← All events
seasonal · Monday 31 August 2026 · Various 
Newtownards Summer Bank Holiday Celebrations
At Newtownards Town Centre · Newtownards, Co. Down
At Newtownards Town Centre · Newtownards, Co. Down
The last bank holiday of summer lands on 31 August, and Newtownards town centre marks the occasion with free family entertainment and community activities organised by Ards and North Down Borough Council. It is the kind of day the market square was made for - open air, no entry cost, and the easy pace that comes when the whole town has the day off together. If you have children to keep entertained or simply want to be outdoors with people rather than stuck in the house, this is a good reason to make the trip.
Ards and North Down Borough Council runs seasonal bank holiday programming right across the borough, and Newtownards town centre serves as one of the main gathering points. The emphasis is on accessible, free entertainment - live performances, family activities, and the kind of community atmosphere that a historic market town lends itself to naturally. Past bank holiday weekends in the borough have included outdoor music, storytelling, craft activities for children, and free access to heritage sites. The council’s events typically cater for toddlers through to grandparents, so it is not aimed at any one age group.
The specific programme for 31 August 2026 will be confirmed by Ards and North Down Borough Council closer to the date. Check the council’s events pages at ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk or visitardsandnorthdown.com for confirmed details as summer progresses.
Newtownards sits at the head of Strangford Lough, about 15 kilometres east of Belfast city centre along the A20. By car from Belfast, allow around 25 minutes in normal traffic. The town has a good spread of public car parks within easy walking distance of the town centre square.
By bus, Translink run regular services from Belfast’s Europa Bus Centre and from surrounding towns on the Ards Peninsula. The bus station in Newtownards is central and a short walk from the main square. Check Translink’s journey planner at translink.co.uk for timetables on the bank holiday.
The town has a strong market tradition dating back centuries, and Conway Square at its centre still has the character of a proper working town rather than a tourist set-piece. Mount Stewart, the National Trust estate on the shores of Strangford Lough, is just a few kilometres south and worth combining with a bank holiday visit if the weather holds. There is more to see in Newtownards and across Co. Down.
Heading to Newtownards Town Centre in Newtownards? Down has plenty more to see. Read the Newtownards area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.