Bangors’ newest festival arrives this weekend.

Seacourt Print Workshop, a cornerstone of Northern Ireland’s arts and cultural scene since 1981, has been in residence in the Old Ulster Bank building in Bangor’s Main Street since 2021. This momentous move back into the city centre ignited a passion and drive for Seacourt to connect with the spaces around them, their neighbours and the people of Bangor. And what better way to do this than host a two-day festival!

With grant support from Ards and North Down Borough Council and the Department of Communities Community Festival Fund, Bingham Lane Festival takes place over the weekend of the 11th and 12th of October.

It’s the first year and a bit of an experiment, we’re bringing together the creative and cultural venues located around the central pedestrian Bingham laneway and Bingham Mall. Artists have been at work creating a fantastic line up of music, live printmaking, art installations and more.

This corner of Bangor will come alive with decoration, and our own yard will become a hub for live music and a place to sit and gather with friends.

A line up of musicians has been carefully curated by Rachel McCarthy (The Darkling Air) and includes singer songwriters, DJ’s and traditional music.

There will be some hot food options to ensure visitors are well fed but we hope festival goers will avail of the many fantastic cafes and food outlets in the city centre including Lightfoot, Sunflower Sandwiches, The Yoghurt Tree, Little Wing and the Red Berry to name just a few. There will be plenty of friendly way finders to guide and direct visitors to specific events and look out for our signs!

Our old bank building will be filled with makers stalls and printmaking activities, including screen printed t-shirts (bring your own T Shirt), large scale letterpress and a bespoke banner making station honouring our favourite Bingham Lane Bird – the pigeon!

We will also have some satellite printmaking stations dotted around other locations where you can print a lego bird or robot and letterpress print your own postcard.

Our friends at North Down Craft Collective will take up residence on the Saturday in a large marquee in one of the lanes extensive back yards, and Sunday will host makers from Little Fox Events.

Boom Studios Artists will be offering festival workshops in and the satirical Ricky Drew a Piccy is creating an immersive experience inviting you in experience RDAP land.

On Saturday you can explore the Old Market House, decorate a headdress featuring our Gargoyle, try out some musical instruments and hear stories from Bangor’s past. Studio IA Theatre will open it’s (back stage) doors on Sunday and welcome visitors to meet the Pantomime Character, indulge in Witches Brew and get a behind the scenes tour of the Theatre.

Seacourt’s Director, Emma Drury invites people to join us: “This is an event with something for everyone, young and old. We think it will bring fun and joy to the city centre, celebrating our beautiful built heritage and we hope it will remind us all of what this city has to offer. Come along and see for yourself!”

Bingham Lane Festival

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Saturday 11th October: 12pm to 8pm

Sunday 12th October: 1pm to 5pm

We are grateful for support from Ards and North Down Borough Council and the Department for Communities Community Festival Fund.