Why not start your weekend dining al-fresco in Phoenix Park? Or take time out to enjoy a refreshing gin-flavoured drink while listening to Groove Armada. Alternatively wind-down with soft jazz in Temple bar. Plans for the Bank Holiday weekend await you.
Take a peek at what’s hot in Dublin and beyond.
Bloom Festival
When: May 28th – June 1st
Where: Phoenix Park, Dublin
Why visit: 25 captivating gardens oozing colour, and chic DIY ideas for your humble abode. Live entertainment at the picnic area in the Craft Village will be a hoot, and an exhibition of Ireland’s top floral artists will blow you away. Wonderful.
The cool bit: There is also a Food Village, yes ‘village’, and a ‘Budding Bloomers’ activity area to keep your little children happy all day long. On now peeps.
How much: €20.25 and kids go FREE
Bloom Fringe Festival
When: 30th – 31st May
Where: Dublin Castle, Dame Street and surrounds of Dublin city
Why visit: Guerilla gardening and urban intervention has begun with crazy-coloured bunting in Dame Lane today. Think installations, tours, workshops, pop-ups and tours all over the city.
The cool bit: Street artist Emily Nayhree of Minaw Collective will be doing her live street art thing that mixes architecture and social issues, while Horticulture and street-life are mixed in an installation by city-scape designer Kevin Dennis. These pieces are on Dame Street all weekend so don’t forget to swing by and soak up a bit of culture.
How Much: FREE
More info.
Dublin Jazz
When: 30th – 31st of May
Where Meeting House Sqaure, Temple Bar
Why visit: Bring the rhythm back with an evening of slow Jazz, Rock and Funk fusion in the middle of Dublin’s cultural quarter. The Louie Stewart Quartet, Jiggy, Electric Freeplay and the Dublin City Jazz Orchestra will bring down the house. Outstanding soloists will make you kick yourself for not keeping up the trombone in secondary school. Dammit.
The cool bit: The super acoustics in Meeting House Square are just the bomb. Absorb the atmpsphere.
How Much: €20 for the weekender ticket or €12 per night.
More info.
Life Festival
When: 29th – 31st of May
Where: Belvedere House, Gardens and Park, Westmeath (just outside Dublin)
Why visit: The lineup’s not bad. Joke. It’s actually amazing. Top electronic artists including Ben Klock and Squarepusher will descend on this manor house. A collaboration with Sim Simma DJ’s, The Big Blue Bus band and Manma Saor will see Reggae music and food combined in an epic artisan food village.
The cool bit: If yoga, dance classes and sipping from green coconuts tickles your fancy then, you should probably arrange to go. There is a beach party on the lake, a psychedelic dance stage, a Red Bull stage, and shadow-puppet theatre show by Niamh Beirne. There are even eloquent spoken word recitals to appeal to those cultured folk among us. Seriously cool.
How much: €149 for a weekend ticket, €119 for Saturday and Sunday or €69 for Sunday alone.
More info.
Forbidden Fruit
When: 29th May – Jun 1st
Where: IMMA, Kilmainham
Why visit: Spectacular surroundings. A cool mix of art installations, great music from big names including Fatboy Slim, Mark Knight, Wu Tang Clan and Groove Armada. The comedy serving is immense. The greats of Irish comedy including Eric Lawlor, Chris Kent, Kevin McGahern and Jarlath Regan will be cracking jokes all day. Just go.
The buzz: Bask in the highbrow atmosphere of the Irish Museum of Modern Art. The setting will elevate that plastic cup of beer to a slightly more sophisticated level.
How much: €119 for a weekender ticket and 59.50 for any day ticket
More info.
Dublin River Festival
When: 30th May – 1st June
Where: Georges Dock and along the Quays.
Why visit: There is a whole host of street theatre, a parade of sail ships, custom sniffer-dog demonstrations (you read that correctly). Take a city kayaking lesson between 11am and 6pm or paddle up stream on a guided tour of the River Liffey, if you fancy. Aerial acts will be jaw-dropping to watch and the food stalls have a mix of Syrian delights to BBQ tasties on offer.
How much: FREE except for select activities
More info.
Dublin Dance Festival
When Until May 31st
Where Dance House, Project Arts Centre, Abbey Teatre, Smithfield Square, Grand Canal Dock and The National Concert Hall
Why visit Grand Canal Dock is host to amazing performances by Dublin Dance Youth Theatre this weekend, while in Smithfield Square on-site spectacles like Renegade Connect hip-hop dance troupe will wow the crowds. Dance events abound in Dublin this weekend so be sure to get booking.
How much FREE and ticketed events starting at €10
More info.
If you have the skinny on any fabulous festivals starting soon just holla’: karen.forde@herfamily.ie
