NEWS

Thursday 12 November 2026 The magic of Christmas is already filling Ballymena town centre, where Follow Coffee has been given a festive transformation ahead of Santa’s arrival and the town’s Christmas lights switch-on this Saturday, 14 November. With twinkling lights, seasonal decorations and a warm welcome waiting inside, the popular Greenvale Street coffee shop is embracing the excitement of one of Ballymena’s most anticipated family occasions. The festive makeover has been

The TEDx team pictured outside QUB’s Lanyon Building. (L-R) Elisa Sofia Jimiez Borja, Dr David Cutting, Tom Magee, Babita Sharma (host) Bernadette Hagans, Alistair Stewart (Director of Civic Engagement, QUB), Sorcha Mac Laimhin, Professor Yvonne McDermott Rees, Harrison Wright, Vlad Nicolae-Lesutan, Joanna Denton (speaking coach), Reem Mohamed, Dr Aaron Monson. Thursday 12 November 2026 As artificial intelligence makes it increasingly difficult to distinguish genuine images a

Tuesday 10 November 2026 Families in Carrickfergus are being invited to enjoy a magical new Christmas experience as a free Twinkle Trail prepares to light up Shaftesbury Park this December, with a special launch event for younger children followed by five evenings open to the public. Organised by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, the festive attraction promises an enchanting display of lights, colour and Christmas cheer, offering families an opportunity to enjoy the season

Matthew Armstrong with his much-loved dad, Dessie Tuesday 10 November 2026 “The fact of the matter is my father won't be here for ever.” For Ballymena councillor Matthew Armstrong, those words capture the deeply personal reason behind a charity fundraiser he is organising for people living with pulmonary fibrosis – an incurable lung condition that has changed life for his father, Dessie, and their family. What began as a persistent dry cough in summer 2019 led to a diagnosis

Santa Claus helps Mayor Thomas Gordon launch Christmas in Mid and East Antrim Monday 09 November 2026 Ballymena will begin Mid and East Antrim’s Christmas celebrations this Saturday, with an afternoon of family entertainment followed by a Santa parade and the town’s lights switch-on at 6.30pm. The event on 14 November opens a programme of five switch-on celebrations, with Larne, Carrickfergus, Whitehead and Greenisland following over the next three weeks. Quiet Time sensory s

Thursday 5 November 2026 Ballymena town centre will be filled with Christmas lights, decorated tractors and festive cheer on Saturday 5 December as the Santa Run returns, raising funds for Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice. Organisers are anticipating a record number of participating vehicles, with tractors and other vehicles dressed in Christmas lights and decorations set to travel through the town in an evening cavalcade. The event, hosted by Ballymena Business Improvemen

Tuesday 3 November 2026 Christmas shoppers searching for something a little different this festive season can discover a wonderful selection of handmade gifts, local crafts and seasonal treats when the annual Northern Ireland Hospice Christmas Fair returns to Ballymena next week. Organised by Ballymena Northern Ireland Hospice Support Group, the popular fundraising event takes place at Tullyglass House Hotel on Wednesday 11 November, bringing together 33 independent traders f

Monday 2 November 2026 Global music superstar Shania Twain is set to headline Belfast’s Belsonic next summer, bringing her biggest hits to Ormeau Park on Sunday 27 June 2027. The five-time Grammy Award winner has announced eight major outdoor concerts across the UK and Ireland, with Belfast among the final stops on her summer tour. Fans hoping to secure tickets will not have long to wait, with general sale opening at 9am this Friday, 6 November, through Ticketmaster.ie. Belfa

Saturday 31 October 2026 Shoppers are being encouraged to make the most of a full day of savings in Ballymena as the town’s popular annual Discount Day returns on Thursday 5 November, bringing special offers, giveaways and late-night shopping until 9pm. From 9am, participating businesses across the town centre will offer one-day promotions, giving shoppers an opportunity to save on everything from Christmas presents and winter fashion to jewellery, homeware and everyday essen

Friday 29 October 2026 Construction is set to begin next week on Ballymena’s long-awaited new bowling alley, with IMC Cinema confirming a £1.5 million investment, approximately 15 new jobs and plans to open the expanded family entertainment complex in spring 2027. The exciting development will bring ten-pin bowling back to the town for the first time in more than a decade, with a new 10-lane facility, family amusement arcade, and casual food and drink offering all planned for

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Róis-Máire Donnelly, joins Santa’s elf Candy Plum and youngster Dessie to announces plans for Belfast’s Christmas lights switch-on for 2026. Thursday 29 October 2026 Families planning a festive trip to Belfast can secure free tickets for the city's annual Christmas lights switch-on from next Tuesday, 3 November, with two separate ticket releases giving visitors a chance to attend. The popular event returns to Belfast City Hall on Saturday 14

Saturday 24 October 2026 Lee and Andrew Child have taken the number one spot at Waterstone’s Ballymena with Chain Reaction, the latest Jack Reacher thriller, as the store reveals a fresh Top 10 featuring crime fiction, literary favourites and classic novels. Joanna Miller’s The Eights takes second place, while Claire Douglas completes the top three with The Family Friend. Irish author Niall Williams also features strongly, with O Now! taking fourth place. The latest chart inc

Friday 23 October 2026 Twenty years after Snow Patrol released one of Northern Ireland’s most successful albums, a special concert in Belfast will celebrate the music that helped propel the band to international fame. The Oh Yeah Music Centre will host a 20th anniversary celebration of Eyes Open on Friday 6 November, bringing together six artists to perform their own interpretations of songs from the landmark 2006 album. Taking place as part of Sound of Belfast 2026, the even

Seven Towers Pipe Band pictured outside the Congregational Church in Clonavon Terrace in 1927 following its formation in 1926. Tuesday 20 October 2026 One hundred years after its beginnings in Harryville, Seven Towers Pipe Band is inviting former members, familiar faces and new audiences to share a special evening of music in Ballymena. The band’s Centenary Concert will bring McNeillstown Pipe Band and Pure Blarney & Friends to The Braid Arts Theatre on Thursday 19 November,

Liz Steele, Culture & Heritage Tourism Manager at Tourism NI and Thomas McGarvey from the Department for the Economy pictured with representatives from Sing it Back Home, Harp by the Foyle, Hooley in the Hen House, Bodhrán sa Culturlann, Here’s to the Craic and Ceol, at Tourism NI’s launch of 10 new music experiences for visitors, which took place at Harrison Chambers of Distinction in Belfast Sunday 18 October 2026 From learning to play the Irish harp in County Londonderry t

Sunday 18 October 2026 Christmas is already making its presence felt at Waterstone’s Ballymena, with Katie Kirby’s Lottie Brooks’s The Twelve Disasters of Christmas taking the number one spot in the store’s latest Top 10 bestseller chart. The festive favourite moves ahead of Julia Donaldson’s Gruffalo Granny, which takes second place, while Jamie Smart’s Bunny vs Monkey: Day of the Heroes completes the top three. Children’s books feature strongly in this week’s rankings, with

Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Dawn Huggins opened this weekend’s National Brick Events spectacular in Coleraine, promising LEGO fun for all ages. Friday 16 October 2026 Coleraine is preparing for a weekend of extraordinary creations, colourful displays and family fun as one of the UK’s major LEGO-themed event organisers brings its spectacular brick-building experience to Northern Ireland for the very first time. National Brick Events will take over three venue

Friday 16 October 2026 Ballymena town centre is preparing for a frightfully fun afternoon this Halloween, with free treats, spooky characters, fancy dress and family entertainment all part of a popular event returning for 2026. The Ballymena Halloween Trail is back on Friday 30 October, this time with a Haunted Harvest theme that will send families exploring the town centre, collecting treats from participating businesses and showing off their best Halloween costumes. Organis

Action from previous years at the Portrush Beach Races event, organised by Knock Motorcycle & Car Club. (All Images: Ken Cox) Friday 16 October 2026 The setting is a familiar seaside favourite. The soundtrack this weekend will be engines, as motorcycle and quad racers take to Portrush’s East Strand for two days of competition on the sand. The Ramore Portrush Beach Race returns on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October, with Ulster Quad Champion Emma Wray heading the announced entr

Tuesday 13 October 2026 Antrim Castle Gardens will be transformed into a spectacular festive wonderland this December as the popular Enchanted Winter Garden returns with new rides, dazzling light displays and a host of Christmas attractions for families. Running from 2 to 28 December, the event will also offer discounted tickets for Antrim and Newtownabbey residents, dedicated inclusive evenings and free shuttle buses to help visitors enjoy the festivities. With tickets start