THE Comber Earlies Food Festival, a flagship event in the Taste Summer in Ards and North Down programme, is making a return.
Taking place in Comber Leisure Centre car park, the free, family‑friendly festival will be held on Saturday, June 20, from 11am to 5pm.
As its name suggests, the festival celebrates the iconic Comber Earlies potato, which has held Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status since 2012.
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.
Announcing the event, Mayor of Ards and North Down Gillian McCollum, said: “The Comber Earlies Food Festival is a fantastic celebration of one of our most iconic local products and the people who grow it. Events like this showcase the strength of our local food and drink sector, while creating a fun, welcoming day out for families and visitors alike. I’m delighted to see the festival return once again as part of Taste Summer in Ards and North Down.”
To help visitors travel to the event sustainably and with ease, free event shuttle buses will operate on the day, connecting Bangor, Newtownards, Dundonald Park and Ride, Downpatrick, Crossgar, Saintfield and Ballygowan with Comber. No booking is required and the service operates on a first‑come, first‑served basis.
The Comber Earlies Food Festival forms part of Taste Summer in Ards and North Down, 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.
Taste Summer runs from June 17 to 28.
Further information on the Comber Earlies Food Festival, including shuttle bus routes and accessibility details, and the full Taste Summer in Ards and North Down programme is available at visitardsandnorthdown.com/TasteSummer
