What’s On, Ards & North Down.

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: 9th 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