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Markets in Newtownabbey

Markets in Newtownabbey

6 markets coming upA horse fair in May and small markets for Christmas

Sun 15 NovNext market
6coming up in town
10weekly markets near
145more within 15 miles

This area has no weekly market. Its big day is Ballyclare May Fair Day, the third Tuesday of May, and late November brings evening and Saturday Christmas markets in Mallusk and at Mossley Mill.

Selling in Newtownabbey

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In Newtownabbey

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May Fair Day on Ballyclare's Main Street

The Ballyclare May Fair is a week of events in mid to late May. Its heart is May Fair Day, usually the third Tuesday of May, when the horse fair returns to Main Street. In 2026 that was Tuesday 19 May.

Main Street closes to traffic from 8.30am to 5pm on fair day. In recent years a May Fair Market has set up in the Town Hall car park, with a food and craft market later in the week.

Market days at Ballyclare Town Hall, Mossley Mill and Whiteabbey

The council does not run a weekly market here. Instead it holds short seasons of markets with local food, crafts and music, with no charge to get in.

In 2024 these were on a few Saturdays at Ballyclare Town Hall from April to October, plus an evening in October and a summer Saturday at Loughshore Park in Jordanstown. Check the council's events page in spring for the year's dates.

At Mossley Mill, the old flax mill that is now the council's headquarters, the Spinning Yarns Festival brings a wool and linen marketplace. Whiteabbey's Village Fair has had a street craft fair around the August bank holiday.

Late November: Mossley Mill and Mallusk Christmas markets

Schools and churches add their own fairs in late November and early December. The live list on this page shows each date we know about.

Booking a pitch with the borough council or Mallusk

For the May Fair and council markets, phone the council on 0300 123 4568 and ask for the events team. Fees are not published online, so ask what is included, whether you bring a gazebo, and what insurance they want.

Selling alone in a street or public place needs a street trading licence from the Licensing Team in Environmental Health at Mossley Mill (028 9034 0160, [email protected]). Ask which pitches are open.

Mallusk Enterprise Park has opened trader applications in late October, first come, first served. Artisan Markets NI (07951 220530) asks for £5 million public and product liability cover.

Trains to Mossley West, the 153 bus to Ballyclare

Mossley West station is a short walk from Mossley Mill, and Larne-line trains stop at Whiteabbey and Jordanstown. Ulsterbus 153 runs from Belfast through Glengormley to Ballyclare in about 40 minutes.

By car, take the A57 from the M2 at Templepatrick for Ballyclare. On May Fair Day, park away from Main Street and walk in.

Ballyclare's charter fair, briefly

Ballyclare's fair dates from a charter of 1756. The May and November fairs were once hiring fairs, where farm workers agreed six months of work, and horse dealing grew around the spring fair.

A local committee revived the May Fair in 1948, and the 2026 fair marked 270 years since the charter.

Who to ask for a pitch

Where markets happen in Newtownabbey

Questions about markets in Newtownabbey

When is the Ballyclare May Fair?

May Fair Day is usually the third Tuesday of May, when the horse fair fills Main Street. The wider May Fair runs for about a week around it, with markets, a funfair and a party in Sixmilewater Park. The council publishes the programme in spring.

Is there a weekly market in Newtownabbey?

No. Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council runs short seasons of market days instead, mostly at Ballyclare Town Hall, with no charge to get in. For a market every week, Carrickfergus has one on Thursdays and Nutts Corner on Sundays.

Newtownabbey Christmas market

There are several small ones in late November. Mallusk Enterprise Park holds an evening Winter Wonderland market, Mossley Mill has held a Saturday Christmas Craft Fair, and Artisan Markets NI has held a Sunday market at Merville House in Whitehouse.

Is there a craft fair at Mossley Mill?

Yes, the council has held a Christmas Craft Fair at Mossley Mill on a late-November Saturday, 10am to 4pm, with over 20 stalls. In 2024 adults paid £2.50 and under-16s went in at no charge. The Spinning Yarns Festival also has a marketplace there.

How do I get a stall at the Ballyclare May Fair?

Phone Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council on 0300 123 4568 and ask for the events team. Ask early in the year, before the programme is published, and check what the fee covers and what insurance you need.

Do I need a licence to sell in Newtownabbey?

Not at a market where you book with the organiser. To sell alone in a street or public place you need a street trading licence from the council's Environmental Health team at Mossley Mill, on 028 9034 0160.