AUGUST in Bangor means one thing - The Open House Festival.
The festival has been taking over the Co Down seaside town since 2013 and this year's lineup is as impressive as ever.
From The Specials performing at the seafront to the Copeland Island picnic boat tour, Wednesday night gin tastings and an in conversation with Michael Parkinson, the festival kicks off on August 1.
Here are some highlights:
Theatre and Comedy
A brilliantly titled show by Nuala McKeever - How To Be A Tube - promises to teach you how to get out of your own way and unleash your creativity while Carol Moore's The Experience of Being tackles ageing and feelings of invisibility.
Further Ted brings together Joe Rooney (Father Damo) and Patrick McDonnell (Eoin McLove) for an evening of improvised audience interaction and a lovely girls competition which is open to everyone. The winner will scuttle away with a candlelight night in for one, a cruise on a boat of their own making and a set of bespoke rubber gloves.
Food and Drink
Punters are spoiled for choice this year. There are weekly Ain't No Sin To Love Gin evenings, the chance to dine with your pooch at The Salty Dog hotel under the slogan 'Expect mayhem, dress for slabbers'; plus Going Dutch which is an evening of culinary delights inspired by chef Joery Castel's childhood in the Netherlands. On top of that there's the usual wine and champagne tasting, tapas trail and a festival cookery school with classes in bread, pizza and vegan dishes.
Art
Explore your creativity with a walk, talk and sketch event as well as a range of art classes such as an introduction to the fundamentals of drawing and illustration.
Music
Open House likes to put big voices in intimate venues and this year you've got Villagers in First Bangor Presbyterian Church.
Ska supremos The Specials are playing an outdoor show on the seafront while Manukahunney Blue return to the festival on a high from last year's sell-out gig. You can also indulge in Vinyl Nights in Hop House, Saturday Sessions at Fealty's and Sunday Sessions in the Rabbit Room. The ever popular Island Picnic Boat Tour to the Copeland Islands is likely to sell out fast.
Books
There are plenty of in conversation withs, including forensic psychologist Kerry Daynes who has written The Dark Side Of The Mind, broadcaster Michael Parkinson and former Labour cabinet minister Alan Johnson who is returning to the festival for a third time.
Also making an appearance is Paul Ferris, a wonderkid plucked from the football fields of Lisburn by Newcastle United at age 16, whose emotive memoir The Boy On The Shed was published earlier this year.
Read more: Paul Ferris - An extraordinary tale of triumphs and tears
Talks and Tours
On top of walking and talking tours there's Spectator Stories, an evening where former journailsts of the Bangor Spectator and the current editor share their memories of working for the north's oldest weekly paper which is celebrating 115 years in print.
Films
You can marvel at the magnificence of Cher when Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is screened in Bangor's Walled Gardens. It's a seated event so all you need to pack is a cushion, blanket or two and some snacks.
For more information visit openhousefestival.com
