the ears interested, the feet tapping and the craic mighty. 

Brass Bands in Comber Square

12noon – 1.30pm Lily of the Valley
2pm - 3.30pm Comber Brass Band
3.30pm – 4pm Comber Youth

*Comber Earlies Food Festival is a free to attend event. Charges may apply to some event activities and purchases at the event.

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

 

Sustainability

We encourage visitors to travel via public transport and buses provided. There are fresh water stations on site, so bring along your refillable bottles and reusable bags to pick up goodies at the event. Please dispose of rubbish in the recycling stations provided. Read more about Sustainability.

 

Please note:

- This event is a no drone zone. Only official event drones authorised by the event organisers are permitted

Closure information

Parking | To facilitate the set-up of the event there will be a closure of the car park at Comber Leisure Centre from Thursday 20 June at 6am reopening the morning of Sunday 23 June at 11am

Bridge Street Link

There will be a closure of Bridge Street Link on 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟮 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟭𝟭𝗮𝗺 – 𝟱𝗽𝗺, with access only for Bridge Street Link businesses and accessible parking spaces, (on a first come first served basis, limited availability).

 

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 

- Free Shuttle Buses, facilitating:

Bangor - Newtownards - Comber

Dunlady P&R, Dundonald - Comber

Downpatrick – Killyleagh – Comber

>> View Shuttle Bus Information and Timetables <<

- Event Site Useful Information - covering topics including: Visitor Information Caravan | Recycling | Accessibility | First Aid | Lost children and Vulnerable adults | Dogs | Stay sun safe.

 

​​​Further detail to follow - Keep checking back to the website, follow our facebook page or sign up to our ezine for updates.

 

[Please note, details subject to change. This event is being photographed/filmed. Images may be used in Ards and North Down Borough Council promotional material. If you do not want your image to be used, please inform our event staff].

 

For more information on safe alcohol consumption, visit the Drink Aware website.