The Temple Bar TradFest in Dublin, Ireland is a yearly tradition designed to promote Irish music and culture. The celebration dates back to 2005, when the Temple Bar Traders organization decided that Dublin City needed a festival celebrating the traditional Irish culture and music, something the city lacked for more than 20 years. In its short history, the TradFest has become internationally known as one of the biggest and best music festivals in the entire country. With more than 200 events spread across five days and nights, there is something at the Temple Bar TradFest for everyone. 2013’s TradFest takes place from January 22nd to January 27th. Here are some of the highlights of the festival that you can look forward to.
- Headline Acts. The TradFest has too many great performers to list, but these headline acts will give you an idea of what to expect. There’s A Stór Mo Chroí, a supergroup of award winning singers and musicians that have performed all over the world. There’s A Taste of Celtic Colours, featuring Canadian musicians whose music is inspired by the music of Scottish and Irish immigrants who settled in Canada two centuries ago. And then there is prominent B/C box player Billy Mccomiskey who will be performing with a friend – popular fiddler Antoin Mac Gabhann.
- Family Programming. The TradFest makes the effort every year to include events that are family friendly and fun for everyone. Face painters will be out on January 26th and 27th, and children can have their faces done for free. At TradFest’s Family Hub at the ARK, children can participate in a crafting session, join a ukelele workshop, or enjoy a concert featuring two harps, a violin, and a bodhrán. Also during the TradFest weekend, the National Wax Museum will provide a special FX demonstration. This display of theatrical makeup techniques will take place in the Children’s World of Enchantment section.
- Free Entertainment. The TradFest offers many events that are free to enjoy. You can go to Lucy’s Lounge for free sewing lessons, or read a poem of your choosing aloud at Swift’s Satire Festival. TradFest features street performers like unicyclists, jugglers, and acrobats. And you can drop by the Busker’s Stage on the weekend to experience the long-held tradition of buskers and enjoy both old and new music.
Tickets to the various headline concerts range in price, but they can be purchased in advance.Travelers may be able to find special TradFest deals through their hotels – for example, the Arlington Hotel Temple Bar offers a TradFest Bed and Breakfast package that includes a concert ticket. The Clarence Hotel and the Temple Bar Hotel both have special TradFest deals as well. If Dublin is on your travel itinerary later in January, then don’t miss this festival!
Ireland is one of the cheapest places to visit in Europe. Airfare is quite reasonable, as well as Ireland tour packages.
