Spring Into Armagh’s Apple Blossom Fair from Belfast
Discover Armagh’s rich apple-growing heritage with fun, food and frolics on Monday 4th May.
Fun, food and plenty of frolics are fully guaranteed on Monday May 4th when Armagh officially marks the start of a busy summer festival season with the return of this year’s Apple Blossom Fair.
Held at the beautiful Loughgall Country Park on the first May bank holiday Monday, the annual Apple Blossom Fair brings together a huge range of exciting family-friendly activities and an unrivalled variety of stalls featuring some of the finest local artists and artisanal producers – all of which have joined together to celebrate Armagh’s rich apple-growing heritage in a fun and exciting way.
For the first time this year, visitors from Belfast can now travel directly to the event as part of a special return shuttle bus service which departs from the city to Loughall Country Park on Monday at 10am and departing at 6pm. Tickets cost only £15 pounds return and includes entry to the spectacular Apple Blossom Fair.
Tickets for the special shuttle bus return are available from the Belfast Welcome Centre at Donegall Square, at the Visit Belfast website www.visit-belfast.com or at www.armagh.co.uk.
More details are also available by contacting the Belfast Welcome Centre directly at 028 9024 6609.
Famous for its ‘Orchard County’ status, Armagh has long been recognised for growing some of the finest apples in the world, and the annual Apple Blossom Fair is specially-designed to celebrate that tremendous success while showcasing all the top quality of local food and produce available to locals and visitors alike.
There are plenty of activities for children too with traditional country games, a mad-hatters picnic, children’s musical entertainment and much, much more.
There will also be the choice of two specially-designed tours available – the first at Ardress House, a stunning National Trust property set in the heart of an orchard, where visitors can enjoy a guided tour of the farmhouse and savour some home-made apple tart, and the second, at the Armagh Apple Farm owned by Armagh Cider Company.
As part of the fair, Armagh’s orchards will be brought to life with special ‘tasting & pressing tours’, which will combine the unique stores of the local industry and the chance for everyone to sample the produce and get directly involved.
Meanwhile, the award-winning Armagh Cider Company will delight everyone with an exclusive ‘behind the scenes’ glimpse into what goes on at a real working apple orchard, before offering visitors the chance to have a go at pressing their own apple juice and sampling the ciders and juices they make.
And, if that wasn’t enough to whet your appetite, there will also be a traditional afternoon tea, an apple tart competition and a barbeque – just in time for everyone to sit back, relax and enjoy the live musical entertainment on offer.
Lord Mayor, Darryn Causby, said:
“The annual Apple Blossom Fair is an integral part of Armagh’s bank holiday and summertime fun, and, after last year’s tremendous success, I’m thrilled that the event will be even bigger in 2015, with a fantastic and exciting mix of live entertainment, food, tours and demonstrations planned to ensure that everyone has a great day out.”
The Apple Blossom Fair starts at 10:30am on Monday 4th May and runs until 6:00pm. Admission is only £4 per person – and under 4’s are free. Apple Pressing and Tasting Tours are accessible for an additional fee.
