What's On in Tyrone

Under the Hawthorn Tree is one of Ireland’s best-loved children’s books, and this exhibition reimagines Marita Conlon-McKenna’s Famine story from the perspective of its three young characters — Eily, Michael and Peggy — through soundscapes, scents, interactive displays and rarely shown objects from the National Museums NI collections, including a potato basket, shawl and spade from the Famine era.

At its centre stands a full-size hawthorn tree hand-crafted by willow weaver Bob Johnston, its branches hung with copper birds made by blacksmiths. The tree doubles as a reading nook, with the novel there to dip into in both English and Irish. The curators say every object and design choice was shaped by the children’s perspective in the book, and it shows — this is the Famine told gently enough for younger visitors without softening what happened.

The exhibition is included in general admission and runs until March 2027, so it pairs naturally with a day exploring the Folk Park’s emigrant cottages and ships. Open 10am to 5pm, closed Mondays.

The Clogher Valley Show has earned its reputation as one of the premier agricultural events in the region, drawing an average of 20,000 visitors to its 60-acre showgrounds at Augher for a single packed Wednesday. Livestock is the heart of it — around 500 cattle, 500 sheep and 1,000 horses are expected through the rings — but the organisers pitch it squarely as a family day out, with activities, competitions and plenty to watch beyond the judging.

Hundreds of trade stands line the showgrounds, and a new addition for 2026 is the first-ever Clogher Valley Shopping Village, gathering artisan makers, craft businesses, gift retailers and local food producers in one spot.

Run by the Clogher Valley Agricultural Society, it is a genuine slice of rural Tyrone life. The valley fills up for the day, so arrive early if you want to catch the morning livestock classes.

The Ulster Orchestra’s summer visit to the Hill of The O’Neill has become one of the orchestra’s favourite annual outings, and it is easy to see why: a full symphony orchestra playing best-loved classical favourites on the hilltop that was once the stronghold of the O’Neill chieftains, above the rooftops of Dungannon. The 2026 concert starts at 3pm on Sunday 23 August, with doors from 2.30pm.

It is pitched firmly as a concert for all the family, and the pricing reflects that — £20 for adults and £9 for under-18s, though children under three are not admitted. The performance takes place in an outdoor covered space, so it goes ahead whatever the weather; dress for an Ulster summer afternoon all the same.

If you are making a few days of it, the same hilltop hosts open-air Shakespeare four days later, with Much Ado About Nothing staged on 27 August. Book through Ranfurly House, the arts and visitor centre at the foot of the hill.

2026 is a landmark year at the Ulster American Folk Park, and instead of its usual Bluegrass Omagh weekend the museum is marking it with this special open-air concert. Headliner Gareth, a Castlederg singer who moved to Nashville and blends country with Irish folk, is joined by contemporary folk group Onóir, singer-songwriter and harpist Niamh Noade, and Cork fiddle player and singer Meadhbh Walsh, all performing beneath a stretch tent in the museum grounds from 5pm to 11pm.

It is a fitting setting: the Folk Park tells the story of Ulster’s emigrants to America, and the evening leans into those shared musical roots between the two places. Fans of the park’s famous bluegrass festival are not entirely without — a series of Bluegrass BBQ Sundays has run through the summer, with the final one on 16 August.

Tickets are £35.50 through the Folk Park’s website, and the event page’s FAQs cover parking and travel arrangements — worth checking before you set out, as the site sits a few miles north of Omagh.

Cookstown Halloween returns on Saturday 24 October 2026, the opening night of Mid Ulster District Council’s run of free Halloween events across the district’s towns. The Mid Ulster Sports Arena hosts the Cookstown edition, which in recent years has followed a well-loved formula: an early evening of family entertainment building up to a fireworks finale.

The council had not published the full 2026 programme at the time of writing, so check its events listing nearer the date for timings and what’s on the bill. Admission is free and no booking is needed.

If you are in the area for the season rather than the night, the sister events follow over the week: Dungannon’s fireworks night on Friday 30 October, and Coalisland’s Halloween on Saturday 31 October — a handy spread if you are travelling with children who cannot get enough of it.

Dungannon’s Halloween night is the pick of Mid Ulster District Council’s free seasonal events for setting alone: the family fun centres on Market Square, and the fireworks are fired from the Hill of The O’Neill, the historic hilltop that rises directly above the town centre. Watching the sky light up over the old O’Neill stronghold is about as atmospheric as a council fireworks display gets.

The 2026 edition falls on Friday 30 October. The council confirms Halloween fun and fireworks but had not released timings at the time of writing — recent years have run through the early evening — so check the council’s events listing closer to the date. It is free and unticketed.

It sits in the middle of a week of Halloween nights across the district, following Cookstown’s event at the Mid Ulster Sports Arena on 24 October, with Coalisland’s on the 31st.