Categories: market, food, drink

Discover Food & Drink Delights


For our May market we’re delighted to have a full range of food and drink producers from across Northern Ireland.

Lisburn resident, Little Popcorn Shop will have their gourmet kettle corn. We also have speciality seaweed condiments from Crawford’s Rock, balsamic vinegars from Burren Balsamics and fermented foods, diabetic sugar free preserves and pickles from Amberline Preserves.

Sample apple juice and cider vinegar from Autumn Harvest’s Armagh orchards. Try kombucha from award-winning producer Moocha Kombucha. Papas Mineral Company will have artisan cordials, soft drinks and mixers on display at their stall as well as cloudy lemonade available to buy by the cup. We are delighted to also have Lisburn based business, Suki Tea join us for the first time.

Artisan cheeses will be available to buy from Indie Fude and Ballylisk of Armagh. Tom & Ollie have their wide selection of mezze, olives, pestos and cheeses.

Discover charcuterie made from Mangalitsa pigs from The Curly Pigs, oysters and smoked seafood from The Oystercatcher.

You’ll also be able to pick up staples like fruit and vegetables from Cherryvalley Farm, bacon and sausages from Kennedy Bacon and O’Malley’s Strawberries.

Plus we are joined by Tori’s Coffee Cakes & Bakes, Krumb Bakery, The Daily Apron, The Fluffy Meringue and Moira’s The Pie Shop with delicious hand made breads, cakes and pies!
 

Find a gorgeous gift


Browse our stalls from our talented artists and craftspeople. Including candle maker Aggie & I Soy Candles with her hand-poured soy candles and reed diffuser jars. Amber Jordan Design will have her illustrated outdoor cushions featuring Northern Irish landscape, plus tea towels, enamel camping mugs and artwork. Deborah Campbell will bring her nature inspired original paintings and cards, with beautiful floral cyanotype prints from Frances Magee.

Beekeeper, HoneyComb Cabin will bring handmade beeswax creations, from homeware to candles and cosmetics.

Lisburn & Castlereagh local, Plumpy Balms will also have a selection of vegan skincare and lip balms. Also amongst our traders will be Northern Irish artisan organic skincare brand, Dana Cosmetics will have skincare and makeup for sensitive skin.

Other gifts you could pick up include sustainable textile products from designer Seven Makes, including zipper bags, scrunchies and tub toppers.  You can also browse a selection of books focussed on diversity for kids from Still I Rise.

We’re also delighted to have Redsmith’s Forge with their jewellery, sculpture and garden ornaments predominantly using copper and some silver.
 

Live Music & Kids Entertainment


We are delighted to have several live music from local acoustic artists!


There will also be fun children's activities including a Fun with Drums workshop, face painting, balloon modelling and an art & craft workshop for the kids to enjoy.

 

The Hillsborough Fort Guard: A Historic Celebration


As well as the market on this day, The Hillsborough Fort Guard will be celebrating the ‘Investiture of Warrants Ceremony.' This marks the first time there have been 20 Warders as part of the Hillsborough Fort Guard 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 ceremony will take place in the peninsula at the back of the Fort and you are welcome to enjoy it. There will be directions to it from the market.

The final part of The Hillsborough Fort Guard ceremony will take place at 1.45pm as the new Warders in their new bespoke uniforms will parade up Park Street, onto Dromore Road and down Main Street to Hillsborough Parish Church to music from The Band of the Royal Irish Regiment.


 

Royal Hillsborough Farmers Market

Date: Saturday 31st May, 2025
Where: The Dark Walk at Hillsborough Fort
When: 10am-4pm
Parking: Hillsborough Forest (parking managed by stewards for ease of use) & Ballynahinch St Pay & Display car park and Beechlawn School
 

Hillsborough Fort Guard Investiture

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.
 

Beyond the Market


Beyond the Royal Hillsborough Farmers Market, the picturesque village boasts a wealth of shopping opportunities.

Explore independent boutiques featuring women’s clothing, unique gifts, local art and crafts, as well as an abundance of charming bakeries, cosy tea shops, lively bars, and distinctive restaurants - each offering its own special character and appeal.



 

Trader Lineup


Aggie & I Soy Candles

Amazin Grazin

Amber Jordan Design (AJD)

Amberline

Autumn Harvest

Ballylisk of Armagh

Burren Balsamics

Cherryvalley Farm

Crawfords Rock Ltd

Dana Cosmetics

Deborah Campbell Artist

Ewe to Yarn

Fiddle Fig

Frances Magee Art

Habanero Steve's

HoneyComb Cabin

Indie Füde

Jack’s Fudge

Kennedy Bacon Ltd

Krumb Bakery

Little Popcorn Shop

Loki’s Coffee

Marshall Beekeeping

Moocha Kombucha Ltd

O'Malley's Strawberries

Papas Mineral Company Ltd

Pizza Table

Plumpy Balms

Redsmith's Forge

Seven Makes

Still I Rise Diversity Books

Suki Tea

The Crepe Makers

The Curious Farmer

The curly pigs

The Daily Apron

The Fancy fox coffee company

The fluffy meringue

The Hatch

The LocalNI

The Oystercatcher

The Pie Shop, Moira

The Quirky Flamingo Co

Thomas Powell Pottery

Tom & Ollie

Tori's Coffee Bakes & Cakes

Wildaboutsoaps

Woof Woof Bark’ery

Live Music throughout the market.

Children’s Fun

Art & Craft workshop

Fun with Drums workshop

Face painting

Balloons

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