NEXT WEEK & WEEKEND Mon 13 – Sun 19 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.
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).
Clandeboye Festival (Camerata)
Monday 13-Saturday 18 August
Clandeboye Estate, Bangor. Event Programme. Info Frances Floyd, (028) 9042 7600.
Pervasive Gaming Summer School
Tuesday 14 – Saturday 18 August
North Down Museum, Bangor. Tickets £40. A brand new Arts Summer School activity for 12 to 16 year olds. Learn how to create games that use the streets and landscape around you as a board, with yourselves as players! You’ll be using creative writing, arts and crafts and performance skills to bring the public spaces of Bangor to life. Pre-booking essential. For info and to book contact the Museum on (028) 9127 1200.
Kids Nature Trail in Castle Park, Bangor
Wednesday 15 August
Tickets £3. Departs North Down Museum at 2.30pm. Join this interactive nature trail led by Patrick Cregg from the Woodland Trust and well-known bird expert Dot Blakely, where you will learn all about the natural habitat and bird life that exist in the Castle Park grounds. Approximate tour length: 2 hours and covers around 2 miles of Castle Park, finishing at the North Down Museum. Pre-booking essential. For more info & tickets contact Bangor Tourist Information Centre on (028) 9127 0069.
Bangor Abbey Graveyard Tour
Thursday 16 August
Tickets £3. Departs Bangor Abbey at 7pm. Discover some of the graveyard’s most famous graves and memorials, including a memorial to John Simpson, surgeon on the Titanic and the graves of Archibald Wilson, hanged after the 1798 rebellion and W.G. Lyttle, author of ‘Betsy Gray‘ the popular novel about the rebellion. Approximate tour length: 1 hour (tea / coffee served at tour end). Pre-booking essential. For more info & tickets contact Bangor Tourist Information Centre on (028) 9127 0069.
Vocal Masterclass with Rebekah Coffey
Thursday 16 August
North Down Museum, Bangor. Tickets £10. If you are interested in singing solo, or have an audition to prepare for, Rebekah will help with pointers on breathing and vocal technique in a group session and through one to one tuition. Attendees will need to provide a copy of the piece you’d like to work on with Rebekah, a short description of the singing you have done to date and what this session is helping you work towards. Suitable for 15 – 18 year olds. Pre-booking essential. For info and to book contact the Museum on (028) 9127 1200.
Contemporary Dance with Maiden Voyage
Thursday 16 August
North Down Museum, Bangor. Tickets £10. Belfast-based dance company Maiden Voyage Dance is running a one-day workshop in contemporary dance. Participants will take a contemporary technique class, followed by sessions on learning choreography, improving performance skills and unlocking your own creativity. Participants should be aged 15+. Pre-booking essential. For info and to book contact the Museum on (028) 9127 1200.
Summer Saturdays at North Down Museum, Bangor
Saturday 18 August
Tickets £1. Visit the Museum on Saturdays during August for special summer events for children of all ages. and children aged 7 and under must be accompanied by an adult. This Saturday bring the little one’s along at 1.30pm for the World of Owls workshop – get close up to creatures but stay safe! Pre-booking essential. For info and to book contact the Museum on (028) 9127 1200.
Free children’s fun at Cockle Row Cottages, Groomsport
Saturday 18 & Sunday 19 August
Free event. 2pm-4pm. The Circus Skills group will be showing off their amazing techniques on Saturday 18th August. Alongside the children’s entertainment there will be Ulster-Scots Traditional Music by ‘Family Folk’. On Sunday, 19th, there’ll be ‘Clowning Around’ and face painting. 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 18 & Sunday 19 August
FREE. 3-5pm. The Butterfly and the Caterpillar will bring the Sunken Gardens to life at McKee Clock, this Saturday, beside Bangor Seafront. A beautiful, entertaining, colourful and interactive storytelling musical show is not to be missed for a memorable Saturday afternoon with the kids. On Sunday, The Louie Comedy Magic Show will bring a different feel altogether to McKee Clock – be prepared for plenty of laughs! Don’t forget about music in Ward Park on Sunday too, 3-5pm. For info on the full programme of events visit northdowntourism.com or call Bangor Tourist Information Centre on (028) 9127 0069.
Live Music Summer Entertainment in Bangor
Sunday 19 August
FREE. 3-5pm. Kyron and the Bookworms perform at the Ward Park Bandstand this Sunday, playing songs of Leonard Cohen, Tom Waite, Carol King and other greats. For info on the full programme of events visit northdowntourism.com or call Bangor Tourist Information Centre on (028) 9127 0069.
OTHER EVENTS
Theatre at the Walled Garden
Wednesday 15 August – The Tales of Peter Rabbit & Benjamin Bunny SOLD OUT
Thursday 16 August – A Midsummer Night’s Dream SOLD OUT
Aspects Irish Literature Festival 2012, 26 – 30 September 2012
Tickets on sale now
Renowned as the premier Irish Literature Festival in Northern Ireland, the Aspects Irish Literature Festival 2012 will take place from 26 – 30 September in various venues around Bangor.
2012 sees the Festival turn 21, the traditional age when people are given the key to the front door; however in Aspects’ case we’ve been given the key to Bangor Abbey! We’re delighted that this year we will be hosting Aspects at the Abbey and we look forward to welcoming you there for the eclectic mix of prose and poetry for which the festival is renowned.
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.