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festivals · Saturday 15 August 2026 · Various 
Seaside Revival Vintage Festival
At Bangor Shorefront and McKee Clock Arena · Bangor, Co. Down
At Bangor Shorefront and McKee Clock Arena · Bangor, Co. Down
Every August, Bangor’s seafront transforms into a living scene from its 1930s heyday. The Seaside Revival Vintage Festival is a free, one-day outdoor celebration that draws around 20,000 people to the McKee Clock Arena and the Sunken Gardens along Queen’s Parade. Organised by the non-profit Open House Festival - which has been running free events in Bangor for over 20 years - it is one of the most genuinely well-attended free events on the north-east Irish coast. Families, vintage car enthusiasts, swing dancers and anyone who enjoys a good day out by the sea all turn up in numbers. You do not need a ticket and there is nothing to pre-book.
The centrepiece of the day is a classic vehicle show with over 100 vintage cars and bikes lined up along Queen’s Parade car park. Competition categories include Best Original Car, Best Classic Car and Best American Classic Car, so the range on display stretches from pre-war saloons to muscle cars and everything in between.
On the open-air stage at the McKee Clock Arena, entertainment runs from 12 noon to 6 pm. Past years have featured acts like the Jazzmeisters, In Full Swing, the Open House Choir, and guest appearances by professional dancers - including Charleston lessons from choreographers with Strictly Come Dancing credentials. A Fast Shim Sham dance competition and a Best Dressed Competition add to the retro atmosphere. Stilt walkers, food trucks, a bar and a small funfair fill out the rest of the arena.
The Sunken Gardens host a vintage car boot sale and pop-up shops, one of which is usually a vintage hair salon. Art workshops and craft activities run through the afternoon for children. All areas of the festival are accessible to disabled visitors.
Bangor sits on the southern shore of Belfast Lough, about 19 kilometres east of Belfast city centre on the A2 coastal road. By train, Bangor Station is on the main Belfast - Bangor line with frequent services from Great Victoria Street and Lanyon Place; the shorefront is a five-minute walk from the station. Ulsterbus also serves the town from Belfast Europa Bus Centre. By car, the A2 brings you directly into Bangor from Belfast; expect busy roads on the day given the crowd numbers. Arrive early to find street parking on the peripheral roads around the seafront - the car park along Queen’s Parade is taken over by the vehicle show.
The seafront itself is worth a stroll beyond the festival - the Victorian pier, the marina and the old town centre all sit within easy walking distance of the McKee Clock. There is more to see in Bangor and across Co. Down.
Heading to Bangor Shorefront and McKee Clock Arena in Bangor? Down has plenty more to see. Read the Bangor area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.