Athlone River Festival August Bank Holiday Weekend
Journey through time as Athlone’s Viking past returns in force, with living history displays, traditional crafts and fascinating insights into Viking culture and customs. The Athlone Woollen Mills Market will once again line the riverside with locally made goods, artisan food, unique crafts and a lively market atmosphere perfect for browsing, tasting and meeting makers.
The river itself takes centre stage with exhilarating longboat and kayak battles hosted by Bay Sports, alongside boat trips with our main sponsor Viking Tours Ireland, offering a unique way to experience Lough Ree and the River Shannon from the water. Expect excitement, spectacle and plenty of cheering from the riverbanks throughout the weekend.
Family fun is at the heart of the festival, with the Athlone Family Resource Centre returning with their much-loved street theatre performance on Friday July 31st, plus a full programme of children’s free activities and family-friendly events running all weekend. The popular Mad Caps two-day competition, interactive workshops and creative play spaces ensure there’s something for all ages. Athlone Community Radio will ensure not a magical moment is missed on the airwaves across the midlands with their live outdoor broadcast over the weekend.
With live entertainment, historic reenactments, market stalls, food, water sports and community events spread throughout the town, Athlone River Festival is a celebration of everything that makes Athlone special — its river, its people and its proud heritage.