Pandemic-friendly Ballina Fringe Festival is gearing up to bring much needed fun, laughter and colour to the streets of Ballina.
From October 9 to 18, Ballina Fringe Festival takes to the streets – literally – with a range of events, tours, and discoveries for the people of Ballina and visitors to the town in a pandemic-friendly arts festival, many of which will be self-guided and free of charge, making them accessible to as many people as possible.
Top of the pandemic-friendly fun list is ‘Movies at the Mart’ on Saturday, October 16, when Ballina Fringe Festival will transform Ballina Mart into a drive-in movie theatre, bringing an evening of classic hits including The Princess Bride and This is Spinal Tap.
Ever-popular street art project Pure Ballina returns, supported again by Creative Ireland through Mayo County Council, Dulux and Archers, bringing renowned street artist and social justice advocate Maser to Ballina.
While in Ballina, Maser will work with the Foroige Neighbourhood Youth Project to create stunning murals to add to the Pure Ballina street art gallery, and self-guided walking tours of the street art collection will be launched on Sunday, October 17 as part of the festival.
The festival also includes a lockdown photography exhibition and a shop-window curated art trail by local artists. Online events include a bi-lingual podcast series, a writer’s workshop featuring Solar Bones author Mike McCormack with local author Kate Kerrigan and ‘Giving Voice to Direct Provision’, a conversation between poet and co-editor of Correspondences, Jessica Traynor and two of the artists featured in the anthology, Annemarie Ni Churreáin and Evgeny Shtorn.
Ballina Fringe Festival has been developed in partnership with Ballina Arts Centre and Mayo North, in association with lead sponsor, the Ice House Hotel and funded by Creative Ireland, the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Mayo County Council. The festival has also been supported by a number of local businesses.
Tickets for Movies at the Mart are €15 per vehicle, available at www.ballinafringefestival.ie At all times, safety and adherence to Covid-19 guidelines will be a priority for festival organisers.
