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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

, currently showing 161 to 180.

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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
Millisle Beach Park

Millisle

Address

Ballywalter Road, Millisle, County Down, BT22 2HS

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9182 6846

ardsvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Beach

Millisle Beach Park is an area of 150 metres of golden sand and a relatively safe bathing seawater lagoon extending out 50 metres. A jetty, slipways and paddling pool complement the lagoon area.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
Parking & Transport
- On site parking
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
Ards Visitor Information Centre

Newtownards

Address

31 Regent Street, Newtownards, County Down, BT23 4AD

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9182 6846

ardsvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Type

Type:

Tourist Information Centre

Make us your first point of call for information on attractions, accommodation, activities and events during your visit to the beautiful Ards Peninsula and Strangford Lough region. We can help with tailored advice on how best to spend your time here.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Free (parking charges may apply)
The Bay Tree Cafe & Restaurant

Holywood

Address

118 High Street, Holywood, County Down, BT18 9HW

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9042 1419

info@baytreeholywood.co.uk

Type

Type:

Café

The restaurant is Bridgestone Guide recommended, serving quality food with fresh ingredients and an individual touch. We're open 7 days a week, as well as friday nights for dinner. We hold popular monthly wine/beer/whiskey tasting evenings too.

More Info
Feel Good Festival: Piano Peace with Ruth McGinley

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

Concert pianist Ruth McGinley plays Einaudi and Sakamoto in the amazing acoustics of our grade A listed architecture, all swathed in the soft glow of candlelight. Carefully chosen for their creation of calm and bliss, you will recognise familiar…

Dates

Price
Price £20.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
The Stables at Ballygraffan - Maurice's Stable and Harry's Stable

Newtownards

Address

104A Killinchy Road, Ballygraffan, Comber, Newtownards, Co Down, BT23 5NE

Telephone
+44 (0) 7711 881 577

june@ballygraffan.com

Type

Type:

Guest Accommodation

We have converted stables into luxury accommodation. Each stable is bright and airy and remarkably spacious with double bed, kitchen area, en-suite shower room, wifi and balcony with seating looking out over the breath-taking view.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Room / Unit Features
- TV In Bedrooms
Facilities

Leisure Facilities
- Wifi
5 Cedar Mount

Bangor

Address

5 Cedar Mount, Bangor, Co Down, BT20 3DL

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9146 1992

info@superiorshortstays.co.uk

Type

Type:

Self-Catering

Luxury contemporary ground floor apartment located in the residential Bangor West area. Close to train station, town centre and coastal path. 2 bedrooms (sleeps 4), 1 ensuite.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Leisure Facilities
- Wifi
Curlew/Kuovi: Finland Exchange Exhibition

Newtownards

Address

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

Telephone
(028) 9182 6846

ardsvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Type

Type:

Exhibition

As part of the Creative Peninsula festival, this exhibition will highlight the British Council funded exchange programme between Finland and Northern Ireland.

Dates

More Info
Barnwell Farm Cottages- Brooks 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. Brooks Cottage was named after the family who lived in the farmstead for over 200 years. Brooks Cottage is one of the largest in the complex, sleeping 6 people.
More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Leisure Facilities
- Wifi
The Rose and Chandler

Bangor

Address

6 High Street, Bangor, County Down, BT20 5AY

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9127 1540

rosechandler@live.co.uk

Type

Type:

Pub / Nightclub

Traditional pub located in Bangor town centre

More Info
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
Hilltop Lodge

Belfast

Address

85 Whinney Hill, Dundonald, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT16 1UA

Telephone
+44 (0) 7759 830 165

info@slipwaycottages.com

Type

Type:

Self-Catering

Self catering accommodation situated at the top of the Holywood Hills, three miles from Holywood and Dundonald and six miles from Belfast, Bangor and Newtownards. Hilltop Lodge is a detached, level access, single storey with open plan living/kitchen.

More Info
Facilities

Provider Preferences
- Dogs Welcome Inside
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Leisure Facilities
- Wifi
Crawfordsburn Country Park

Helen's Bay

Address

Bridge Road South, Helen's Bay, County Down, BT19 1JT

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9185 3621

nieainfo@daera-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Country / Royal Park

With tranquil walks through peaceful meadows and wooded glens and a stunning waterfall, Crawfordsburn Country Park provides a relaxing natural retreat.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- Car parking - Car Parking is available at the Main Car Park, exit road lay by, Fort Road Car Park, Grey Point Fort and Sea Park, Coastguard Avenue.
Wellies and Wings with Ballyboley Dexters - Groomsport

Groomsport

Address

Ballyboley Dexters, 'Orlock Farm', 26 Orlock Road, Groomsport, Down, BT19 6LW

Telephone
07712 444 868

hello@ballyboleydexters.com

Price
Price £15.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Food & Drink

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…

Dates

Price
Price £15.00 Per Ticket

More Info
Derry Churches

Portaferry

Address

11 Cloughey Road, Portaferry, County Down, BT22 1NG

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9082 3207

scmenquiries@communities-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Churches & Sacred Sites

These ruined churches are situated one and a half miles north east of Portaferry on the Tullymally Road, east of the A2 to Cloughey and are signposted from Portaferry.

Price
Free

More Info
Scrabo Tower

Newtownards

Address

203A Scrabo Road, Newtownards, County Down, BT23 4SJ

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9082 3207

scmenquiries@communities-ni.gov.uk

Price
Free

Type

Type:

Tower

At the top of Scrabo Hill, overlooking Strangford Lough and the whole of North Down, is Scrabo Tower. The tower, which was built in 1857, is one of Northern Ireland’s best known landmarks and the views from the top are spectacular.

Price
Free

More Info
Facilities

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

Bangor

Address

78 Seacliff Road, Bangor, Co Down, BT20 5EZ

Telephone
+44 (0) 28 9146 4071

Type

Type:

Bed & Breakfast

Winner of Hospitality and Tourism (2010) - family run Bed and Breakfast right on Bangor's seafront with front garden overlooking Belfast Lough towards Whitehead and the Mull of Kintyre in the distance. Three minute walk to town centre.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
Facilities

Room / Unit Features
- TV In Bedrooms
Facilities

Leisure Facilities
- Wifi
Beachside

Bangor

Address

2 The Briggs, Groomsport, Bangor, Co Down, BT19 6HY

Telephone
+44 (0) 7818 036 228

beachside.apt@btinternet.com

Type

Type:

Self-Catering

Beachside – a modern coastal ground floor apartment centrally located in Groomsport, boasting pleasant sea views. Beach theme styled accommodation offers guests a spacious open plan lounge/dining area, two bedrooms.

More Info
Facilities

Parking & Transport
- On site parking
SOLD OUT - Demo and Dine with Rachel Allen

Portavogie

Address

Fish Market, Portavogie Harbour, Portavogie, County Down, BT22 1EA

Telephone
028 9182 6846

Price
Price £60.00 Per Ticket

Type

Type:

Food & Drink

Part of the Taste Autumn in Ards and North Down Programme.
A unique dining experience with celebrity chef Rachel Allen at Portavogie Harbour - enjoy welcome drinks and canapes, interactive starters, and main course platters followed by dessert.

Dates

Price
Price £60.00 Per Ticket

More Info