Taste Summer in Ards and North Down 2026
Taste Summer in Ards and North Down is back for 2026 with a programme that will showcase seasonal local produce through food experiences, tastings, and local markets.
Local food businesses will be running food activities across the destination as part of this celebration of food and drink. One highlight from this year’s festival is the much loved Comber Earlies Food Festival, which returns on Saturday 20 June, from 11am – 5pm in Comber Leisure Centre Carpark. It takes centre stage as the annual celebration of local food and drink and is the flagship event within Taste Summer in Ards and North Down, which runs from 17-28 June 2026.
The free, family friendly festival celebrates the iconic Comber Earlies potato, which has held Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status since 2012. The event brings together food lovers, families and visitors for a vibrant day showcasing local produce, culinary talent and community spirit.
Festival goers can look forward to a packed programme including live cookery demonstrations in the Festival Kitchen from guest and local chefs, an artisan food and drink market, vintage tractor displays, live music and hands on activities for all ages. Family entertainment will be at the heart of the day, with children’s crafts, planting activities, walkabout performers and the return of popular festival favourites.
New for 2026, a quiet hour will be introduced from 10am–11am, welcoming people with a disability, neurodiverse conditions, carers and parents/guardians. After this quiet hour, the event will officially open at 11am with a fun-filled programme running through to 5pm.
Taste Summer in Ards and North Down is a wider programme of food focused events and experiences taking place across the borough throughout June, celebrating local producers, hospitality businesses and the area’s rich food culture.
Find Out More About Taste Summer
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Food & Drink Experiences
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