The weekend of 29th & 30th June will be a particularly busy one for Bangor as the Town comes alive for its special Bangor 400 Seashore Festival. This event is one of many on North Down Borough Council’s busy events schedule to mark 400 years since King James I granted the town it’s charter.
The Festival will include a display of 400 cars, from vintage to performance, at The Town Hall the cars will then Parade around the town on the Saturday at 6pm, led by the Central Band of The RAF.
At 3pm on the Saturday, there will be a very special musical display by The Central Band of The RAF and The 152 (U) Tpt Regiment Bugles Pipes & Drums on The West Lawn in front of The Town Hall. Established in 1920, the internationally renowned Central Band of The RAF is one of the premier military bands, and is always in great demand, performing more than 370 engagements a year and representing The Royal Air Force at every major event.
Armed Forces activities will be taking place on The Eisenhower Pier including The HMS Bangor which will be moored alongside and opened to the public on both days. On Sunday 30th June at 3.00 pm over a hundred veterans will meet at Ward Park for a service to commemorate the Battle of the Somme and be led off to parade through the Town Centre by The Central Band of the RAF and the 152 (U) Tpt Regiment Bugles Pipes and Drums.
Animating The Town on both days will be a special maritime-themed street entertainment programme, featuring fantastic street theatre acts and live music guaranteed to thrill young and old alike.
Acts like Hoop La La, a circus hula-hoop and acrobatic trio, who’s shows bring together acro-balance, dance, comedy and, most importantly, Hula-hooping!
The Swimmers are 1920s styled bathers who promenade inside their striped bathing huts, lifting the canvas to engage in dry land drills and life saving with passersby. They will be in Bangor on both days showcasing their talents!
Belfast Swing Dancers will be performing dance displays on The Pier and providing live music will be The Lightning kids, a sharply dressed, young, and versatile 4 piece cover band from parts unknown with one common goal and message; “get paid to have the craic!”
Commenting on the event, North Down Borough Council’s Tourism Manager, Alison Stobie said; “As our Bangor 400 events programme continues and this will be a very great weekend for Bangor, with so much happening in the town continuing to mark this special anniversary. We are always delighted to greet the HMS Bangor back to our shores and are very honoured to have the Central Band of The RAF perform at The Town Hall. We would encourage everyone to come down and join in the festivities over the weekend.”
Other Town Centre attractions that weekend will be the return of the ever popular Fun Fair at The McKee Clock Arena and a special food fair featuring lots of local food traders which will be taking place in The Sunken Gardens and along The Promenade. Family activities will also be happening at Project 24 and of course there’s the usual range of entertainment at Pickie Park.
For further information on this event please contact Bangor Tourist Information Centre on (028) 9127 0069 or email tic@northdown.gov.uk.