Friday Timetable

We have a range of exciting events lined up over the weekend. For a full list of events for each day please click on the link below.

The Garden Stage

Sponsored by Colemans Garden Centre and New Leaf Compost

The stage is set at this year’s Garden Show Ireland for an exciting mix of interactive talks and discussions with our well known garden experts. The Garden Stage will present 3 garden ideas:

• a contemporary patio garden and a traditional cottage garden both sponsored by Colemans Garden Centre
• a vegetable garden sponsored by New Leaf Compost.

Plantsman Paul Smyth and horticulturist Marie Staunton along with organic vegetable growers, Klaus Laitenberger and Biruk Sahle will host demos with advice and ‘how to’ discussions and they’ll be up for answering all your queries.

Diarmuid Gavin will be interviewed by well-known presenter Pamela Ballantine MBE on The Garden Stage and will be giving his own take on designing and creating gardens

The Floral Art Pavilion

The Floral Art Pavilion situated in the Parterre Garden will host displays by members of the Northern Ireland Group of Flower Arrangement Societies, and this year for the first time, hosts a series of demonstrations and workshops.

Demonstrations

11 – 11.30 am and  2 – 2.30 pm: “Nature’s Gems” – Johann Henderson NI Area Demonstrator from Holywood Club

Workshops

12.30 – 1 pm and 3 – 3.30 pm: “Floral Adornments”

Flower Farmers Pavilion

The Flower Farmers’ Pavilion hosts a series of talks, demonstrations & workshops by members of the Northern Ireland Flower Farmers Association.

All Day: Multiple times throughout the day

Immersive audio gardening experience – Sow Grateful in partnership with OTR

Join us for an excerpt of ROOTS, an interactive gardening experience!

Take 5 minutes to immerse yourself in an audio experience that blends meditation, poetry, and dance, to awaken your senses and connection to nature.

For the kids!

Wearable flower designs – Aisling  & Andy McCormick, Sow Grateful Flower Farm

Kids’ workshop creating a decorated flower crown

(Runs twice per day for 30mins, limit 10 kids per session)

Craft Village Demos

Diarmuid Gavin in the Platinum Jubilee Garden!

Diarmuid Gavin welcomes visitors to his special garden created for the Platinum Jubilee at Antrim Castle Gardens as a permanent garden – a garden that dances to music and is alive with colour!

Each day at the Show he will chat about the inspiration behind the garden and about the magnificent planting – an opportunity to learn about the plants and planting in your own garden, and be inspired by the design & fun behind Diarmuid’s ideas.

Limited numbers due to space 

Food & Drink Experience Kitchen

After you’ve done your shopping, sit back, relax and enjoy the live music and entertainment at The Junction Stage, with a refreshing drink and something tasty, with so many options, you’ll not go hungry!

The Stage at The Junction Container Bar, Compered Kaitlyn Clark- Sponsored by The Junction

Bushcraft

Enjoy all things prehistoric with a hands-on experience designed to transport you back to a time when we, as humans were more in tune with nature.

• Try out flint knapping the technology of the past
• Join the Wild Walk team on a foraging walk and discover how to identify common plants and trees. Learn their uses for food medicine or crafts.
• Try your hand at spoon carving using only basic tools.
• Get involved in one of the basics of minimalistic camping and learn how to set up a tarp shelter correctly.
• Or just relax around the campfire with the Wild Walk team and chat about all things outdoors in the relaxing atmosphere of the Juerte!

Fly Casting and Tying

• Try your hand at fly casting and tying a fly, with expert instruction by members of The Association of Professional Game Angling Instructors. This will be based in the pleasure gardens, along the banks of the river.
• On Sunday 16 June there will be a Father and Child fly casting competition held, with a prize up for grabs at the end of the day.