Belfast at Queens festival celebrates its 50th year with an explosion of music, drama, theatre, talks, film, dance and comedy. The festival is known for its dazzling line-ups, show-stopping performances and world-class artists. Over the years, it has attracted such illustrious names as Jimi Hendrix, Laurence Olivier and Dizzy Gillespie.
Dublin Festival Season takes place during the month of October and includes a run of festivals and events will bring world-class culture, arts, theatre, music and architecture to the capital. It’s the perfect time for a citybreak and to experience the capital in a different way. The season includes the Absolute Fringe, the Fringe Festival in over 40 venues around the city, celebrating Theatre, Street Theatre and Music.
Dublin loves Drama! An amazing array of Irish and International theatre productions take place in the Dublin Theatre Festival this October. It is Europe’s oldest specialist theatre festival, running since 1957, and has hosted productions by the world’s most highly regarded artists, while also premiering work by the giants of Irish theatre
Dublin’s ode to the great German party, Oktoberfest, rocks hard for almost three weeks at George’s Dock to the sounds of the original Bavarian band ‘Mostlelandsturmer’ and DJ Udo. Enjoy traditional Bavarian drinks, famous foods and a party atmosphere on Dublin’s docklands.
The Bram Stoker Festival will peel back the layers of the city to reveal stories of Victorian Dublin, combined with a playful contemporary celebration of Halloween and all things vampire.
The Ballinasloe International October Fair & Festival is a nine-day extravaganza of all things equestrian, with entertainment, music and great family fun. With around 65,000 visitors a year the festival continues to grow
The Children’s Book Festival is a national festival to celebrate books and reading. In 28 libraries in Cork County there are workshops, author visits and competitions. Children get an opportunity to meet and chat to their favourite authors with well known authors from throughout Ireland and further afield travelling to Cork to meet their fans.
Now in its 36th year, Westport Arts Festival, has long since established itself on the West coast calendar as an exciting and diverse event. The festival is a locally-run event for the enjoyment of the thousands of tourists who visit the area annually.
The Taste of Monaghan Festival is a festival of food with cookery demonstrations; exhibits by local and international artisan producers; wine & whiskey tastings; and more. A must for all foodies!
The Cork Folk Festival is 33 years old and each autumn thousands of musicians and followers of good music throng to Cork city, one of the most vibrant music cities in Ireland. The festival invites the very best of Irish traditional and folk musicians to perform in the city for one hectic weekend. Performances take place in concert halls, music venues, in 30 pubs and bars and open-air on the Grand Parade. It features big concerts, gigs, lectures, workshops, children’s events, set dancing and specialist instrument concerts in fiddle, accordion, pipes and traditional song. So if you would like to discover secret trad sessions in snugs or want to learn to dance a Céilí with a dancing master then the Cork Folk Festival is your destination!
The Dingle Penninsula Food and Wine Festival is a great celebration of local foods and traditions spread throughout the atmospheric streets of Dingle town on the first weekend in October each year. The town will once again host the finals of the prestigious Blas na hEireann, Irish Food Awards. Together with music, storytelling and multi-media projections the history of the food and culture of the peninsula will come to life.
Experience and participate in Fermanagh’s finest live entertainment and visual festival when Fermanagh Live takes place in October. Embracing all art forms such as music, drama and visual arts, Fermanagh Live, has been designed to appeal to all ages and includes performances of comedy, folk, classical music, brass bands, theatre, film, children’s entertainment, visual art exhibitions and much more. Showcasing both local and international talent, this year’s programme features workshops, exhibitions and a number of high profile performers, it is not to be missed.