Donaghadee Summer Festival Promises Biggest Ever Line-Up With 150+ Events Across the Season
Donaghadee’s annual Summer Festival returns this year with its most ambitious and exciting programme to date. Running from mid-June through to mid-September, the 2025 festival will feature over 150 events, organised by 36 individuals and groups, offering 98 unique experiences for both locals and visitors.
From classic cars to coastal swims, music to markets, BMX stunts to historical talks, this year’s festival truly has something for everyone—regardless of age or interest.
Key highlights include:
- Lifeboat Day (14 June) – A family-friendly celebration of the RNLI’s vital work, with displays and fundraising activities.
- Ulster Scots Heritage Weekend (15–17 August) – A packed three-day programme of music, dance, talks, and exhibitions showcasing Donaghadee’s rich cultural roots.
- Ulster Fry World Championships – Returning for its third year, with ten top contenders battling it out in a light-hearted but fiercely contested culinary competition.
- BMX Stunt Show (23 August) – High-flying thrills as expert riders wow the crowds with gravity-defying tricks.
- Beach Horse Relay (6 September) – A spectacular event featuring 28 riders competing on the sands, drawing crowds of several thousand.
- Donaghadee Sea Sprint Triathlon (21 September) – The festival’s grand finale, where 300 athletes from across Ireland will swim, cycle and run along Donaghadee’s stunning coastline.
The festival will be officially launched by the newly appointed Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Gillian McCollum, who said:
“The Donaghadee Summer Festival truly captures the spirit and energy of our coastal towns. With such a wide variety of events, it’s a fantastic example of what can be achieved when local communities, organisations and volunteers work together with a shared sense of pride and belonging. I’m honoured to launch a festival that not only celebrates local heritage and talent, but also brings people joy throughout the summer”
John Caldwell, Honorary Secretary of Donaghadee Community Development Association, added:
“This is our biggest festival yet. We are incredibly proud of the effort put in by so many individuals and groups. From seasoned favourites to exciting new events, this year’s programme reflects the creativity and dedication of our whole community. We look forward to welcoming thousands of visitors to Donaghadee this summer.”
The festival aims not only to strengthen community spirit and civic pride, but also to boost town centre footfall. Sarah Clarke, owner of Solo Boutique, said:
“Donaghadee is already a great place to shop, with a good variety of independent retailers. But we are very dependent on our visitors. The Summer Festival—with its wide range of events—does a brilliant job of bringing people into the town all season long. We’re very grateful to everyone involved.”
The full programme of events, including exhibitions, food and craft markets, music and dance attractions, and detailed dates and locations, is available to download here on our events page and www.visitardsandnorthdown.com
Printed programmes are also available from town centre outlets in Donaghadee and Council tourism offices.
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