Straw people will parade through Magherafelt this Saturday (6 June), as part of the town’s annual Straw Festival.

Up to a dozen ‘straw people’, all crafted by local community groups, will take part in the event organised by Mid Ulster District Council, which this year will be led by a ‘Frozen’-themed train, together with some very special guest characters.

The parade will finish in Meadowbank Sports Arena for a family fun day, complete with entertainment including a climbing wall, Fun Zorbs, cage football, inflatables, food and craft stalls, and prizes for the best straw creations.

The carnival parade leaves Magherafelt High School at 1pm and entertainment will continue at Meadowbank Sports Arena until 5pm. Admission is £1.

For further information on the Straw Festival, contact Magherafelt Visitor Information centre on 028 7963 1510 or visit www.midulstercouncil.org/strawfestival.

Sat 6 June to Fri 12 June

Saturday 6 June, Meet the Maker: Making a Folding Stool

Ards Crafts, Craft and Design Centre

Tickets: £12 inc materials (Age 18+)

A workshop with green woodturner Alexey Janes

Info: Ards Visitor Information Centre, (028) 9182 6846, ardsvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk visitardsandnorthdown.com

Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June, Family Fun at Cockle Row Cottages

Groomsport Harbour

Free entertainment, 2pm-4pm.

Sat 6: Glitter Tattoos, Casey’s Creatures

Sun 7: Aldo’s Magic Show

Cottages open daily  to the public 11am-5pm. Free admission

Info: Bangor Visitor Information Centre, (028) 9127 0069, bangorvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk, visitardsandnorthdown.com

Saturday 6 June, Abbots, Priests & Pilgrims Coach Tour

Tour departs from Ards Visitor Information Centre

Tickets: £17 (Ad), £15 (Conc), £8 (Ch) – Includes light lunch

This tour traces the rise of Christianity in the Ards Peninsula.

Info: Ards Visitor Information Centre, (028) 9182 6846, ardsvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk visitardsandnorthdown.com

Monday 8 June, Helens Bay in 2 World Wars: St Johns Church and Grey Point Fort

Tour departs from St John’s Church car park

Tickets: £3

This fascinating Tour of two of North Down’s hidden gems explores their strong connections to both World Wars.

Info: Bangor Visitor Information Centre, (028) 9127 0069, bangorvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk, visitardsandnorthdown.com

Wednesday 10 June, Bangor Castle Walled Garden Tour

Tour departs from the bandstand in the Walled Garden

Free tour

This popular tour provides an insight into the garden’s history, its restoration and the vast array of plants, fruits and vegetables which are grown there.

Info: Bangor Visitor Information Centre, (028) 9127 0069, bangorvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk, visitardsandnorthdown.com

Friday 12 June, Shane McAnanty Family Treasure Hunt

Tour Departs from Scrabo Tower car park

Tickets: £6 (Ad), £5 (Conc), £3 (Ch)

Join the King of the Ulster Fairies on Scrabo Hill for an enchanted tour and treasure hunt.

Info: Ards Visitor Information Centre, (028) 9182 6846, ardsvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk visitardsandnorthdown.com

Sat 13 June – Friday 19 June

Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June, Family Fun at Cockle Row Cottages

Groomsport Harbour

Free entertainment, 2pm-4pm.

Sat 13: Jumping Clay, Face Painting

Sun 14: Party Animals NI

Cottages open to the public 11am-5pm. Free admission

Info: Bangor Visitor Information Centre, (028) 9127 0069, bangorvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk, visitardsandnorthdown.com

Saturday 13 June, Copeland Island Boat Tour

Tour departs from Donaghadee Harbour

Tickets: £8 (Ad), £7 (Conc), £4 (Ch)

Departing from Donaghadee your trip to Copeland Island will be enhanced by tails of those who have travelled across that stretch of water over the centuries.

Info: Ards Visitor Information Centre, (028) 9182 6846, ardsvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk visitardsandnorthdown.com

Tickets on sale now…

Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 June, Sea Bangor Festival Tall Ship Sailings

Bangor Seafront

The Morgenster will be open to the public over the two days of the Sea Bangor Festival weekend, with evening sailings on both nights from the Eisenhower Pier (limited numbers):
Saturday, departs at 7pm
Sunday, departs at 7.30pm

Tickets cost £15 (no concessions) and the sailing will take you around Belfast Lough over a duration of 1 hour and thirty minutes

Info and booking: 028 9127 0069, visitardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Wednesday 8 July and Thursday 9 July, Heartbreak Productions presents David Walliams’ ‘Mr Stink’

Bangor Castle Walled Garden

Shows: 2pm and 6pm

Cost: Tickets £7 (Ad), £5 (Ch). Pre-booking essential

Watch the fabulous characters from the celebrated novel by David Williams come to life in Heartbreak Productions’ adaptation of Mr. Stink for the outdoor stage, working together with Ards and North Down Borough Council.

To book: Bangor Visitor Information Centre, 028 9127 0069; Ards Visitor Information Centre, 028 9182 6846; Book online (ticketsource.co.uk/visitstrangfordlough)

Exhibitions

North Down Museum, Bangor

Castle Park Avenue, located by Bangor Castle (Town Hall) BT20 4BT

T: 028 9127 1200. Admission Free

Wednesday 20 May – Sunday 28 June

For Whom the Bell Tolls: 9^th Century Bells Exhibition. This exhibition has been funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Saturday 6 – Sunday 28 June

Bangor Castle Walled Garden

ForM Sculpture Exhibition

Portaferry Visitor Information Centre

The Stables, Castle Street BT22 1NZ

T: 028 4272 9882. Admission Free

Saturday 6 – Saturday 27 June

Art in the Loft – “Ash artefacts”

Downloadable Guides

2015 Ards and North Down Events Guide

2015 Experience Ards and North Down Tours

There’s something for everybody at this year’s Sea Bangor Festival; whether you’re into baking, art, good food, live music or you fancy sailing the high seas, we’ve got it covered with lots happening in the tented village on Quay Street, Bangor on June 27 & 28.

One of the highlights of the weekend will be “The Great Bangor Bake Off” where contestants will pitch their talents against each other in the purpose-built kitchen in the “Bake Off” marquee. Catering students from SERC will come up against each other during a “Fondant Challenge,” members of the public will be invited to submit entries to the “Sea Bangor Celebration Cake Competition” and The Heatherlea will be hosting “Cake Decorating Challenges” between members of the audience. The aroma of baking is sure to be mouth-watering!

Based on the popular TV show model and hosted by SERC, contestants will get to showcase their baking flair to the Sea Bangor audience. The competition will be fierce and entertainment value high! Sunday afternoon will also see some well-known local business characters battle it out in a Pancake Challenge.

As part of the two days of activities, there will also be demonstrations from local celebrity chefs Paula McIntyre and Danny Miller who will be showcasing their baking skills alongside chefs from other local businesses and SERC.

Two great competitions are being held over the Sea Bangor weekend too – members of the public are invited to produce a Celebration Cake with a theme of Sea Bangor or bake and present an Afternoon Tea Platter for “The Great Bangor Bake Off Competition.”

Bring your finished celebration cake or afternoon tea platter to be displayed at Sea Bangor. Entries will be judged and announced at the festival.

Cakes must be no greater than 12 inches wide, will not be tasted and points will be awarded on design, creativity, flair and theme. The Afternoon Platter should be for four people and should include scones, a tart, a sponge based item and a cookie, shortbread or biscuit. The entries will be on display over the two days of the festival with the winner of the Celebration Cake competition being announced on the Saturday and the winner of the Afternoon Tea Platter will be announced on the Sunday. Prizes and certificates will be presented to “Bangor’s Best Baker” by The Mayor of North Down, Alderman Alan Graham. Closing date for entries is June 22. To obtain an application form, please go to www.visitardsandnorthdown.com or email: events@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Speaking about the event, Paul Mercer from SERC said: “The students  and staff of South Eastern Regional College are excited to be involved with the ‘Great Bangor Bake Off’ it’s a great opportunity for students and local residents to showcase their bakery talents and learn from the range of local guest chefs and bakers”.

Gastronomic and culinary treats galore are in store for visitors to the event with local restaurants and food producers selling their wares in the Food Tent each day. Run by Grub Streat, this year’s food tent will feature local food providers serving locally produced, mouth-watering food.

This year’s Sea Bangor, which is being kindly sponsored by Tourism NI, is absolutely packed with something to do for everyone. Over in the kid’s tent “Tiddlers,” Cahoots NI will be performing a special magic show and “The Dockside Emporium” which is being hosted by Bangor’s Craft Emporium promises to be a world of entertainment and wonder with demonstrations and crafts from lots of local artists.  With maritime themed street theatre, a tall ship, a navy vessel, a fantastic live music programme, an aerial demonstration by the Twister Aerobatic Team, Jet Lev demonstrations and so much more, Sea Bangor is definitely not to be missed!

Sea Bangor will be open from 10am to 6pm on Saturday 27 June and Noon to 6pm on Sunday 28.

So whatever floats your boat, come along to Sea Bangor for a great family day out!

For further information check www.visitardsandnorthdown.com

‘LOVE REVOLUTION’ UK TOUR

Monday 9^th November: WATERFRONT, Belfast

NUMBER ONE ALBUM ‘85% PROOF’!

‘The most deliciously instinctive and relentlessly endearing pop music you’ll hear this year…a masterclass in delivering a mature pop record’ Clash

Will Young announces a UK nationwide tour, his first in 4 years, including a date at Belfast’s Waterfront.

Tickets will be available at 9AM this Friday 5^th June from:

Tickets for Belfast Waterfront are available:

In person at the Waterfront Box Office

By Telephone: 028 9033 4455
Book On Line: www.waterfront.co.uk

In person: From 100 Ticketmaster Outlets Nationwide
By Telephone (24 Hour): Northern Ireland – 0844 277 44 55
Book On Line: www.ticketmaster.ie

The tour announcement comes as Will’s brilliant brand new album ’85% Proof’ goes straight into Number One on the Official UK Album Chart.

‘85% Proof’ is the sixth album from the multi-million selling Brit Award winning singer-songwriter and represents his most accomplished work to date. The record is an eclectic, hugely confident and startlingly human record which Clash described as ‘The most deliciously instinctive and relentlessly endearing pop music you’ll hear this year. A masterclass in delivering a mature pop record’. Meanwhile The Sun called the album ‘pure class’ and The Guardian said it was ‘A reminder of how good Young can be.’

’85% Proof’ follows up Will’s No 1 album ‘Echoes’ released in 2011 which has sold over half a million copies. In the intervening years Will moved back to theatre staring as The Emcee in Cabaret (for which he was nominated for an Olivier Award); presented an ITV documentary on surrealist artist Magritte; filtered his passion for politics via blogs for the likes of Huffington Post; wrote a best-selling biography and fronted a campaign for Stonewall. He also started teaching and mentoring other singer-songwriters.

Produced by previous collaborator Jim Eliot (Mikky Ekko, Ellie Goulding), ‘85% Proof’ is a creative reflection of Will’s extracurricular activities post-Echoes and his most personal/honest songwriting to date. Writing and recording for the new record also coincided with a move to a brand new label, Island Records.

Over the coming weeks, The Market Place Theatre in Armagh has a fantastic selection of adults and children’s workshops, which will enable you to brighten up your summer wardrobe with a range of fantastic accessories handcrafted by you!

In the Kids Button Bracelet Workshop, you will be taught basic jewellery techniques on how to make a beautiful button bracelet. Have fun choosing bright coloured buttons and choosing your own special colour pattern to style your bracelet.  Perhaps you’ll want to make a bracelet that matches your favourite outfit or you might even like to make a bracelet as a present for your best friend and show off your fantastic new skills.  One things for sure, you’re guaranteed to have lots of fun! This is a great idea for a birthday party for your stylish little girl and her friends! Suitable for ages 6+, this workshop will take place on Saturday 6^th June from 2pm-3.30pm. Admission is priced £10.

Adults will enjoy the Embroidery Hoop Necklace workshop, where you will be taught how to make a beautiful embroidered necklace placed in a miniature embroidery hoop. You will learn basic embroidery steps to help you create a unique design of your own! This workshop will take place on Saturday 6^th June from 10.30am-12.30pm. Admission is priced £12 or £10 (concession), all materials are supplied, and the workshop is suitable for 16+.

As summer approaches and the holiday season begins, why not prepare by creating a fabulous silk painted scarf, wrap or sarong to create the finishing touch to your day, evening or beach wear in the ‘Silk Painting For Summer’ workshop. Create fascinating designs and vibrant colourful effects as you explore silk painting techniques, using a range of materials allowing colours to flow and mix together with unique results. Design unique patterns on your silk scarves and work on extra-large frames to create larger pieces such as wraps.  Add a splash of colour and style to any outfit with your new silk apparel, you’ll be the envy of all your friends! This workshop takes place on Saturday 13^th June from 10am-4pm. Places cost £33 or £28 (concession), and all materials will be supplied.

To book a workshop, contact the Box Office on [028] 3752 1821, or book online at www.marketplacearmagh.com

And to keep up-to-date with the latest news at the Market Place Theatre, you can follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/marketplacearmagh) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/mptarmagh) where you will find all the latest information, special offers and video previews.