Bangor’s Seafront is definitely the place to be this weekend 27 & 28 June where Sea Bangor’s Tented Village will have all the ingredients for the perfect seaside day out with superb local food, live music, celebrity chefs, street theatre, a tall ship, fun for kids and lots more!

A highlight on Ards and North Down Borough Council’s events calendar, this year the festival is being kindly sponsored by Tourism NI.

Sailing into Bangor for the event is the impressive tall ship “The Morgenster” along with the HMS Ramsey navy vessel which will both be moored alongside The Eisenhower Pier and open to the public for both days of the festival.

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. The programme will include; catering students from SERC coming up against each other during a “Fondant Challenge,” bread-making master classes, “Pancake Challenges” and “Cake Decorating Challenges” between members of the audience hosted by The Heatherlea.

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. The aroma of baking is sure to be mouth-watering!

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, delicious food.

The Shanty Shack which is being programmed by Open House will include an eclectic mix of live music and comedy. Compered by comedians Nuala McKeever on the Saturday and George Firehorse on the Sunday, the programme will feature such gems as BBC2 Folk Awards Nominees “Cup O’Joe,” an adorable young siblings trio featuring banjo, guitar, double bass and sweet harmonised vocals; cabaret juggler and street performer “Grant Goldie” who dances in the face of gravity; Bluegrass firebrands, “No Oil Paintings;” folkie four-piece “Lonesome George” and hilarious comedian “Tony Law.” The Shanty Shack will be a hive of music and entertainment for the duration of the festival so pop in and check it out!

And the entertainment doesn’t end there! Down on The Eisenhower Pier, a fantastic street theatre programme will take place all weekend. Look out for The Lighthouse, a tiny, fully furnished lighthouse keeper’s cottage with a striped red and white tower.  The lighthouse keeper – a retired seadog – who rambles through a vast arsenal of comic stories and anecdotes about kippers, guillemots, oyster smacks and the never ending menace of the birds mess. Also making special appearances to entertain the crowds will be The Crooning Captain and The Juggling Sailor!

Over in the kid’s tent “Tiddlers,” Cahoots NI will be performing their specially-created theatrical magic “Dr Marlin and His Wild West Illusion Show”. Prepare to be transported back in time into a world of wonder, weirdness and wickedness, with dazzling effects and show-stopping songs as you follow the adventures of Dr. Marlin and his Wild West Illusion Show. Featuring, The Mindreader, The Escapologist, The Professor and The Vanishing Lady all in a breath-taking carnival show. Combining elements of Cabaret and Vaudeville, Dr Marlin’s Wild West Illusion Show features an entertaining mix of storytelling, magic, circus and live music!

“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. Create a beautiful piece of art with the clay modelling workshop, enjoy The Dockside Cinema where you can explore wonderful images of ‘old Bangor’ and browse through a mini gallery. Check out the woodwork area, float an origami boat or make a sand art bottle in our fun filled craft area and lots more. The fun starts as soon as you step inside!

There’s lots happening on The Eisenhower Pier too, which will be animated with street-theatre, Armed Forces Activities and Jetlev Flier Demonstrations. And look to the skies for aerial demonstrations from the Twister Aerobatic Display Team!

Speaking about the event; Ards and North Down Borough Council’s Event Officer, Wendy Smith said: “This year’s Sea Bangor programme is so exciting.  I’m particularly looking forward to seeing the first JevLev Flyer demonstration and the Cahoots show in the Children’s marquee.”

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! This is a FREE event.