Riverfest returns to Mayo town for 11th time

The Riverfest team are excited to announce details for the 11th festival, to be held this year on August 22 and 23.

Each festival builds on experience and ideas from previous years, and this one is going to be as amazing as ever.

In 2024, Riverfest celebrated 10 years with a big final party. For the 11th event this year, the organisers are aiming to put on 11 bands in 11 hours – all free, all live!

Market Square in Foxford is the only place to be in Mayo for the very best of free entertainment and fun. This year there's a real emphasis on the children’s entertainment with the spruced-up marquees in the grounds of the Church of Ireland, located in the heart of Foxford, filled with the most amazing and captivating fun and games. It should be a great break for the adults too!

The festival starts on Friday, August 22, with the famous Candles to the Sea. Shops and businesses around town will have labels available so that people can write a message about a loved one who has passed. These will be collected and burnt with candles, which are released upstream of the town by some local fishermen to drift downstream under Foxford’s famous bridge, providing a spectacle to both honour and celebrate the life of those we have loved.

The event will start, as always, with music from Foxford Brass & Reed Band, followed by blessings from the clergy. Then, as the candles are released, there will music from Seoda, winners of Siamsa Gael Linn, with recent performances on RTÉ, TG4 and RnaG.

From 12 midday on Saturday, August 23 – after a manic few hours building a stage (great thanks to Mick Smyth and his Mayo Arts Squad team), assembling stalls and gazebos (thanks to Old Salt and Foxford Pharmacy for sponsoring) – the festivities continue with crafts, food, music and children’s entertainment. This year there will be a visit from Swinford Fire Service, with real fires (and demos putting them out, hopefully!).

The live music in the square will cover everything from ballads to rock, trad to jazz, starting at 12 midday and continuing until 11 p.m,, finishing with the after-party in Cruiser's Bar.

The planned running list (and it may change) is: 12 to 12.30 p.m. Foxford Brass & Reed Band; 12.45 to 1.30 p.m. Ethan, McHenry & the Dog Roses; 1.45 to 2.30 p.m.; Dennis McCalmont; 2.45 to 3.30 p.m. Mark McHale; 3.50 to 04.50 p.m. Jazz Bandits; 5.10 to 5.45 p.m. Glór na Sí; 615 to 7 p.m. RiverRatz; 7.15 to 8 p.m. Looks like Rain; 8.15 to 9 p.m. Muddy Hawks; 9.15 to 9.45 p.m. Riverfest's own drummers leading the amazing parade; 9.45 to 10.30 p.m. Futures Past; 11 p.m. RiverRatz at the after-party in Cruiser's Pub.

The parade, at 9.15 p.m., is becoming another favourite fixture in the festival. In the weeks leading up to the event, several drumming workshops are held, led by Anthony McNamee, with volunteers learning how to bang their own drum. Several lantern-making workshops were held too. These come together, along with the fantastic lanterns and costumes made by Mick Smyth and his Mayo Arts Squad team, to provide a spellbinding spectacle of light, movement and sound as the parade weaves through the town.

While the music plays, browse the many stalls set up in the square. The organiser try to pick quality, skilful crafters so what you see will be mostly hand-made and unique. As well as food stalls there will also be a vintage tea room set up in Cruiser’s Bar, where Brigid and her team will be baking late into the night before to provide yummy cakes and refreshing teas. Donations always welcome!

Angling has always been a key part of Riverfest. On Saturday, both adult and junior competitions will be held on the river. At the Moy Hotel there will be fly tying, entomology and 'match the catch'. It is also hoped that the popular fishing simulator will be located on the open deck at the back of the hotel. On Sunday the open spey competition will be held, hopefully below the bridge.

Elsewhere, get ready for interactive circus skills and giant bubble fun like you’ve never seen before! Blow, chase and pop your way through clouds of bubbles, then learn how to make your own! Try your hand at diabolos, spinning plates, and more with the fun-filled circus games. Make and display puppets, and turn pool noodle into your own hobby horse and name and race it with your friends.

For older children there the Riverfest treasure hunt, in which you can unscramble the mystery word to claim your prize.

The Riverfest organisers would like to make special mention of the local gardaí, who provide amazing support, especially keeping everyone safe during the candles event on Friday night and during the busy Saturday afternoon. There's also support from River Rescue during the candles event, with St. John’s Ambulance on hand on Saturday.

While all events are free, entertainers, insurance, equipment, publicity, etc, all has to be paid for, and so the organisers would like to thank all who have donated funds, especially local people and businesses, everyone who attended the pub quiz, and people who dropped a few pennies in the buckets. If you can spare a dime to help, head over to the festival's iDonate page (search for FoxfordRiverfest2025).