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markets · Saturday 15 August 2026 · 08:00am 
Ballynahinch Show
At Ballynahinch Showgrounds · Showgrounds, Ballynahinch, Co. Down, BT24 8AB
At Ballynahinch Showgrounds · Showgrounds, Ballynahinch, Co. Down, BT24 8AB
The Ballynahinch Show is one of Co. Down’s traditional one-day agricultural shows, run each August by the Ballynahinch Agricultural Society. It draws farmers, families, and local crafts people together at the Showgrounds for a full day of livestock judging, country competitions, and general good-natured bustle. If you have not been to a rural show in the north before, this is the kind of day that makes the point clearly: farming here is a community, not just an industry, and the show is where that community puts its best animals, its handmade jams, and its best-turned-out children on display.
The core of the day is livestock - cattle, sheep, and horses brought in by local breeders and judged through the morning into the afternoon. Alongside the show rings you will find farm machinery on display, craft and produce exhibitions from local makers and growers, and a run of trade stands covering everything from agricultural supplies to food and gifts. Family entertainment runs throughout the day, and food and refreshment stands are well spread across the site. Children are well catered for, and the pace is relaxed enough that you can cover the whole ground without feeling rushed. Admission for adults is typically in the GBP 5 to 8 range; children are free or pay a reduced rate. Doors open from 8am, so arriving mid-morning lets you catch the livestock judging at its best.
Ballynahinch sits on the A24 road, roughly 15 miles south of Belfast - in good traffic you can be there in under 20 minutes from the city. From Dublin, it is approximately two hours via the M1 and A1 to Newry, then north on the A24. Translink run bus services from Belfast to Ballynahinch (Ulsterbus route 15 and related services); check the Translink Journey Planner for the day’s timetable. The Showgrounds are centrally placed in town with free parking on site, which makes things straightforward if you are driving.
Ballynahinch has been a market town since the eighteenth century - the Market House on the square dates to 1795 - and the town still feels like a working local centre rather than a tourist stop. Montalto Estate, just outside town, is worth a walk if you want to stretch your legs among Georgian grounds and woodland trails. There is more to see in Ballynahinch and across Co. Down.
Heading to Ballynahinch Showgrounds in Ballynahinch? Down has plenty more to see. Read the Ballynahinch area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.