Your October Cultural Calendar
Days are getting shorter, and the leaves are blanketing the ground in shades of gold and amber. October brings a playful essence and our round up of fun cultural events echoes this mood. From comedy performances to family friendly days out, here's how to stay social this season.
Laugh
Running from October 21st to 27th, the Galway Comedy Festival will see performances from over 70 International and Irish artists across 16 venues.
Highlights include Aoife Dunne’s smash hit solo show ‘Good Grief’, above, a live podcast with the How to Gael gang (pictured top) while the Faulty Towers Dining Experience, a firm favourite, also returns. Snatch up tickets here as events are sure to sell out fast.
See
Galway’s highly anticipated Macnas Halloween parade is back with a bang on October 26th promising a thrilling takeover of the city streets.
This year’s theme is An Treun - the summoning of the lost, inspired by a forgotten Bram Stroker tale and the call of the vanished Corncrake.
Directed by Louise Lowe, Macnas coins the parade as “one of our most exciting yet”. With Macnas performers stirring fear and wonder as they travel across the city, be sure to arrive early and secure a good viewing point as crowds are sure to build.
For more details on this years parade visit An Treun.
Book
The Burren Winterage Festival returns from October 24th to 16th for a weekend of must-see cultural experiences.
Featuring a cattle drive walk, and the Burren Food Fayre, the festival celebrates the harvest season and the unique lifestyle of Burren farmers.
From a community ceili to an informative walk with Burrenbeo cofounder Dr Brendan Dunford there is no shortage of activities to get involved.
Click here for the full event programme and tickets.
Experience
Eastside Arts festival is a community-led celebration of Galway City East, set to run on October 3rd and 4th for a fun weekend of art and culture.
Highlighting the diversity of the Eastside communities, the event features a community Circus, an installation by the Galway Traveller Movement- ‘If Hazel Could Talk’ and storytelling sessions in local primary schools with Niall de Búrca and Lucy Desmond Kelly.
Aiming to foster inclusion, the programme offers something for all ages and interests, integrating local history, art exhibitions, music and interactive workshops.
Click here for the full programme of events.
Discover
Gather the family and dive into the annual joy that is Baboró Festival. Returning to Galway this October 10th to 19th, the festival will feature theatre, dance, workshops and art for all ages.
For those with infants, circus experience Be Kind is a must-see with magical acrobatics and a focus on engaging the senses.
For the children who adore a good story, Charlie Byrne’s bookshop will be having a bilingual storytelling session in Cornerstone Mall.
Another event worth booking is Leaves, a puppetry performance by theatre company Branar, inspired by the beautiful picture book by Stephen Hogton.
Click here for the full schedule of events and tickets.
Gather
Ballinasloe Fair and Festival is set to take place on October 5th to 12th, celebrating its 303rd anniversary.
Promised to be a lively affair of all things horses, the festival is suitable for all ages with an assortment of events from firework displays, horse competitions and craft markets.
Highlights include a motorbike stunt show, a baking competition and a performance from country star Clíona Hagan.
Enjoy
Taking place from October 3rd to 8th, this year's Galway’s Cartoon Festival programme boasts an exciting line-up featuring Palestinian artist Malak Mattar, comic book creator Gilbert Shelton and editorial cartoonist Ian Knox.
If you want a fun portrait of yourself to hang in the bathroom, head to the Radisson Red for a morning caricature session.
For those wanting a more serious discussion, hear discourse on the responsibilities of satire as cartoonists remember the murders of 12 members of the Charlie Hebdo office in Paris, chaired by Irish Times journalist Frank McNally.
For those wanting to get truly involved, pick up a pencil at french cartoonist Lucie Arnoux’s workshop and try your hand at creating your own art.
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