Comber Earlies Food Festival Returns as Flagship Event of Taste Summer in Ards and North Down
Released: Monday 11 May 2026
The much‑loved Comber Earlies Food Festival will return this summer, Saturday 20 June, 11am - 5pm, once again taking centre stage as a flagship event within Taste Summer in Ards and North Down, 17-28 June the borough's annual celebration of local food and drink.
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Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Gillian McCollum, Richard Orr, Chairman of Comber Earlies Growers' Cooperative, Luna and Lily are all looking forward to Comber Earlies Food Festival, 20 June, 11am – 5pm.
Comber Earlies 2026
Taking place in Comber Leisure Centre Carpark, 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.
Speaking ahead of the event, the Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor 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.
New for 2026, a quiet hour will be introduced from 10am-11am each day, 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.
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
