Comber Earlies Food Festival

About

Saturday 24 June 2023

12noon - 6pm | NEW LOCATION: Comber Leisure Centre Car Park, Comber, County Down, BT23 5DT

This is a FREE event - no ticket required 

Part of the Ards and North down Taste Summer Programme of events, Saturday 17 - Sunday 24 June 2023. To view the full programme, click here.

The annual Comber Earlies Food Festival is a wonderful day out filled with family fun, cookery demos in the Festival Kitchen and activities that celebrate the Comber Earlies potato which holds PGI Status.

On Saturday 24 June, enjoy a wealth of artisan food and drink stalls, celebrity chef demos by Paula McIntyre, children's entertainment and lots more foodie favourites at this free family event! 

Showcasing local food and drink, at a new location, Comber Leisure Centre Carpark, this year the festival is even bigger and better! There will be live music throughout the day, discussions with food heroes and an Artisan Bar – why not try a specially curated Comber Cocktail?

Also, don't miss the Comber Earlies Festival Afternoon Tea* (tickets must be booked in advance- tickets coming soon).

Festival Kitchen

We are thrilled that Paula McIntyre, author, TV presenter and one of Northern Ireland's leading chefs, is joining us to show off her culinary talents. Paula has hosted the cooking slot on Radio Ulster's Saturday Magazine programme since 2004 and writes weekly recipe columns for Farming Life and the Belfast Telegraph Weekend magazine.

There will also be demonstrations from Lotte Duncan, Poppy O'Toole and South Eastern Regional College.

Lotte Duncan is a skilled and highly experienced broadcaster. Recognised as a leading authority on English cooking, she brings thirty years of food experience to her television presenting, live stage hosting and compering with a light, friendly and humorous touch. Find out more about Lotte and what she will be cooking here.

Family Fun 

Enjoy brass bands, children’s entertainment, including harvest themed sensory play with potato crafts and even a vintage tractor display. Find the gold potatoes hidden around the venue and claim your goodie bag from the Ards and North Down Borough Council Visitor Information Centre caravan.

Music

Festival Stage in Comber Leisure Centre Carpark

1:00pm - 3:00pm | Cool Hand String Band  -  energetic, bluegrass enthusiasts who bring a modern spin to the genre.

4:00pm - 6:00pm | Anna's Number

Brass Bands in Comber Square

12noon - 1.30pm | Lily of the Valley Accordion Band

2:00pm - 3:30pm | Comber Brass Band

4:00pm - 4:30pm | Comber Youth Band

Please note: Comber leisure Centre Carpark will be closed from Wednesday 21st June from 6pm.                                                                       

Additional Parking:                                                                           

Second Presbyterian Church Carpark - Killinchy Street, North Down and Ards BT23 5AP

First Comber Church Carpark 65 - 67 High Street, Newtownards BT23 5HL (AFTER 1PM)                                                                      

Limited disabled parking will be available beside toilets on Bridge Street (directly across from event site). 

Sustainability

We encourage visitors to travel via public transport. There are fresh water stations on site, so bring along your refillable bottles and reusable bags to pick up goodies at the event. Please dispose of rubbish in the correct bins when on-site. Read more about Sustainability.

Getting here

Park & Ride - FREE buses from Bangor, Newtownards, Dundonald and Downpatrick 

Bangor - Ards - Comber

Bangor Bus Station:
11.30 | 13.00 | 15.00
Ards Bus Station:
11.45 | 13.15 | 15.15
Comber Killinchy Street:
12.00 | 13.30 | 15.30

Comber Killinchy Street:
14.00 | 16.00 | 18.00
Ards Gibson's Lane:
14.15 | 16.15 | 18.15
Bangor Bus Station:
14.30 | 16.30 | 18.30

Dunlady P&R, Dundonald -  Comber

Dunlady P&R:
12.30 | 13.30 | 14.30 | 16.30
Comber Killinchy Street:
13.00 | 14.00 | 15.00 | 17.00

Comber Killinchy Street:
14.00 | 15.00 | 17.00 | 18.00
Dunlady P&R:
14.30 | 15.30 | 17.30 | 18.30

Downpatrick - Comber

Downpatrick bus station:
11:30 | 13:00 | 15:00
Killyleagh Main Street
11:45 | 13:15 | 15:15
Comber Killinchy Street:
12:00 | 13:30 | 15:30

Comber Killinchy Street:
14:00 | 16:00 | 18:00
Killyleagh Main Street
14:15| 16:15 | 18:15
Downpatrick Bus Station:
14:30| 16:30 | 18:30

Public Transport | There is a bus station in the town. For information on timetables, visit Translink.co.uk

Event site | Useful information

Accessibility | All flat surfaces on hard concrete. Accessoloo will be in attendance both days.

Dogs | Are permitted, to remain on lead at all times.

​​​Further detail to follow - Keep checking back to the website, follow our facebook page or sign up to our ezine for updates.

[Please note, photography and videography may take place at some/all of these events. All events are subject to change]

For more information on safe alcohol consumption, visit the Drink Aware website.

This event has received funding from DAERA’s Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme.