Here are some snippets of what’s coming up in the North Down Borough Council area this week and next week.
THIS WEEK & WEEKEND Mon 20 – Sun 26 Aug
Art Classes at North Down Museum, Bangor
Tuesdays, until 28 August
Tickets £8 per class. 2pm – 4pm. Mary Feeney will be running art classes for all levels of ability, including beginners. Each class will combine drawing exercises using pencil and charcoal and painting exercises in oils and acrylics. You will need to bring your own materials. For info and booking contact the Museum on (028) 9127 1200.
Gardening Workshops for Beginners at North Down Museum, Bangor
Fridays, until 31 August
Tickets £10 per class. 2pm – 4pm. Caroline is a previous employee of The Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh and Pershore College Worcester. She’ll be giving you an overview of various gardening techniques and giving you some great planting ideas, designed to get green fingers twitching! Pre-booking essential. For info and to book contact the Museum on (028) 9127 1200.
Tourism Week, Bangor Golf Club
Sunday 19 to Sunday 26 August
Info: Francie Magee, (028) 9127 0922 www.bangorgolfclubni.co.uk
Lunchtime Music in the Courtyard at North Down Museum, Bangor
Every Friday in August
FREE. 12.30pm. A series of performances by young local musicians and music teachers working in the North Down area. Pianist Robert Sinclair, saxophonist Dave Howell, violinist Lauren Gibb and flautist Susan Gibson will all be performing during Friday lunchtimes, easing you into your weekend in style. For info contact the Museum on (028) 9127 1200. (Seating priority given to Restaurant customers).
Salt-etching Course at North Down Museum
Thursday 23 August
Tickets £25. Robert Peters, Director of Seacourt Print Workshop in Bangor will take a one-day course in Salt-etching. This technique is used for etching aluminium and steel with a diverse range of marks from very precise lines to splashes and washes. Participants should bring source material to work from such as a drawings or photographs and should be over 16. Pre-booking essential. For tickets contact Seacourt directly on (028) 9146 0595.
Bangor Through the Ages Historical Walk
Friday 24 August
Tickets £3. Departs Bangor Tourist Information Centre (Tower House) at 7.30pm. With Bangor’s enriched history including the Bronze Age settlements, World War II and Bangor’s development as a seaside town, this walk takes in points of interest including the North Down Museum, Bangor Abbey and parks and gardens. Approximate tour length: 1½ – 2 hours. Pre-booking essential. For info and to book contact Bangor TIC on (028) 9127 0069.
Missionary Convention
Friday 24 August to Saturday 1 September
Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church, Bangor. Info Lesley Stewart, (028) 9146 1017.
Summer Saturdays at North Down Museum, Bangor
Saturday 25 August
Tickets £1. Visit the Museum on Saturdays during August for special summer events for children of all ages. Children aged 7 and under must be accompanied by an adult. This Saturday, the last of the season, bring the little one’s along at 2.30pm for a captivating Magic Show. Pre-booking essential. For info and to book contact the Museum on (028) 9127 1200.
Textile Screen-Printing Master Class with Katie Brown
Saturday 25 August
Tickets £5. 10.30am – 1pm. Seacourt Print Workshop artist-in-residence Katie Brown will give a master class in textile screen painting. Using a combination of screen printing and hand painting techniques participants can create unique artworks on fabric. The master class is suitable for beginners, but participants should be over 16yrs, and the cost of the session includes materials. Pre-booking essential. For info and to book contact the Museum on (028) 9127 1200.
High Street Speciality Market, Bangor
Saturday 25 August & Monday 27 August
FREE. 10am-5pm. Stalls will be located on High Street on Saturday 25th and in the Sunken Gardens, beside McKee Clock, on Monday 27th – Download the flyer & great High Street discount offers!
Free children’s fun at Cockle Row Cottages, Groomsport
Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 August
Free event. 2pm-4pm. Make the most of summer afternoons with the little one’s before school goes back – This Saturday come along for balloon modelling. Sunday is typically craft day, and this Sunday make your own keyring or bangle to take home. There will also be live music and a Fiddle Workshop by Keith Lyttle which is part of the Ulster-Scots programme. The cottages are open daily in August to 2 Sept from 11am to 5pm. For more info call Bangor Tourist Information Centre on (028) 9127 0069 or visit northdowntourism.com. Full Cockle Row Programme for August
Street Theatre Summer Entertainment in Bangor
Saturday 25 & Sunday 25 August
FREE. 3-5pm. The Party Professor Science Show returns to the Sunken Gardens beside McKee Clock to wow the crowds on Saturday and on Sunday the Louie Comedy Magic Show will bring some clowning around to the garden, bringing an end to the lively programme of entertainment North Down Tourism has put on this summer season. Don’t forget about music in Ward Park on Sunday too, 3-5pm. For info visit northdowntourism.com or call Bangor Tourist Information Centre on (028) 9127 0069.
Craft Fair at the Boathouse, Groomsport
Sunday 26 August
12noon-4pm. Local crafts, goods and foods on sale at the Boathouse, beside Groomsport harbour. For more info call Bangor Tourist Information Centre on (028) 9127 0069.
Live Music Summer Entertainment in Bangor
Sunday 26 August
FREE. 3-5pm. This week’s live music theme is Jazz, rock, rhythm and blues brought to you by Katie & the Carnival. Come along for this lively performance at the Ward Park Bandstand this Sunday, the finale to the summer entertainment programme by North Down Tourism for 2012. For info visit northdowntourism.com or call Bangor Tourist Information Centre on (028) 9127 0069.
Bangor to Orlock Coastal Walk
Sunday 26 August
Tickets £3. Departs 11.30am from Bangor Tourist Information Centre (Tower House) in Bangor. Led by a Blue Badge Guide the walk follows the coastal path to the National Trust Reserve at Ballymacormick Point and then on to the Cockle Row Cottages at Groomsport, where there will be a short comfort break before you continue on to Orlock Point. Approximate tour length: 2½ hours. Pre-booking essential. For info and to book contact Bangor TIC on (028) 9127 0069.
NEXT WEEK & WEEKEND Mon 27 Aug – Sun 2 Sept
Art Classes at North Down Museum, Bangor
Tuesdays, until 28 August
Tickets £8 per class. 2pm – 4pm. Mary Feeney will be running art classes for all levels of ability, including beginners. Each class will combine drawing exercises using pencil and charcoal and painting exercises in oils and acrylics. You will need to bring your own materials. For info and booking contact the Museum on (028) 9127 1200.
Gardening Workshops for Beginners at North Down Museum, Bangor
Fridays, until 31 August
Tickets £10 per class. 2pm – 4pm. Caroline is a previous employee of The Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh and Pershore College Worcester. She’ll be giving you an overview of various gardening techniques and giving you some great planting ideas, designed to get green fingers twitching! Pre-booking essential. For info and to book contact the Museum on (028) 9127 1200.
Lunchtime Music in the Courtyard at North Down Museum, Bangor
Every Friday in August – Last chance this Friday, 31 August
FREE. 12.30pm. A series of performances by young local musicians and music teachers working in the North Down area. Pianist Robert Sinclair, saxophonist Dave Howell, violinist Lauren Gibb and flautist Susan Gibson will all be performing during Friday lunchtimes, easing you into your weekend in style. For info contact the Museum on (028) 9127 1200. (Seating priority given to Restaurant customers).
Bangor Christian Heritage Walk
Tuesday 28 August
Tickets £3. Departs Bangor Abbey at 2.30pm. This tour visits sites including Bangor Abbey, St Comgall’s Roman Catholic Church, First Bangor Presbyterian Church and the North Down Museum that houses various interesting artefacts including a life-size reconstruction of a monk’s cell. Approximate tour length: 2 hours. Pre-booking essential. For info and to book contact Bangor TIC on (028) 9127 0069.
Missionary Convention
Until Saturday 1 September
Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church, Bangor. Info Lesley Stewart, (028) 9146 1017.
Eagle Wing Celebration, Groomsport
Saturday 1 & Sunday 2 September
Free event. 2pm-4pm. The summer season comes to an end at quaint Cockle Row this weekend with crafts on Saturday and a Highland Dance Display by Kelly Forsythe and Piping Display by Andy McGregor. On Sunday, the Story of Eagle Wing will be celebrated with traditional annual activities – a re-enactment of the story and themed crafts. The cottages are open daily until 2 Sept from 11am to 5pm. For more info call Bangor Tourist Information Centre on (028) 9127 0069 or visit northdowntourism.com.
Don’t forget that Pickie Funpark in Bangor is also open daily, 9am-9pm.
Events to look out for over the rest of the year…
Aspects Irish Literature Festival 2012, Bangor – Wednesday 26 to Sunday 30 September
Tickets on sale now. Event Programme . You can find the programme and book tickets online at www.northdown.gov.uk/bookings or by contacting North Down Museum (028) 9127 1200 or Bangor Tourist Information Centre (028) 9127 0069.
Seapark Fireworks, Holywood – Saturday 27 October
Halloween Fun at Cockle Row Cottages, Bangor – Sunday 28 October
Bangor Christmas Switch On – Saturday 17 November
Holywood Christmas Switch On – Saturday 24 November