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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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The Coastguard Cottage

Cloughey

Address

33B Manse Road, Cloughey, Down, BT22 1HS

stephie@thecoastguardcottage.com

Type

Type:

Self-Catering

Superb luxury coastguards cottage completely rebuilt in 2016 is a perfect place to unwind in this un-spoilt part of the lower peninsula. The ground floor features open plan kitchen/dining/living with bi-fold doors opening to a west facing patio.

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Rosevale Farm Cottages - Annie's

Bangor

Address

76 Cootehall Road, Crawfordsburn, Bangor, Co. Down, BT19 1UW

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9185 2880

welcome@coastalandcountry.com

Type

Type:

Self-Catering

Home comforts in traditional Irish cottages. Two fully refurbished cottages with their origins in the 18th century. One newly-built cottage designed in the vernacular style. Secluded country views. Rare breeds farm. Turf-burning stove. Free Wi-Fi

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Leisure Facilities
- Wifi
Courtyard Cottage

Bangor

Address

212B Crawfordsburn Road, Crawfordsburn, Bangor, Co. Down, BT19 1HY

info@courtyardcottage.ie

Type

Type:

Bed & Breakfast

Nestled near the centre of the quaint and historic County Down village of Crawfordsburn, Courtyard Cottage offers comfortable en-suite accommodation in a beautifully extended cottage, fashioned from the original Crawford Estate buildings from ...

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Room / Unit Features
- TV In Bedrooms
Facilities

Leisure Facilities
- Wifi
Adairs

Portaferry

Address

22 The Square, Portaferry, Co. Down, BT22 1LW

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 4272 8412

Type

Type:

Bed & Breakfast

Adairs is centrally heated, has spacious bedrooms which include a family ensuite room, double room ensuite shower and single room with hot and cold water. Refreshments on arrival. Convenient to Exploris, ferry boat, restaurants and shops.

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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
Barnwell Farm Cottages- Corn 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

As the name suggests, Corn Cottage combines the rustic feel of the farmhouse with the comfort afforded by deluxe furnishings. Modern features such as digital satellite TV, video and mobile phone are available for those who want to keep in touch ...
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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Leisure Facilities
- Wifi
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.

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Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Dogs Welcome Inside
Facilities

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

Leisure Facilities
- Wifi
Neil Delamere

Portaferry

Address

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

Telephone
028 4272 8808

Verity@porticoards.com

Price
Price £23.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Comedy

"One lean, mean, comedy, killing machine' ***** The Herald
From the man who brought you his Liminal tour last year... (and Subliminal the year before - well, of course you don't remember!)... Here is the Post-liminal event!
This event is part of…

Dates

Price
Price £23.00 Per Ticket

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Carnalea Golf Club

Bangor

Address

Station Road, Bangor, County Down, BT19 1EZ

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9127 0368

frances@carnaleagolfclub.com

Type

Type:

Parkland Golf Course

There has been a course at Carnalea for over 100 years. Indeed Carnalea became Ireland’s first municipal golf club in 1927. Its beautiful seaside setting has superb views over Belfast Lough and the Antrim hills beyond. Long on history and ...

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Facilities

Catering
- Restaurant on site
Ballywalter Beach

Ballywalter

Address

Springvale Road, Ballywalter, County Down, BT22 2PE

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9182 6846

ardsvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Beach

A long sandy beach which offers enjoyment for all.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Comber Farmers Market

Comber

Address

Comber Farmers Market, St Mary's Parish Church, Comber, County Down, BT23 5DU

Telephone
+44 (0) 7872 857 912

c-f-m@hotmail.com

Type

Type:

Markets

There are over 24 regular traders selling artisan food and plants. The range includes breads, cheeses, vegetables, fruit, cakes, tarts, eggs, olives, jams, chutneys, fish, dry cured bacon, sausages, flowers, chocolate, sauces, and oils.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Heli Power

Newtownards

Address

61 Portaferry Road, Newtownards, County Down, BT23 8SG

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9181 1971

info@helipower.co.uk

Type

Type:

Sightseeing

Heli Power is a well established Helicopter flight training school for beginners or experienced flyers. We also offer tours of Northern Ireland, transport for wedding and golf parties and many more tailor made packages.

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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
Holywood Beach Apartment

Holywood

Address

48A Glen Road, Ballycultra, Holywood, Co Down, BT18 0HB

Telephone
+44 (0) 7977226239

info@holywoodbeachapartment.com

Type

Type:

Self-Catering

This modern apartment offers the visitor a luxurious retreat with panoramic views of Belfast lough. A 15min drive from Belfast centre and many local attractions within walking distance, this apartment is ideal for individuals or families getaways.

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Leisure Facilities
- Wifi
The Web Theatre

Newtownards

Address

49 North Street, Newtownards, Co Down, BT23 4DF

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9182 8234

info@webtheatre.biz

Type

Type:

Cultural Learning Experiences

N.I's only privately owned theatre. 120 fully raked seats with professional sound/lighting. resident amateur drama company 2nd Skin. Community cinema specialising in classic and golden oldie movies. Available for birthday parties and charity events

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Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
The Old Bank

Portaferry

Address

36A The Square, Portaferry, Down, BT22 1LB

Telephone
+44 (0) 7870 566 659

mcternans@mac.com

Type

Type:

Self-Catering

The former banking hall is now a large open plan kitchen and lounge with wood burning stove, master ensuite bedroom with a kingsize bed with twin beds in bedroom two. The Old Bank has a stylish 5 star review rating on Airbnb - luxury accommodation.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Dogs Welcome Inside
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Leisure Facilities
- Wifi
Lagoon View Cottage

Millisle

Address

10 Shore Road, Millisle, Co Down, BT22 2BL

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9756 0959

only1.chris.ball@gmail.com

Type

Type:

Self-Catering

Lagoon View cottage couldn’t be better placed if you want to enjoy the best of the wonderful Ards peninsula. Stepping out of the front door takes you straight onto the famous Millisle Lagoon and Sea Park. Perfect for little dippers or a morning swim.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Dogs Welcome Inside
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Cairn Bay Lodge

Bangor

Address

278 Seacliff Road, Bangor, Co Down, BT20 5HS

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9146 7636

info@cairnbaylodge.com
Gradings
- Four Star Quality Assurance
Type

Type:

Guest Accommodation

The Lodge has been watching the sunrise and gazing over beautiful Ballyholme Bay, the Irish Sea and beyond for over 100 years. Starfish Cafe buzzes with locals and visitors alike enjoying amazing local produce.Voya and Guinot treatments available.
More Info
Facilities

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

Catering
- Restaurant on Premises
Facilities

Room / Unit Features
- TV In Bedrooms
Facilities

Leisure Facilities
- Wifi
Apt 2 The Waterfront

Newtownards

Address

2 Cook Street, Portaferry, Newtownards, County Down, BT22 1GW

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9188 4416

info@thewaterfrontportaferry.com

Type

Type:

Self-Catering

This modern comfortable apartment enjoys stunning views across the Narrows of Strangford Lough. Relax and watch the busy Narrows waterway from the warmth and comfort of the front living room or use the apartment as a base to explore the Ards ...

More Info
Nendrum Monastic Site

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:

Churches & Sacred Sites

Nendrum is thought to have been set up by St Machaoi in the 5th Century and also has links to St Patrick in later sources. The monastery consists of 3 round dry stone walled enclosures, one within the other.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking