The Taste of Donegal Food Festival is a
festival designed to celebrate and promote great food and drink in Ireland. This
year’s festival will be held over a three day period from Friday August 24th
until Sunday August 26th 2012. Artisan food froducers will be in attendance
along with a large number of exhibitors from all over the Country along with a
number of celebrity chef appearances. The
festival will be opened with a big fireworks display on the Friday evening.
This County Cork festival is being held
on the 26th of August and will run from roughly 2pm until 6pm. Face painting,
hook a duck, lucky dip, gymnasium and taekwondo displays, and pony rides are
just some of the events lined up. In addition, a number of the usual favourites
will return including tug-o-war, army obstacle course, old time kitchen,
vintage cars and steam engine, Irish dancing and the all important pig on the
spit.
The Horse Show is a Dublin institution
and takes place in the RDS from the 15th – 19th August. It
is one of Ireland's largest events in which the best show horses and the best
international show jumpers compete for honours. If you aren’t into racing
though there will be plenty of food, entertainment and shopping to keep you
occupied. Or get your glad rags on and enter ladies day on the Thursday.
As the final host port for the Tall
Ships Races 2012, the Dublin Docklands will be the place to be from the 23rd to
the 26th of August 2012. Lots will be happening over the four days and there
will be something to entertain all the family. There is live music featuring Cathy
Davey and Duke Special, Viking Demo, Family Workshops and much much more. Theatre of Food will also be at the festival with
a very interesting line up. Themes per day are Thursday 23rd: International
Flavas; Friday 24th: Seasonal & Sustainable & Saturday 25th:
Indulgence!!
If
you can afford it then the Electric Picnic is on in Stradbally, Co. Laois from 31st
August – 2nd September. With a lineup that includes music,
art, theatre, comedy, pantomime, food and holistic health it truly is an
eclectic mix.
Get down to The Pavilion Quarter, Dun Laoghaire, for fabulous food and fireworks on
Saturday 18th August. Tasty treats from the barbecue will be
available and it is also the prime viewing area for the second “Summer is a
Festival” fireworks display from 8-10pm
with the fireworks happening around 9.30.
On Sunday, the 26th of August 2012,
Kilcullen in Co. Kildare will be hosting its third annual Kilcullen River
Festival. The day will include Farmers Market & Craft Stalls, Family Fun
& Games, River Obstacle Course and much more. Keep an eye on their facebook
page for updates.
Mitchelstown Food Festival & Awards
will take place on Sunday 26 August.
Highlights include a food market, cookery demonstrations and food production demonstrations.Other events include a food trail in a number of Mitchelstown outlets,
where festival goers can sample local artisan food and The Food Producers Award
2012. There will also be a dedicated kid's area
with bouncy castles and other activities in the green area outside of the
Kingston Arms Hotel.
On August 18th and 19th, Milk and Cookies is holding its second annual Secret Garden Festival. The Secret Garden is an outdoor festival and will take place in
Martinstown House, with camping facilities provided. There will be
sing-a-longs by the campfire, storytelling under the stars, clowning
around in the daytime with fun activites and workshops, and of
course Cookies!
N.B Even though the events section is updated weekly, dates and times
are liable to change so please do check the websites yourself as well.
If you would like to have your foodie event added please contact Kat at thepurplepageireland (at) gmail.com
