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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: 864

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Holywood Maypole

Holywood

Address

High Street/Shore Street, Holywood, County Down, BT18 9AB

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9127 0069

bangorvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Historic Sites, Houses, Castles & Buildings

Holywood's most well known feature is the town's Maypole, the only surviving in Ireland. Early maps show a Maypole has stood on the site since the 1620s and today is still the focus of the May Day Celebrations and Fair in the town.

Price
Free

More Info
Bangor Boat

Bangor

Address

Bangor Marina, Quay Street, Bangor, County Down, BT20 5ED

Telephone
+44 (0) 7510 006 000

brianmeharg@aol.com

Type

Type:

Boat Tours

Fishing trips and cruises around Bangor Bay and Belfast Lough from Pickie Family Fun Park (Bangor seafront). 30 mins.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
The Old Vicarage NI

Newtownards

Address

2 Whitechurch Road, Whitechurch, Ballywalter, Newtownards, Co Down, BT22 2JY

Telephone
+44 (0) 7876 735 631

theoldvicarageni@gmail.com
Gradings
- Five Star Quality Assurance
Type

Type:

Bed & Breakfast

Located on the Ards Peninsular coastline with direct views out onto the Irish Sea, The Old Vicarage Ni offers a choice of two large luxurious double/twin bedrooms each with en-suite facilities in a true opulent Edwardian setting.
More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Room / Unit Features
- TV In Bedrooms
Facilities

Leisure Facilities
- Wifi
Brookmount Farm

Bangor

Address

10 Ballyrobert Road, Crawfordsburn, Bangor, Down, BT19 1UQ

Telephone
+44 (0) 7834 377 790

gcheatley11@gmail.com

Type

Type:

Self-Catering

Close to Crawfordsburn village and beach and Helens Bay train station. 5 minutes drive from Holywood and Bangor. Ideal central base for visiting Belfast, the Causeway Coast, Game of Thrones® filming locations and beyond.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Ardkeen House

Newtownards

Address

2 Loughdoo Road, Ardkeen, Portaferry, Newtownards, Co Down, BT22 1HJ

Telephone
07546002159

jennifer@ardkeenhouse.com

Type

Type:

Bed & Breakfast

Ardkeen House Bed & Breakfast is situated on the main Portaferry to Newtownards road in County Down, Northern Ireland. Located on an elevated site enjoying breath-taking views over Strangford Lough.
Jennifer and Phil welcome you to this relaxed ...

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Room / Unit Features
- TV In Bedrooms
Facilities

Leisure Facilities
- Wifi
Eden Pottery

Millise

Address

218 Abbey Road, Millise, Down, BT22 2DH

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9186 2300

sales@edenpotteryshop.co.uk

Type

Type:

Craft Workshops and courses

Eden Pottery's studio, shop and café are set in the countryside of Ards Peninsula, surrounded by fields, with Strangford Lough on one side and beaches and the seaside on the other. You can come along and create your own masterpiece in the studio.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
The Priory

Newtownards

Address

Court Street, Newtownards, County Down, BT23 7NY

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9082 3207

scmenquiries@communities-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Abbey / Priory

At the south east edge of Newtownards these substantial remains of a Dominican (Black) Friary founded in 1244 may be viewed. They are the only ones of their type in Northern Ireland.

Price
Free

More Info
Sandycove Holiday Park

Ballywalter

Address

191 Whitechurch Road, Ballywalter, County Down, BT22 2JZ

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4275 8200

info@sandycove.co.uk
Gradings
- Three Star Quality Assurance
Type

Type:

Camping & Caravan Site

Popular holiday park with designated area for touring caravans. Booking essential through Park Manager.
More Info
Christmas Storytelling with Squiggles and Giggles

Castle Park Avenue, Bangor

Address

North Down Museum, Bangor City Hall, Castle Park Avenue, Bangor, County Down, BT20 4BT

Telephone
028 9127 1200

museum@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Price
Price £5.50 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Christmas Events

Join Kelsey from Squiggles & Giggles at North Down Museum for some Christmas fun with festive stories, music and movement.

Dates

From:
7 Dec 2024Open 10:00 - 11:00
From:
7 Dec 2024Open 11:30 - 12:30

Price
Price £5.50 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
The Commons, Millisle Road, Donaghadee

Newtownards

Address

Ards Visitor Information Centre, 31 Regent Street, Newtownards, Co Down, BT23 4AD

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9182 6846

ardsvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Type

Type:

Aire de Service

This Aire De Service facility is located in a superb parking venue located in the coastal town of Donaghadee just off the A2 home to an iconic lighthouse and numerous restaurants and shops.

More Info
Wildfowler Inn

Greyabbey

Address

1-3 Main Street, Greyabbey, County Down, BT22 2NE

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4278 8234

info@wildfowlerinn.co.uk

Type

Type:

Restaurant

A former coaching house with a cosy traditional atmosphere and log fire in picturesque Greyabbey, just three miles from famous Mount Stewart house and gardens. Fine food catering for all tastes. Families especially welcome.

More Info
The Big Foodie Quiz at McBrides on the Square - Comber

Comber

Address

McBrides on the Square, 1-3 The Square, Comber, County Down, BT23 5DX

Telephone
028 91313969

hello@mcbridesonthesquare.co.uk

Price
Price £3.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Food & Drink

Bring your appetite for knowledge and join McBrides on the Square for a night of fun, food trivia, and friendly competition.

Dates

Price
Price £3.00 Per Ticket

More Info
1 Ardmore Terrace

Holywood

Address

Flat 1, 1 Ardmore Terrace, Ballykeel, Holywood, Co Down, BT18 9BH

Telephone
+44 (0) 7979 371 404

drjkeenan07@googlemail.com

Type

Type:

Self-Catering

Self-Catering apartment situated conveniently on the ground floor. Guests have access to the entire apartment including a beautiful private enclosed courtyard.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Leisure Facilities
- Wifi
St Patrick's Hall Apartment No. 2

Newtownards

Address

Apt 2 St Patrick's Hall, 50A Shore Road, Portaferry, Newtownards, Co Down, BT22 1JZ

Telephone
+44 (0) 7720 407 496

themehargs@talktalk.net

Type

Type:

Self-Catering

St Patrick's Hall lies in the heart of main street Portaferry. The Victorian church hall has been sympathetically converted into three luxury apartments.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
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 Hideaway

Newtownards

Address

3 Ballyrusley Road, Portaferry, Newtownards, Co Down, BT22 1JR

Telephone
+44 (0) 7725690868

jill@justlivealittle.co

Type

Type:

Guest Accommodation

Luxury hideaway for 2 in Portaferry. Only 30 miles from Belfast but a world away. Uninterrupted countryside views overlooking Ireland's only mini tea plantation. Within walking of the picturesque town of Portaferry.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Dogs Welcome Inside
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Room / Unit Features
- TV In Bedrooms
Facilities

Leisure Facilities
- Wifi
Whitespots Country Park

Newtownards

Address

233 Bangor Road, Newtownards, County Down, BT23 7PH

Telephone
028 9182 6846

ardsvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Type

Type:

Walking Route - Short (<5 miles)

Whitespots has a fascinating industrial heritage and a walk here gives an insight into the lead mining which took place here from the late 18th century until the 1910s. In the mid 19th century, around 40% of the total lead produced in Ireland was…

More Info
The Annex by Coach Road Cottages

Newtownards

Address

45 Coach Road, Comber, Newtownards, Co Down, BT23 5QX

Telephone
+44 (0) 7899 967 127

info@coachroadcottages.co.uk

Type

Type:

Self-Catering

Welcome to the Coach Road Cottages, boutique self-catering accommodation surrounded by rural countryside but only a short distance to Belfast by car. You can have privacy or an adventure at some of the local haunts.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Dogs Welcome Inside
Facilities

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

Leisure Facilities
- Wifi
Gransha Equestrian Centre

Bangor

Address

10 Kerrs Road, Bangor, County Down, BT19 7QD

Telephone
+44 (0) 7855 462 614

granshariding@yahoo.com

Type

Type:

Equestrian

At Gransha Equestrian Centre we welcome beginners and more experienced riders. We can taylor a ride out or lesson in any of our 4 arenas to suit your individual requirements on our lovely horses and ponies, accompanied by our friendly qualified staff

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
‘Meet the Mob’ featuring Lightfoot Kitchen Picnic at Orlock

Groomsport

Address

Orlock Farm, 26 Orlock Road, Groomsport, County Down

alexanderdexters@btinternet.com

Price
Price £20.00 to £30.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Nature

**This event has been cancelled**
Enjoy a tour at Orlock Farm, near the village of Groomsport, where the Alexander Family use regenerative farming methods and 'Mob Grazing' to work with nature to breed their Dexter Cows. After, a delicious artisan…

Dates

Price
Price £20.00 to £30.00 Per Ticket

More Info