The Ballance House Anzac Commemoration Service will be held on Sunday 30 April 2023 at 2.30 pm. For further information please Contact Us.

Venue: The Ballance House, Glenavy, BT29 4NY.

Our Annual Commemoration of the Gallipoli Campaign in 1915 commemorates in particular the gallant ANZAC, British and Irish Regiments who took part in this and subsequent conflicts. 

 The Commemoration will commence at 2.30pm with a short Interdenominational Service.  During the Service wreaths may be laid by Regimental Associations and individuals.

Following the Service, light refreshments will be served.

Santa will be arriving at 11 am at The Ballance House on Saturday 26 November 2021 from 11 am - 4 pm. Come and meet him in our cosy fire-lit 19th century Parlour and receive a Christmas gift. 

(Booking opens on 1 October)

Visit to Santa: £5 per child. Pre-booking advisable. Children must be accompanied by a paying adult.  (Note that a few children will be booked in a time slot so please bear with us on the day and we will do our best to keep to time!) 

Event entrance: adults £4, children free.  Complimentary festive beverage with your entrance and a free craft for the kids.  

**No need to book in advance for this event if you are not going to Visit Santa**‘

Also on the day:

• Start your Christmas shopping in our Craft Market so come along and support our range of local crafters. 

• Our ‘Half a World Away From Here’ Exhibition will be open (event reduced rate £2).

• Tea Barn open for soup & sandwiches, plenty of sweet treats, and entertainment.

Get out your Christmas jumpers, elf suits and Santa hats - all welcome! (All proceeds go towards the upkeep of The Ballance House).  

Autumn family fun event at The Ballance House.  Saturday 8 October, 12 - 4 pm.  
- Special musical guests: Lisburn Ukes

- Craft Fair 
- Guided House & Exhibition tours

- Wood-turning demos

- Local apple varieties, apple juice and cookbook for sale

- Magician shows at1, 2 and 3 pm
- Free kids’ apple-themed crafting activities 

-  Face-painting

- Tree seed planting with LCCC Big Tree Project

 Tea barn open for snacks and light lunches, including soup, sandwiches, traybakes and apple tart.

Free car parking and disabled access  Well-behaved dogs welcome.

 Join a guided tour of the House and Ulster-New Zealand Exhibition to find out who John Ballance was and hear about his many achievements including helping to secure the vote for women.  

All proceeds go the upkeep of The Ballance House.  Entrance donation £3 adults, under 14 £1.50 and under 5’s free.  

Summer family fun event at The Ballance House

🍓🍓🍓 Saturday 23 July 12-4pm. Complimentary strawberry treat for everyone 🍓🍓🍓

- Baillies Mills Accordion Band, 1 – 3 pm
- Royal Scottish Country Dance Society Belfast Branch, 12.30 pm

- Craft Fair and Book stall
- House & Exhibition tours (1, 2 & 3 pm, reduced entry £2)
- Kids’ crafting activities and games

-  Face-painting

-  Bouncy Castle

-  Balloon modelling

 Tea barn open for snacks and light lunches.

Free car parking and disabled access. Well-behaved dogs welcome.

Join a guided tour of the House and Ulster-New Zealand Exhibition to find out who John Ballance was and hear about his many achievements including helping to secure the vote for women.  

All proceeds go the upkeep of The Ballance House.  Entrance donation £5 adults, children £2.50 and under 5’s free.  This includes a complimentary strawberry treat for everyone.

The Ballance House is a unique historical venue in the Glenavy countryside, well worth a visit!

Spring Fair at The Ballance House

A great family afternoon out with something for the whole family: 
- craft market
- free crafting fun for the kids, face-painting, bouncy castle and outdoor games
- sausage sizzle
- annual gumboot-throwing competition
- plant and book sale

Thanks to The Meat Merchant, Moira for donating our sizzle sausages!

Music from the lively Lisburn Ukes @lisburnukulele

Guided tours of the Ulster-New Zealand exhibition: running at 1, 2 and 3 pm. Book in on arrival as numbers will be limited.

Group tours: an additional House tour can be arranged at 11.30 am if you should be coming to the event with a Group. Booking necessary - email info@theballancehouse.com

Tea barn open for snacks and light lunches.

Free car parking. Disabled access. Dog friendly. Cards accepted.

Entrance: adults £3, £1 under 14, free under 5.  All proceeds go towards the upkeep of the House.

Thanks to PPL PRS for supporting this event.

Waitangi Day is the national day of New Zealand, and commemorates the signing, on 6 February 1840, of the Treaty of Waitangi.  Ceremonies take place at Northland to commemorate the signing of the treaty, which is regarded as New Zealand's founding document.

This year’s Waitangi Day Celebration at The Ballance House is an online event being held on Friday 4th February, 2.30 - 3.30 pm.

Our guest speaker is William Crawley, BBC journalist and broadcaster.  We also hope to hear from His Excellency, Mr Bede Corry, High Commissioner New Zealand High Commission, London, and Alderman Stephen Martin, Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council.

This event (via zoom) is by invitation only.  If you would like to join us, please email info@theballancehouse.com

Car Boot Sale at The Ballance House

Saturday 16 October, 10.30 - 2.30 pm.

Free public admission to the car boot sale. Family and dog friendly.

Tea Barn open and Exhibition tours available (limited space - book in on arrival). Tours are available at a concession rate for this afternoon, £8 Family ticket, £3 adult, £1.50 under 18.

Indoor and Outdoor car boot spaces - all booked.

The 20th Anniversary event unfortunately has had to be postponed due to the continuing pandemic. We hope that this can be run later in 2021.

2020 was the NBOC Northern Beetle and Bus Owners Club 20th Anniversary and celebrations were planned including a brand new static show at The Ballance House, Lisburn and a fantastic selection of VWs.

We are most sorry to have to cancel this year’s Christmas event due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation

We are most sorry to have to cancel this year’s Harvest Fair due to COVID-19.

Strawberry Fayre at The Ballance House

 We are most sorry to have to cancel this year’s Strawberry Fayre due to COVID-19.

We are most sorry to have to cancel this year’s Spring Fair due to COVID-19.

Sadly, this year’s Anzac Commemoration Service has been cancelled due to COVID-19.

Booking required as seating limited.

Waitangi Day is the national day of New Zealand, and commemorates the signing, on 6 February 1840, of the Treaty of Waitangi.  Ceremonies take place at Northland to commemorate the signing of the treaty, which is regarded as New Zealand's founding document.

This year’s guest speaker, Jim Neilly, will be recounting tales from his BBC Sport’s commentary days on Ulster and Irish rugby for 30 years. Welcome also to this year’s Dilworth tutors, Paolo Aquino, Anthony Bray and Isaac Vaeau-Mulitalo.

Event now fully booked.

For more information on Waitangi Day, click here.

There will be a huge range of second-hand books to purchase. Guided Tours of the House will be available every hour from 12 noon - 2 pm.  Seating limited.

Free children’s bookmark ‘bookworm’ making workshop and a chance to win Samson’s Titanic Journey by Lauren Graham.

Tea Barn open.

 Free entrance and car parking.  All proceeds will go towards upkeep of the House.  (Book donations gratefully received)