Arklow Seabreeze Festival photos show smiles all round at summer highlight
Wicklow People
The Arklow community took to the streets en masse last weekend to celebrate this year's Seabreeze Festival, enjoying a weekend packed with entertainment that concluded with a spectacular fireworks display on the Avoca River.
The Swinging Pubs competition kicked off the festivities on Wednesday at The Gin Mill before moving on to The Bridge Hotel, where winners were announced across a range of categories.
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Arklow Seabreeze Festival photos show smiles all round at summer highlight
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Arklow's Seabreeze Festival ready to set sail with stellar line-up of events
Organised by a dedicated group of local volunteers, this year's festival kicks off with a fantastic line-up of shows around the town as pubs battle it out for the title of 'Best Swinging Pub 2025', with dates set for The Gin Mill this Wednesday and the Bridge Hotel on Thursday – both at 9.45pm. The Sensory Express, a dedicated sensory van by Little Warriors designed to be a calm haven, will be in situ throughout the festival, offering all members of the neurodiversity community and their families a chance to relax and regulate amidst the excitement. The main festivities will start on Friday with an all-day carnival in the park (from Friday to Sunday), where there will also be fun and games and Arklow First Responders (8pm) and a hot dog eating competition (8.30pm) Music in the park will begin at 6.30pm with The Steel Druids, followed by Headroom (7pm), Bruiser (7.40pm), Joe Maxi (8.20pm) and The Spudguns (9.15pm). Saturday's festivities will kick off with the AGB Festival of Football at Pearse Park from 10am. There will be an Under the Sea party with Perla the Mermaid at the Bridgewater Shopping Centre from 1pm to 3pm, with Frances Little Flowers Baby Show in the park at 3pm, along with a busking competition (2pm to 5pm). Main Street will close from 6pm for a classic display by East Coast Classic Cars, Peter Fitzgerald Steam Engines and Murt Mulligan Vintage. The Great Pint Challenge will be held at 8pm, when performers 80s Generation and Sean Fox take to the top and middle stages. The festival will finish with a bang on Sunday, starting with the Summer Sounds Band Festival at the Arklow Celtic FC grounds from 1.30pm (gates open at 1pm). Sunday's festivities will also feature a craft fair on Main Street and a teddy bear's picnic in the park (both 2pm), Dicey's Mega Bingo, American Wrestling and street fun and games (all 3pm). The Summer Sounds Marching Parade will be on Main Street at 5.30pm, with the Band Championship awards ceremony at 6.15pm. A massive festival favourite, Centra's Great Ball Race will take place on Main Street at 8pm, with Déjà Vu and Wise Guys (9pm) bringing the weekend of music to a close, before a fireworks display on the Avoca River at 11pm, best viewed from the Riverwalk or 19 Arches Bridge. 'We would like to thank the people who gave their time and money to help us,' an organiser said. 'Many thanks to our festival friends and supporters who put their hands in their pockets to make the festival happen.' Arklow Main Street, from the Bank of Ireland to the junction at Bridge Street, will be closed from 6pm until midnight on Saturday, and from 1pm to midnight on Sunday.
