NEWS

The Ulster Aviation Society is preparing to throw open its historic wartime hangars for what promises to be its biggest European Heritage Open Days weekend yet, with more aircraft, historic vehicles and entertainment added as visitor numbers continue to soar. The entirely volunteer-run charity will welcome the public to Maze Long Kesh, near Lisburn, on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September, with free admission and parking and no need to book in advance. Running from 10am until

GAME ON, Ballymena — Level Up Entertainment Centre has officially opened its doors, bringing a spectacular new place to play, eat, meet and make memories at Pennybridge. And while the neon-lit arcade is packed with games designed to bring out everyone’s competitive side, there is another big reason this new arrival could quickly become a favourite well beyond family days out. Wait until you see the Shake Bar. Level Up has paired its all-ages entertainment centre with a striki

Ballymena BID is bringing businesses across the town centre together for a major birthday celebration tomorrow as Ballymena marks its historic 400th anniversary. Shops, cafés, restaurants and other businesses will roll out special offers, £400 giveaways, discounts, competitions, parties and treats on Tuesday 25 August, while the Ballymena BID team will be out on the streets handing out nostalgic party bags — with some containing extra surprises. The “Birthday Bonanza” is desi

Parents and carers across Northern Ireland are being urged to check the support available ahead of the new school year, with help covering everything from school transport and admissions to free school meals, uniform grants and special educational needs. The Education Authority (EA) says dedicated helplines and online information are available as families prepare for the return to classrooms, including those whose children are starting a new school or travelling independently

Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Dawn Huggins, pictured with Paul Ross, whose Sky Blue Ribbon fundraising appeal was named Fundraising Volunteer Group of the Year at the Chartered Institute of Fundraising Northern Ireland Awards. A County Antrim father who has turned the devastating loss of his 21-year-old daughter into a fundraising movement that has raised more than £100,000 for Air Ambulance Northern Ireland has received special recognition from the Mayor of

A Land Rover Defender restored on the television programme Car SOS will take centre stage when Motorfest NI brings cars, motorcycles, trucks and live emergency-service displays to Ballymena this Sunday. The family event opens to the public at Ballymena Showgrounds at 11am on Sunday 23 August, with admission costing £5. Organisers say 100% of the money raised will go to Community Rescue Service Central. From television restoration to rescue service The distinctive Defender und

Young anglers are being offered a free evening of fishing at Kilgad Lakes near Ballymena as a local club brings its summer programme to a close. Kells, Connor and Glenwherry Angling Club has exclusively booked the lakes from 5pm to 9pm, on Wednesday 19 August, allowing its junior members to fish free of charge. Equipment available for beginners All junior anglers are welcome, and anyone who is not already a member can apply to join the club by tapping the button below. Fishin

Ballymena BID is bringing businesses, families and visitors together for two major days of town-centre celebrations as Ballymena prepares to mark its 400th birthday. An End of Summer and Ballymena 400 Street Party will take over Greenvale Street on Saturday 22 August, before businesses across the town join the official birthday celebrations on Tuesday 25 August. The programme, with support from Department for Communities (DfC), will run alongside a number of anniversary event

Adrian and Nicci Stewart, foster carers with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust More foster families are urgently needed across the Northern Trust area as growing numbers of children require somewhere safe and supportive to call home — whether for a single night or for several years. For Adrian and Nicci Stewart, answering that need has meant welcoming more than 22 children through their front door in just six years. The couple have cared for newborn babies, toddlers a

Thousands of people are expected to descend on Ballycastle later this month as the historic Ould Lammas Fair returns with four days of horse trading, street markets, live music, family entertainment, food and fireworks. Running from Saturday 22 to Tuesday 25 August, Ireland’s oldest fair will once again take over Ballycastle town centre and seafront, combining traditions stretching back centuries with a packed programme of modern entertainment. Among this year’s highlights ar

Victoria Craig pictured with her daughter Catherine A neonatal nurse whose daughter was born almost 12 weeks early has transformed her experience as a parent into a career supporting babies and families — and research that could help others cope with the trauma of neonatal care. Victoria Craig, Neonatal Clinical Educator at Antrim Area Hospital, graduated from Queen’s University earlier this year with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Her research examined practical techniques th

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon and Roy Smyth, Chairman of Ballymena BID get ready to promote a day of colour and fun in Ballymena. Ballymena will celebrate its 400th birthday with a day of family entertainment, storytelling, music and community events before fireworks light up the sky over the town on Tuesday 25 August. The programme will mark 400 years since the signing of Ballymena’s Charter in 1626, with celebrations running from the morning through t

Families still searching for summer holiday activities need look no further, with Ballymena 400 offering a packed programme of FREE family events throughout August. At the heart of the programme are two interactive Adventure Quests, transforming Ballymena town centre into a giant outdoor game where families become detectives, explorers and storytellers as they solve clues, complete challenges and meet colourful characters. But the quests are only the beginning. From a town ce

Jenni Barkley, Belfast Harbour & Fern Keeney, Live Here Love Here 6 August 2026 Families across Mid and East Antrim are being encouraged to make the most of the region’s coastline this month as a popular environmental campaign returns with a packed programme of free and low-cost activities designed to help people reconnect with the sea while highlighting the growing problem of marine litter. The Healthy Oceans Healthy Minds campaign, organised by Live Here Love Here, is back

David Kelly flew to his first ever ITRC win on the Circuit of Ireland. (PHOTO: D Harrigan Images) The countdown is on to one of Northern Ireland’s biggest motorsport weekends, with the 50th Modern Tyres Ulster Rally set to bring thousands of competitors, fans and visitors to Ballymena and across County Antrim on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 August. The landmark anniversary event will feature many of the UK’s and Ireland’s leading rally drivers, iconic closed-road stages through no

A model of Lightning McQueen, commissioned by Disney Pixar will make a visit to Ballymena this week Families across Ballymena will have the chance to meet a real-life Lightning McQueen this week as a remarkable Disney-commissioned replica of the much-loved Pixar character arrives at Raceview Karting for a special charity fundraising event. The famous fibreglass car, which was originally created in the United States as a promotional vehicle for the Cars 2 film premiere and lat

A husband-and-wife team who transformed a Ballymena warehouse into one of Northern Ireland’s most popular family attractions are about to do it again. This August, Chris and Joanna Robinson, the founders of the hugely successful Honeybees Playtown, will open the doors to LEVEL UP Entertainment Centre — a brand new attraction designed to bring children, teenagers and adults together for a completely different kind of family day out. Opening next door to Honeybees in Pennybridg

One of Northern Ireland’s best-known celebrations of heritage, machinery and country life returns to Ballymena this week as the Ballymena Steam Rally gets under way with three days of steam engines, vintage vehicles, road runs and family attractions. The Ballymena Steam Rally runs from Thursday 23 July to Saturday 25 July at Ballymena Livestock Market, bringing together historic machinery, classic vehicles, traditional crafts and family entertainment before culminating in Sat

Northern Ireland is set to introduce new measures to encourage and support more mothers to breastfeed after the Department of Health launched a three-year action plan aimed at tackling some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the UK. The Breastfeeding Action Plan 2026–2029, unveiled by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt at the annual Breastival #MorethanMilk event at Stormont on Tuesday, sets out a programme of work designed to improve support for families, reduce health inequalit

Families, vintage vehicle enthusiasts and movie lovers are being invited to Portglenone later this month as the popular Big Splash Festival returns with three days of community events fromThursday 23 July to Saturday 25 July. The annual FREE festival promises something for all ages, with organisers planning a programme that includes a vintage vehicle rally, outdoor movie screenings and a free family fun day centred around Portglenone Marina. The celebrations have already begu