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markets · Sunday 9 August 2026 · 11:00am 
Ballycastle Seafront Artisan Market - NNCG
At Ballycastle Seafront · North Street, Ballycastle, Co. Antrim, BT54 6BL
At Ballycastle Seafront · North Street, Ballycastle, Co. Antrim, BT54 6BL
The NNCG Seafront Artisan Market is one of the north coast’s most reliable summer fixtures - a free outdoor market run by Naturally North Coast and Glens, an award-winning not-for-profit that has been championing local makers across the Causeway Coast and Glens for years. Around 60 stalls spread along the Ballycastle seafront, each one run by the person who actually made, grew, baked or crafted what they’re selling. It suits anyone who wants to buy something with a face behind it, and the setting - with Fair Head to the east and Rathlin Island sitting out in the sea - makes it worth the trip on its own.
The stall mix leans heavily toward food and handmade goods: artisan breads, preserves and speciality local produce sit alongside ceramics, woodturning, jewellery, art prints, cosmetics and gifts for children. Because NNCG requires every trader to be a genuine producer, you won’t find the reseller stalls that dilute a lot of markets - if someone is selling honey or hand-thrown pottery, they made it themselves.
Colourful striped tents line the waterfront from 11am, and the market runs through to around 5pm, giving you plenty of time to browse at a relaxed pace. Cash is worth bringing - mobile signal on the seafront can be patchy and not every trader will have a reliable card reader. The market is dog friendly provided dogs are kept on a lead.
Ballycastle sits on the north Antrim coast, roughly an hour from Belfast. The most direct inland route is the A44 from Ballymoney; if you’re coming along the coast, the A2 from Cushendall is slower but scenic. There are public car parks in the town, and the seafront itself is close to the centre. Translink Ulsterbus services connect Ballycastle to Ballymoney, Coleraine and Belfast, though services on Sundays are less frequent, so it’s worth checking timetables before you travel.
The town has a good run of independent cafes and restaurants on the main street, and Ballycastle Beach is a short walk from the seafront market area. The Causeway Coastal Route passes through, so the market fits naturally into a longer day taking in the Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede or the Glens of Antrim. There is more to see in Ballycastle and across Co. Antrim.
Heading to Ballycastle Seafront in Ballycastle? Antrim has plenty more to see. Read the Ballycastle area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.