Upcoming Food & Drink Events

There’s so much happening on the food front in Northern Ireland these days that it’s sometimes hard to keep up... there's always something new and tasty popping up. New inventive and talented chefs coming through. Local food and drink artisan businesses thriving. From wine festivals to salmon and whiskey festivals, there is something for everyone. Here’s just a taster of what you’ll find when you get here... 

Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival (23 May - 1 Jun 2025)

Celebrating the maritime heritage of the beautiful North Antrim Coast, the Festival, perhaps unsurprisingly, mostly takes place on the water towards the end of May each year. From sailing regattas to traditional currach racing, tall ships to Viking ships, there’s something for all seafarers out there. And, should all that sea air give you an appetite, something for all foodies back on shore. 

On land there are guided walks and tours and a host of cookery demonstrations. Plus a craft and food market, featuring the mouth-watering local produce of this coastal region. 

Wine Geese Festival (31 May - 28 June 2025)

Join the 300 year celebrations since Thomas Barton, one of the most famous Wine Geese, emigrated from Fermanagh to Bordeaux. A month long festival showcasing the finest wine and food experiences the region has to offer. Stay tuned for a spectacular celebration blending heritage, flavour, and the scenic beauty of Fermanagh. 

Taste Summer Ards and North Down (26 Jun - 6 Jul 2025)

In a stunningly beautiful area that’s renowned for exceptional food and drink, cultivated by knowledgeable and passionate people, the Ards and North Down area has a huge amount to offer visitors each July, with a special interest in food. 

Taste Summer brings together all that’s happening in the local food world – from speciality markets to masterclasses and from workshops to supper clubs. So if there’s a food event on in the area, this is the place to find it. 

Comber Earlies Food Festival (28 June 2025)

A potatoe festival? Well, yes. The annual Comber Earlies Food Festival is a wonderful day out filled with family fun, cookery demos in the Festival Kitchen and activities that celebrate the  Earlies potato. Come along to Comber and celebrate its famed potato, with chefs showcasing their culinary talents, discussions with food heroes, live music throughout the day, and an Artisan Bar as well.

Belfast Mela at the Botanic Gardens (16 - 24 Aug 2025)

Every August, Belfast, and thousands of its visitors, come together to celebrate people and their diversity. Hosting music, dance, arts and culture from around the world, it transforms the Botanic Gardens, near Queen’s University, into a global space alive with the sights, sounds and aromas of the world. 

Armagh’s Food & Cider Festival (4 - 7 Sep 2025)

The Orchard County comes into its own each autumn. That’s when the Food & Cider Festival hits town. Though, in truth, with its acres of orchards and appreciation of the Armagh Bramley Apple, every day here is a celebration of that wonderful fruit. 

Still, to see just how much you can do with an apple, make a date for September. The city’s alive with open air markets, cookery masterclasses, tasting dinners and, of course, orchard and cidery tours. One of the highlights is the Bramley Apple Banquet.  

Bushmills Salmon and Whiskey Festival (3 - 5 Oct 2025)

Or should that be Bushmills Whiskey and Salmon Festival. Never mind, either way it’s a match made in heaven each June. There are cookery demonstrations from local and celebrity chefs, whiskey tastings at the world-famous Bushmills Distillery, tours of the Bushmills Salmon Station and the best of fresh local produce at the Naturally North Coast and Glens Artisan Market. Plus mouth-watering live music and dance just to get you in the spirit of it all. 

A taste for something Georgian (27 - 30 Nov 2025)

Armagh’s Georgian Festival attracts crowds to the city every November. And it is quite an experience, taking in the best of Armagh’s Georgian history, heritage and architectural past. Merchants line the streets and artisan produce is on show in the dedicated food village. 

The Great Georgian Banquet at Archbishop’s Robinson’s Palace is the star of the festival. It’s an evening of gastronomy like no other, with a sumptuous five-course dinner and fine wines, modelled on the menus of the time.  

St. George’s Twilight Market (multiple dates)

The famous St. George’s Market, situated in a stunningly beautiful Victorian building, is one of Belfast’s oldest and certainly most colourful attractions. Always bustling by day, it becomes even more inviting as night begins to fall.  

And so, at various times throughout the year, St. George’s Twilight Market takes place. It’s packed full of fantastic local artisan food and drink, inspiring cookery demonstrations, quirky arts and crafts, family entertainment and, of course, live music - well, it is Belfast. It’s a night out like no other, in a place like no other. 

Indeed, much of Northern Ireland’s food-inspired events are like nothing you’ll find anywhere else. A bit like Northern Ireland itself. And that could just be why people seem to enjoy coming back.