Picnic in the Park

This is a free event so you do not require a ticket for entry.

You are welcome to bring a picnic and your own refreshments – but please bring your rubbish home with you to recycle or use the recycling hub at the park. Be respectful to the beautiful surroundings and other members of the public.

To reduce the impact of this wonderful free event, we ask that you take your rubbish home to recycle. There are recycling bins in Ward Park on Sunday’s, so if you can’t take it home we ask that you recycle your waste responsibly.

We kindly ask that you do not leave any rubbish in the park or fill the public bins on the streets surrounding the park.

No, all ages from young to old are very welcome.

As this is a public park, you are welcome to arrive at any time. All music events on Sundays start at 3pm. We advise coming roughly 30mins in advance if you’d like a spot close to the front.

Yes, dogs are welcome as long as they are kept on a short leash.

If you leave something behind at an event, please email us at boxoffice@openhousefestival.com and we’ll do our best to help.

Our small team depends on volunteers to help us deliver Open House Festival events, by assisting with ticketing, seating, event set-up, litter picking, and many other vital duties. They help to create a happy, welcoming environment and carry out their responsibilities with pride and huge smiles on their faces.

To find out more about Open House Festival volunteering please contact janet@openhousefestival.com

Gazebos are not permitted to be erected in the park during this event.

If you plan to bring a large umbrella, such as a fishing umbrella with a drape at the back, kindly position it near the hedges or the rose arch to ensure an unobstructed view for everyone. Your cooperation is appreciated!

Only those officially engaged by the festival are permitted.

Please do not park in front of people’s driveways in and around Ward Park. There are a number of car parks close by including Mills Road, Castle Street, Clifton Road, ASDA, Queen’s Parade and Quay Street.

Getting there

By foot

If arriving in Bangor by bus or train, it’s a short walk to The Walled Garden, The Court House or Ward Park

By bus or Train

One of the loveliest train journeys in Northern Ireland is the Belfast to Bangor coastal route. The journey can take up to 40 minutes from Great Victoria Street Station and as little as 23 minutes from Belfast Lanyon Place, depending on the number of stops.

The majority of our events finish in time to get the last train back to Belfast – these events will be identified by a train friendly logo.

Buses also run regularly from Bangor Bus Station in the centre of the city to the two main Belfast city centre stations – Laganside Buscentre and Europa Buscentre on Great Victoria Street.

For timetables and tickets, go to: www.translink.co.uk
Tel: 028 9066 6630

By car

The Walled Garden is well sign-posted and has ample free car parking. The Court House is right in the centre of Bangor, opposite the McKee Clock. There’s lots of cheap or free parking around City Centre Bangor.

By taxi

Bangor taxi firms:
Bangor Cabs – Tel 028 9145 6456
DC Cabs – Tel 028 9145 9666
Kare Kabs – 028 9145 6777

Belfast taxi firms:
FonaCAB – Tel 028 9033 3333
Value Cabs – Tel 028 9080 9080

By plane

George Best Belfast City Airport on the Belfast-Bangor A2 is just a 20 minute drive from the centre of Bangor. The airport is also accessible by train, with just a short walk from Sydenham Station to the terminal.
For details of routes and airlines, go to:
www.belfastcityairport.com
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Belfast International Airport is a 50 minute drive from Bangor. There is no direct bus or rail service from the town, however the Translink Airbus connects with bus services at Laganside Bus centre, and with rail services at Great Victoria Street and Belfast Lanyon Place stations.
For details of routes and airlines, go to:
www.belfastairport.com

By boat

A choice of car ferry services operate from Scotland, England and the Isle of Mann to Belfast and Larne, with crossings from 90 minutes to eight hours. (We don’t recommend swimming…)

For routes and timetables go to:
Stena Line: www.stenaline.com

Or why not sail your own boat into Bangor and berth at the marina? For details and rates, go to: www.quaymarinas.com/our-marinas/bangor-marina

Ward Park is fully accessible with concrete paths throughout suitable for wheelchairs and walking aids.

There is a designated accessible area that is marked out, on concrete and monitored by volunteers. This area also has a direct path towards the accessible toilets.

There are accessible toilets at the portaloos beside the Cenotaph, and accessible parking on Park Drive and beside Carnegie Library.

We have St. John’s Ambulance first-aiders on hand each Sunday located beside Park Life café.

We have a team of friendly volunteers who are happy to provide assistance on the day should you need it or drop us an email in advance if you have any further questions boxoffice@openhousefestival.com

If you have any other queries please get in touch with us boxoffice@openhousefestival.com