Scarva Sunday Band Concerts 2026

What to Expect

The popular Scarva Sunday Band Concerts series features a rotating programme of local and regional brass, silver and accordion bands performing in the open air at the historic Scarva Demesne. Each concert runs from 3pm to 4pm at the village’s Victorian bandstand, on the bank of the Newry Canal, and attracts families and visitors from across the borough for an hour of free live music in a scenic setting. A different band is booked most weeks, so the sound and repertoire varies through the run - some weeks lean towards traditional brass band marches and hymn tunes, others towards more contemporary arrangements.

The series is an established fixture of the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council summer events calendar and has been running for many years, drawing repeat visitors who build a Sunday afternoon around it. Scarva itself is a small but well-kept village, regularly recognised for its floral displays, which adds to the appeal of an afternoon spent there beyond the concert itself.

Good to Know

• Every Sunday from 12 April to 27 September 2026, 3pm to 4pm

• Venue: the Victorian bandstand, Scarva Demesne, beside the Newry Canal

• Free admission, no booking required

• Programme subject to change; full schedule at visitarmagh.com/scarva-bandstand-concerts

Getting There

Scarva is a small village on the Newry Canal, off the A27 between Banbridge and Portadown, roughly 10km from each town. Parking is available in the village, and the Newry Canal towpath running past the bandstand makes for a good walk either side of the concert.

While You’re in Scarva

Scarva is best known for its annual Sham Fight re-enactment on 13 July, but the bandstand concerts offer a much quieter reason to visit through the rest of the summer and into early autumn. The village has a couple of small cafes for a coffee before or after the concert, and the canal towpath is worth a stroll if the weather holds.