Kerry plays host to all manner of wonderful festivals throughout the year. Many of these festivals celebrate the uniqueness and charm of the local area and traditions. Expect fun, creativity, craic and often a touch of the extraordinary!
Read on for a list of wonderful festivals in Kerry to keep you busy all year round!
January
6th – Women’s Christmas (Nollaig na mBan) – a day for women to celebrate and be celebrated after the busy holiday season.
February
1st – Biddy’s Day Festival – a celebration of the Celtic goddess Brigid marking the beginning of spring.
March
17th – St. Patrick’s Day Parade – festivities abound in every town, with music, dancing and the Irish spirit on full display.
20th-22nd – Skellig Coast Dark Sky Festival – paying homage to the exceptional quality of the night skies in the region.
April
17th-19th – Killarney Wander Wild Festival – wander off the beaten track for 3 days at this Great Outdoors Festival and step into a world of adventure and natural beauty in Killarney.
May
1st-5th – Dingle Féile na Bealtaine Arts Festival – a mix of arts, music and cultural events celebrating Irish heritage.
4th – Portmagee Sci-Fi Film Festival – the Skellig Coast celebrate it’s link to Star Wars and the wider Sci-Fi universe.
27th-31st – Listowel Writers Week – Ireland’s oldest literary and arts festival, where writers, artists and poets congregate to promote and appreciate the art form.
29th-31st – Killarney Bikefest – a haven for motorcycling enthusiasts with rides, music and entertainment.
June
26th-28th – Con Curtin Music Festival – taking place in the small village of Brosna there’ll be concerts, workshops, sessions, recitals and much more.
26th – Kilflynn Fairy Festival – for dreamers of all ages, Kilflynn’s world of wonder will take you on a fairy trail to a magical land filled with crafts, characters and enchanted performances.
July
4th – Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle – thousands flock to Killarney to cycle the scenic Ring of Kerry to raise money for various charities.
11th – Rewild Festival – a one day music, food and arts festival on the grounds of the Old Dunloe Golf Course Killarney.
13th-17th – Killarney Races – 5 days of racing at, arguably, the most scenic racecourse in the world.
15th-19th – Sneem Summerfest – this charming village comes alive with a festival that blends rich traditions with vibrant entertainment.
25-26thth – Féile Lúghnasa – a Celtic harvest festival dating back 2,000 years, expect stage dramas, sheep shearing and blessing of the boats.
August
31st-3rd – Dan Paddy Andy Festival Lyreacrompane – before Tinder or match.com legendary matchmaker Dan Paddy Andy perfected the job of bringing people together in rural areas, his legacy lives on with this festival.
10th-12th – Puck Fair Killorglin – 3 day festival and one of Ireland’s oldest fairs with Pagan origins, where a wild goat is crowned king for three days.
14th-18th – Rose of Tralee – 5 days of fun, connecting the global Irish diaspora in a celebration of Irish culture since 1959.
15th – Revival Festival – open air concert lineup to be announced to rock out Listowel.
September
18th-20th – Cromane Sea Fest – an amazing 3 day celebration of Cromane’s link between land and sea.
20th-26th – Listowel Harvest Festival – a week long featuring horse racing and the celebration of the harvest.
October
2nd-4th – Dingle Food Festival – a weekend of taste trails, workshops, masterclasses, events and arts highlighting local culinary delights.
15th-18th – Kerry International Film Festival (KIIF) Killarney – a passionate force that connects audiences with cultural cinema and nurtures emerging talent on the way.
November
12th-15th – Sneem Storytelling & Folklore Festival – storytelling events that delve into mythical and historical tales of Ireland.
December
Christmas in Killarney Festival – the town sparkles for the entire month with lights and festive cheer fills the air, marking the holiday season in real style.
And there you have it, a festival and many more for every month for a year!
Enjoy the spirit, joy and celebration of a festival in Kerry this year!