Lighting the Way – Eleventh Night Bonfire & Family Celebration in Portglenone

The Banntastic Festival will mark one of the most iconic traditions in the Protestant calendar with a spectacular Eleventh Night Bonfire and Family Fun Evening in Portglenone. The event blends commemoration and community, heritage and hospitality, and offers a family-friendly alternative for all ages.

Rooted in the events of 1690, Eleventh Night bonfires symbolise the eve of King William III’s victory at the Battle of the Boyne. Across Ulster, these fires are a celebration of deliverance, liberty and Protestant identity. In Portglenone, that tradition is embraced with pride—but also enhanced with modern values of safety, inclusion, and cultural education.

This year’s event includes:

• Children’s games and inflatables
• Live local music
• Free Street Food
• Ceremonial lighting of a Beacon
• Traditional music as the flames rise

Everyone is encouraged to bring a chair, a torch, and their community spirit. The evening is an opportunity to enjoy cultural expression in a safe, respectful and celebratory way—a truly “Banntastic” experience for the whole family.