You’re welcome to join us for a day of festivity and celebration!
Experience the sights, sounds, colours and flavours as the Georgian village of Royal Hillsborough comes alive with artisan markets, vibrant pageantry and historical spectacle.
What to do and see
If you enjoy artisan shopping, visit our annual Royal Hillsborough Farmers Market on the Dark Walk. Treat yourself to artisan food produce, art, craft or a beverage and bite to eat from local suppliers.
Enjoy the 'Investiture of Warrants Ceremony' and be part of a rare historical moment as Hillsborough Fort Guard welcomes its first full complement of 20 Warders since the late Victorian period. The Hereditary Constable of the Fort, 9th Marquess of Downshire will issue signed warrants as his ancestors did under the Royal Warrant from Charles II to Arthur Hill in 1660.
The Warders in their new bespoke uniforms will parade up Park Street, onto Dromore Road and down Main Street to Hillsborough Parish Church to music of The Band of the Royal Irish Regiment.
Key timings
| Activity |
Time |
| Farmers Market |
10am to 4pm |
| Piper on the Dark Walk |
11.45am |
| Hillsborough Fort Guard event to start |
12 noon |
| Piper on the Dark Walk |
12.55pm |
| The Band of the Royal Irish Regiment and The Hillsborough Fort Guard will parade through the village from Park Street to St Malachy's Parish Church |
1.45pm to 2pm |
Car parking
We anticipate the village will be busy on Saturday 31 May so please plan ahead.
You can park at:
Hillsborough Forest
22 Large Park
Royal Hillsborough
BT26 6AL
Beechlawn School
3 Dromore Road
Royal Hillsborough
BT26 6PA
Hillsborough Village Centre/Downshire Primary School
7 Ballynahinch Road
Royal Hillsborough
BT26 6AR
Ballynahinch Street Car Park
Lisburn Street
Ballynahinch
BT24 8BD
Hillsborough Presbyterian Church
49 Lisburn Street
Royal Hillsborough
BT26 6AA
Please be sure to dress for the forecasted weather! The Hillsborough Fort Guard event will take place on the grass area inside the walls of the fort.
Plan your day
Visit our tourism website to see the things you can do, places you can eat and stay at www.visitlisburncastlereagh.com
Be sure to drop into the local businesses in Royal Hillsborough Village too!
