Events
There are some major festivals listed below. For more information please see the events section here
Lough Lively Festival 2013
Strangford Lough Destination
1 May 2013 - 3 June 2013
Lough Lively celebrates everything that is unique to Strangford Lough, Lecale and the Ards Peninsula. With over 150 attractions and activities waiting to be discovered, why not visit Castle Espie, Mount Stewart and Exploris on the Ards Peninsula and cross the Lough to Lecale were you can enjoy Castle Ward, Delamont and the fabulous refurbished Down Arts Centre.
The highlights this year include The Antiques Fair, Music in the Priory, International Bread Festival, Van Morrison In Concert and Strangford Lough Maritime Festival. With music, exhibitions and workshops, children’s entertainment and exciting water sports, tours and great local produce along with a health of restaurants there truly is something for everyone at this year’s Lough Lively.
For new releases for Lough Lively Festival 2013 please click here
International Bread Festival 2013
Castle Ward (Strangford Destination)
25 May 2013 - 26 May 2013
This fabulous event set in the magnificient grounds of Castle Ward provide a wonderful opportunity to explore the world of breads in one day! Celebrity bakers, artisan bakers, demonstrations, food producers and this year there will be a second day which will be an open air concert with Van Morrison. Check ticketmaster for online tickets.
For new releases for International Bread Festival 2013 please click here
World Police and Fire Games 2013
Newcastle Hub
1 August 2013 - 10 August 2013
A range of supporting events will be held across the Mourne Area. Future information will be added when available.
Festival of Flight 2013
Newcastle
3 August 2013 - 10 August 2013
Down District Council is delighted to announce that the forthcoming Festival of Flight on Saturday 10 August in Newcastle will be a ‘five star’ attraction. We can confirm that the Red Arrows will return to the fantastic arena of Dundrum Bay and will be joined by the amazing Typhoon which was so popular at last years event.
Commenting on the forthcoming displays, Flight Director Jeff Salter says “there will be three further jet displays which will make this years event the fastest and most exciting yet with five of the most iconic jet aircraft dating back to the 1950’s. This will be the largest collection of jets in one display that Northern Ireland has seen in a dozen years!” With more details to emerge in the coming weeks and months it certainly is a date worth noting in your diary. We are also delighted to continue the partnership with the Kilkeel based company, B/E Aerospace who have helped to drive this event to new heights. The company will be the headline sponsor of Down District Council’s enormously successful ‘Festival of Flight’ which will attract tens of thousands of visitors to the seaside town in August.
The Festival of Flight has emerged as one of Northern Ireland’s major festivals which draws huge crowds in excess of 100,000. The spectacular air displays are the major event alongside numerous exhibitions, music, street entertainment, vintage vehicles and finishing with an open air concert on promenade in this crowd-pleasing event. The overall extended programme will deliver themed family entertainment from Saturday 3 August to Saturday 10August.
Neil Cairns, Vice President and Managing Director of the B/E Aerospace plant at Kilkeel, which manufactures seating and interior products for the global commercial airline industry, is delighted to help the event take off. He says, “As one of the area’s largest private sector companies, employing over 650 people, we have a huge stake in the local community and we are pleased to support an event which is, clearly, so important to the local economy.
FULL PROGRAMME OF EVENTS WILL FOLLOW
For updates visit our Face Book page DOWN FESTIVALS
Hallowtides Festival 2013
Newcastle
Dates To Be Confirmed.
Christmas Lights Switch-On 2013
Downpatrick
29 November 2013