Ballymena BID gets ready for the town’s BIG 400th birthday celebration!

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 designed to turn Ballymena’s milestone anniversary into a celebration right across the town centre, encouraging people to come into town, explore local businesses and join in the festivities.

Ballymena businesses join the birthday celebrations

Rather than concentrating everything in one location, Ballymena BID has encouraged businesses to celebrate the anniversary in their own way.

Visitors can expect coffee mornings, special discounts, goodie bags and free gifts, £400 giveaways and prize draws, Spin to Win competitions, special menus, £400 holiday offers, birthday parties and other treats.

That means the celebrations will be found throughout the town centre, with different offers available from participating businesses.

A full list of participating businesses and their Ballymena 400 offers is available here.

Find the Ballymena BID team for a surprise

BID is also adding a treasure-hunt-style element to the day, with its team heading out around Ballymena carrying nostalgic party bags.

Inside will be Ballymena rock and retro sweets harking back to childhood favourites — but some bags will have a little more hidden inside.

BID says selected bags will include additional surprises such as vouchers from Ballymena businesses, and Rituals goodies.

There is one catch: people will need to spot the BID team and wish Ballymena a Happy Birthday to receive one.

Ballymena BID Team, Emma McCrea and Clare Moore

The gift bags also include Ballymena Rock from Ballymena’s longest established newsagent, Diamond’s, as well as nostalgic sweets.

Ballymena BID joked: “We can’t exactly go back 400 years… but we’ve definitely gone back 40!”

The initiative gives people another reason to explore the town centre rather than simply visiting one event, with BID encouraging shoppers to rediscover familiar favourites, browse end-of-season sales, grab something to eat or try somewhere new.

A milestone day for Ballymena town centre

Tuesday marks 400 years since Ballymena’s historic 1626 charter, with the landmark anniversary being celebrated throughout 2026.

For Ballymena BID and town centre businesses, the birthday provides an opportunity not only to celebrate the town’s history but to bring people into its commercial heart and encourage them to shop, eat and spend locally.

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council will also be joining the celebrations at Wellington Court, where activities and birthday cake are planned as part of the wider anniversary festivities.

But across the wider town centre, businesses themselves will be at the heart of the day, each putting their own stamp on Ballymena’s birthday.

With offers and activities spread across participating businesses — and the BID team roaming the streets with party bags and surprise prizes — visitors are being encouraged to make a day of it and see what they discover.

Ballymena’s town centre birthday celebrations take place on Tuesday 25 August 2026. Visitors can check the full participating-business list before heading into town and keep an eye out for the Ballymena BID team throughout the day.