Friday 5 August – Thursday 11 August
Until Wednesday 31 August, Open House Festival
Bangor, various locations
The Open House Festival presents another fabulous and exciting programme of festival events spread over forty venues throughout the whole of August.
Music, words, theatre and comedy, film, food and drink, magic and mystery and arts!
Info: (028) 9147 1780, info@openhousefestival.com, openhousebangor.com
This event is grant aided by Ards and North Down Borough Council
Friday 5 – Sunday 14 August, Creative Peninsula
Various locations within the Ards and North Down Borough
Throughout the week there will be a number of events taking place in celebration of Art and Craft.
Friday 5 August, 10am-6pm, sees the launch of the event with Craft in the Square, where Conway Square in Newtownards will be transformed, for one day only, into a tented Craft Village.
Over 35 Artists and Makers will be selling and demonstrating their. Live Music throughout the day and more.
Come along and enjoy a week long explosion of creativity!
Info and booking: see visitardsandnorthdown.com/creative-peninsula
Saturday 6 August, Family Entertainment
Portaferry Visitor Information Centre
Free, 2pm-4pm
6 Aug: Aldo’s Magic Show and Face Painting
Visitor Centre open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 1pm-5pm
Info: Portaferry Visitor Information Centre, (028) 4281 9882, portaferryvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk, visitardsandnorthdown.com
Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 August, Family Fun at Cockle Row Cottages
Groomsport Harbour
Free entertainment, 2pm-4pm
Sat 6: Animal Road show and Children’s Crafts
Sun 7: Plant and Play, Ulster-Scots Agency Entertainment
Cottages open to the public 11am-5pm, daily. Free admission
Info: Bangor Visitor Information Centre, (028) 9127 0069, bangorvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk, visitardsandnorthdown.com
Saturday 6 to Sunday 14 August, Donaghadee Festival
Donaghadee, various locations
The 2016 programme will once again showcase the best of this historic town and what it has to offer, from spectacular sea views to sensational seafood.
Info: (028) 9188 8667, info@visitdonaghadee.com, visitdonaghadee.com
This event is grant aided by Ards and North Down Borough Council
Every Sunday in July and August, Summer Music in the Park
Ward Park Bandstand, Bangor
Free live performances, every Sunday 3pm-5pm
7 Aug: Jigs and Reels in the Park – lively jigs and reels and traditional folk songs from our very own Bangor-based Inverberg
Info: Bangor Visitor Information Centre, (028) 9127 0069, bangorvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk, visitardsandnorthdown.com
Sunday 7 August, Guided Walks & Tours: Historic Bangor
£3, 2.30pm – 4.30pm
Join us on a walk through the past discovering Bangor’s varied history, from Bronze Age settlements to Viking invasions and two World Wars, visiting North Down Museum and Bangor Abbey.
Info and booking: Bangor Visitor Information Centre, (028) 9127 0069, bangorvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk, visitardsandnorthdown.com
Monday 8 – Friday 12 August, Arts: Creative Summer Schemes for Kids Donaghadee Arts Summer Scheme
Donaghadee Community Centre, Manor Street
1pm-3pm
Taking inspiration from the seaside around Donaghadee, these arts workshops will develop skills in arts and sculpture to create wonderful creatures of the sea. Suitable for ages 6-12yrs.
Fees: £30 (10% discount for second child in same family)
Info: (028) 9181 0803, ardsarts.com
Wednesday 10 – Friday 12 August, Ulster U16 Boys Open Golf
Donaghadee Golf Club
Info: (028) 9188 3624, donaghdeegolfclub.com
This event is grant aided by Ards and North Down Borough Council
Wednesday 10 August to Saturday 20 August, Clandeboye Festival Camerata Ireland
Clandeboye Estate, Bangor
A prestigious annual event founded by Barry Douglas, international pianist, conductor, educator and recording artist.
Info: (028) 9042 7600, camerata-ireland.com
This event is grant aided by Ards and North Down Borough Council
Thursday 11 August, Guided Walks & Tours: Bangor Abbey Graveyard Tour
£3, 7pm – 8pm
Uncover the history behind Bangor Abbey’s most famous graves and memorials
Info and Booking: Bangor Visitor Information Centre, (028) 9127 0069, bangorvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk, visitardsandnorthdown.com
Friday 12 August – Thursday 19 August
Until Sunday 14 August, Creative Peninsula
Various locations within the Ards and North Down Borough
The Creative Peninsula is now in its 15th year and the programme just keeps getting better.
Throughout the week there will be a number of events taking place in celebration of Art and Craft such as workshops, demonstrations, guided tours and so much more! Something for everyone – discover the artist within or simply come along and enjoy a week long explosion of creativity!
Info and booking: see visitardsandnorthdown.com/creative-peninsula
Until Saturday 20 August, Clandeboye Festival Camerata Ireland
Clandeboye Estate, Bangor
A prestigious annual event founded by Barry Douglas, international pianist, conductor, educator and recording artist.
Info: (028) 9042 7600, camerata-ireland.com
This event is grant aided by Ards and North Down Borough Council
Saturday 13 August, Peninsula Food Showcase: Portavogie ‘Seafood Festival’
The Harbour
Free, 12noon-6pm
The Portavogie Seafood Festival will be a celebration of Portavogie’s seafood heritage. Celebrity chef Jenny Bristow will be doing live cookery demonstrations alongside local chefs. The beach huts will be filled with local artisan producers from the Peninsula; there will be children’s activities, a fun fair, street theatre, sand pits, and much more.
Info: Ards Visitor Information Centre, (028) 9182 6846, ardsvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk, visitardsandnorthdown.com
Saturday 13 August, Family Entertainment
Portaferry Visitor Information Centre
Free, 2pm-4pm
13 Aug: Animal Roadshow and Balloon Modelling
Visitor Centre open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 1pm-5pm
Info: Portaferry Visitor Information Centre, (028) 4281 9882, portaferryvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk, visitardsandnorthdown.com
Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 August, Family Fun at Cockle Row Cottages
Groomsport Harbour
Free entertainment, 2pm-4pm
Sat 13: Magic Show
Sun 14: Face Painting, traditional crafts and Ulster-Scots Agency Entertainment
Cottages open to the public 11am-5pm, daily. Free admission
Info: Bangor Visitor Information Centre, (028) 9127 0069, bangorvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk, visitardsandnorthdown.com
Friday 12 August and Saturday 13 August, Working Vintage Festival
Rosemount Estate, Greyabbey
£10, Fri 4pm-10pm | Sat 10am-5pm
Come along and enjoy large displays of vintage tractors, steam engines, vintage cars
and motor cycles, vintage lorries, stationary engines, implements, craft tents, trade
stands, food outlets, amusements, live music and much, much more for all the family.
Info: 028 9754 1334, Secretary@countydowntractionengineclub.com, countydowntractionengineclub.com
This event is grant aided by Ards and North Down Borough Council
Sunday 14 August, Guided Walks and Tours: Strangford Lough Boat Tour
£8 (Ad) | £4 (Ch), 2pm-4pm
Take time away from the fast pace of everyday life and enjoy the magnificent scenery and fascinating wildlife of Strangford Lough. See where Saint Patrick first came ashore, view landscapes used in Game of Thrones filming and hear of Viking raiders.
Info and booking: Ards Visitor Information Centre, (028) 9182 6846, ardsvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk, visitardsandnorthdown.com
Every Sunday in July and August, Summer Music in the Park
Ward Park Bandstand, Bangor
Free live performances, every Sunday 3pm-5pm
14 Aug: Punk in the Park – Shock Treatment 21. Once the stomping ground of the BBA, punk is back with the reincarnated Belfast punk band, Shock Treatment 21.
Info: Bangor Visitor Information Centre, (028) 9127 0069, bangorvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk, visitardsandnorthdown.com
Monday 15 to Friday 19 August, Arts: Creative Summer Schemes for Kids Comber Arts Summer Scheme
Comber Leisure Centre
1pm-3pm
These fun arts-based workshops will include various different types of art activities, ensuring that each child gets the opportunity to learn and develop a range of creative skills. Suitable for ages 6-12yrs.
Fees: £30 (10% discount for second child in same family).
Info: (028) 9181 0803, ardsarts.com
Thursday 18 August, Guided Walks & Tours: Bangor Abbey Graveyard Tour
£3, 7pm – 8pm
Uncover the history behind Bangor Abbey’s most famous graves and memorials
Info and Booking: Bangor Visitor Information Centre, (028) 9127 0069, bangorvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk, visitardsandnorthdown.com
Exhibitions
The Space, Ards Crafts and Visitor Information Centre
31 Regent Street, Newtownards, BT23 4AD
Mon–Sat 9.30am–5pm, (028) 9182 6846
Until Saturday 27 August
Meet the Maker: ‘Papercrafted’
An exhibition by visual artist Emma Davison
North Down Museum
Castle Park Avenue, Bangor
(028) 9127 1200, northdownmuseum.com
Until Tuesday 30 August
Ulster Woodturners Exhibition
An exhibition of woodturnings made by members of the Irish Woodturners Guild in the Ulster Area
Until Sunday 28 August
Creative Peninsula
A celebration of artwork produced by local artists and craftspeople
Portaferry Visitor Information Centre
The Stables, Castle Street
Mon–Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 1pm-5pm
(028) 4272 9882
The Loft Gallery
Until Sunday 28 August
Art in the Loft: ‘I Made This for You’
A collection of work inspired by old postcard images of Bangor Town by Jessica Hollywood
The Saddlery
Until 28 August
Community Coastal Rowing Exhibition
By Strangford Lough and Lecale Partnership and Portaferry Rowing Club