Day of celebration planned in Ballymena on Tuesday, August 25 as town marks 400th birthday
A day of family fun, community celebration and entertainment is planned for Tuesday, August 25 as Ballymena marks the 400th anniversary of the signing of its charter in 1626.
Mid and East Antrim community is inviting residents and visitors of all ages to take part in the day’s programme of events, which will conclude with a fireworks display lighting up the sky over the town.
The celebrations begin with a special storytelling session at 10.30am in The Mid Antrim Museum at The Braid for children aged four to eight (booking required). Young readers will
enjoy ‘The tale of the Castle Cat and Golden Dragon’, a book commissioned as part of Ballymena 400 that tells the tale of Ballymena Castle and Master Adair.
From 11am to 2pm, Wellington Court will be transformed into a vibrant Birthday Bonanza party featuring circus performers, puppet shows, face painting and cupcake and party hat decorating alongside interactive activities. Organised in partnership with Ballymena BID, this free event, which was partially funded by the Department for Communities, will include a birthday invitation trail, where children can collect stamps while discovering fascinating facts about Ballymena’s rich history.
The town’s heritage will be reflected during a civic service in St Patrick’s Church of Ireland at 7.30pm. It offers an opportunity to celebrate generations of people and events that have shaped Ballymena into today’s thriving and vibrant community.
Celebrations will conclude in The People’s Park, where entertainment begins ahead of a spectacular fireworks display. From 8.30pm residents can enjoy live performances from Johnny Murphy School of Traditional Music and Rock Choir (Ballymena/Ballymoney and Jordanstown), face painting, glitter tattoos, arts and crafts, a gaming bus, walkabout characters and a magician before the fireworks at 9.30pm bring Ballymena’s 400th birthday celebrations to an end.
Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon, said “Ballymena’s 400th anniversary is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our town’s remarkable history while looking ahead to an exciting future. It will be fantastic to see families and visitors enjoying the birthday celebrations, with such a wide range of activities for all ages.
“Let us all come together as a community and make new memories as Ballymena moves into its next century. The planned events are an inclusive way to reflect on 400 years of Ballymena’s history, heritage and community spirit.”