The August bank Holiday weekend will see Headford host the first Headfest community festival.
Headfest is a three day festival, running from Friday August 3 to Sunday August 5, to celebrate the tremendous pool of established and emerging talent within the Headford community. Boasting an incredibly diverse collaboration of community groups, artists, crafts people, and sporting bodies, and with a full line-up of events catering to all tastes, the festival is sure to have something for everyone.
The festival will kick off on Friday August 3 at 6pm with a vintage car parade which will escort the queen of the festival, Avril Conneely, to Monaghans Showrooms for the official festival opening reception. There will also be a pop up art and photography gallery at the showrooms.
At 8.30pm in Campbell’s Tavern there will be an eagerly anticipated performance from the newly formed Sketches Tav Theatre Company. Campbell’s Tavern will also be hosting live music for the three nights of the festival, as will many of the pubs in the area.
The programme also incorporates a fishing competition in Greenfields, a dog show in the grounds of Presentation College organised by Headford Gymkhana, and clay pigeon shooting courtesy of The Blackriver Game and Conservation Club. Moyne Villa Soccer Club and the Headford GAA will be running an underage soccer blitz and an 11-a-side GAA senior interclub tournament.
Don’t worry if sport is not your thing as there are plenty of alternatives. St Fursa’s Historical Society presents guest speaker, historian Peadar O’Dowd, in the Anglers Rest at 9pm on Friday the 4th. Headfest is also fortunate to have secured the participation of many local artists, photographers and crafts people in a selection of exhibitions which will take place over the weekend. The festival will see many local musicians, singers, and dancers perform. Among the many highlights, the organisers are looking forward a performance of the newly formed, 30 strong, Kilcoona community choir who will be performing in Campbell’s Tavern at 5pm on Saturday August 4.
On Saturday people will also be able to sample the delights of local producers at the extended farmers market, with face painting and children’s entertainment and an arts and crafts exhibition in the afternoon. Then why not dance the night away on Saturday with Matt Cunningham in St Fursa’s Hall from 9.30pm.
Family fun is well catered for throughout the weekend at St Fursa’s Hall with a hip hop workshop by Judith Higgins from 3pm to 4pm and a family disco for parents and children up to the age of 12 from 4pm to 5pm. Both are free of charge.
The festival will conclude with a finale concert on Sunday at the Headford GAA pitch. Gates open at 4.30pm and will feature the Hernon Family, Marc Roberts, Don Stiffe, and The Timber Tramps.
The Headford Committee extends an open invitation to all, so join them for lots of fun at Headfest 2012. Keep up to date on Facebook or for further information contact Headfest@ gmail.com
