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Shorelife Celebration 2026

Join us for the Shorelife Celebration event in Mount Stewart on Saturday 10 October 10 - 5pm. Enjoy free entry at this exciting event, brought to you by Ards and North Down Borough Council in partnership with Mount Stewart & WWT Castle Espie.

  • Booking not needed
  • Free event

This event offers a rare chance to experience the wonders of our shoreline. Enjoy a day filled with fun activities, engaging talks and tours, live music, and delicious local food and drink. Lots of extra entertainment, kids’ crafts, and activities for families and nature lovers alike! Plus Live music and local food and drink available throughout the day.

Creative workshops including cyanotype printing, therapeutic photography, willow and wool crafts, kite making, and shore-inspired screen printing.

Family nature adventures with fungi discovery walks, bushcraft sessions, STEM storytelling, and hands-on science activities with microscopes and marine specimens.

Explore the natural world through guided walks on Mount Stewart’s unique microclimate, climate change, geology, fossils & ancient seas.

Drop-in activities & demonstrations featuring bird box building, wildlife crafts, stained glass art and environmental projects. Film and heritage experiences including archive screenings celebrating Strangford Lough and family-friendly nature films. Fun for all ages, with a mix of bookable workshops, free activities and drop-in sessions running throughout the day.

Plan Your Trip to the Shorelife here www.visitardsandnorthdown.com/whats-on/event-highlights/shorelife-celebration/shorelife-celebration-at-mount-stewart

Some activity will be ticketed and must be pre-booked in advance. Ts&Cs apply to ticketed activity. Online booking fees apply where relevant. Event subject to change.

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Getting here is easy with free event buses (details to follow). Please note that PARKING AT MOUNT STEWART AND CASTLE ESPIE IS VERY LIMITED, and we strongly recommend using public transport to attend the event - public buses or via the free pre-bookable event buses. Further information on the pre-bookable event buses will be available soon on the Ards and North Down website. • We encourage visitors to travel via public transport and buses provided. Please bring reusable bags to pick up goodies at the event.

Upcoming events

Animals in Mairi’s Garden tour with artist Eleanor Wheeler 

Join ceramic artist Eleanor Wheeler who will conclude her residency at Mount Stewart by displaying a series of her ceramic sculptures in the Mairi Garden.

Event summary

on
28 Sep to 30 Sep 2026
at 14:00 to 16:00+ 2 other dates or times

Autumn Botanical Art Workshop with Ali Walker - Full Day 

Join Botanical Artist Ali Walker as she guides you in the art of drawing a range of Autumnal subjects from Mount Stewart’s beautiful gardens.

Event summary

on
3 Oct 2026
at 11:00 to 15:30

Autumn Botanical Art Workshop with Ali Walker - Full Day 

Join Botanical Artist Ali Walker as she guides you in the art of drawing a range of Autumnal subjects from Mount Stewart’s beautiful gardens.

Event summary

on
3 Oct 2026
at 11:00 to 15:30

Dog Photography Sessions - The Backyard Photography Company 

Join The Backyard Photography Company for a one to one dog photography session in the beautiful gardens gardens!

Event summary

on
11 Oct to 6 Dec 2026
at 10:00 to 14:00+ 2 other dates or times