Park Life - Sunday 18th
The beating heart of our festival every year - Saturday & Sunday in our beautiful Con Smith Park, Cathedral Road, Cavan Town. Parking available right next door at Cavan Institute.
Sunday 18th May, 10am
Meet at Peace Statue in Con Smith Park
Working Glas Heroes: Michelle Boyle - Watercolours Walk, Talk and Workshop
Working Glas Heroes welcomes the renowned visual artist Michelle Boyle to the Cavan Arts Festival programme to lead a very special walk and watercolour workshop along the Kinnypottle River in Con Smith Park.
Sunday 18th May, 10:30am
Starts & Finishes at The Playground, Con Smith Park
Pedal Parade
Saddle Up! Ginormous Disco Bikes, Penny Farthings, Unicycles,Trick Bikes, Tiny Circus Bikes… If it goes by pedal power we’ve got it. So get on your bike and join us!
Thursday 15th - Sunday 18th May, 11am-3pm
Cavan Institute, Block A
Creative Collectives Student Showcase
Join us at Creative Collectives 2025 to celebrate the talent and creativity of students from across a growing range of creative courses at Cavan Institute.
Sunday 18th May, 11am-3pm
Cavan Institute, Block A
What makes it home?
Third Year students from Loreto College Cavan have been undertaking a project based on the theme 'What makes it home?'. Each artist has considered what makes Cavan home to them from their unique perspectives. The theme has been explored through various media such as paint, print and book craft.
Sunday 18th May, 11-4:45pm
Small Top Tent, Con Smith Park
Lifelong Learning Carnival School
Lifelong Learning Carnival School brings artists and communities together to celebrate culture and community through carnival arts!
Sunday 18th May, 11am
Con Smith Park, Cavan
Mammoth Street Samba Band
Mammoth Street Band are a community based carnival drumming group based in Belturbet, Co. Cavan. They play rhythms from the north-east of Brazil, thunderous Afro-Samba, Samba-Reggae and Funk.
They bring infectious joy and sure to get your feet moving! Come join and dance!
Sunday 18th May, 11:30am - 1:30pm
Con Smith Park, Cavan
Sásta Play
This workshop is perfect for children aged 2 to 5, where they can spark their curiosity by immersing themselves in sensory, imaginative and messy play experiences.
Join Helen from Sásta Play for a fun-filled afternoon.
Sunday 18th May, 11:30am
Con Smith Park, Cavan
Yoga for Creativity
Grab your yoga mat, join Claire Brides from Align Yoga Studio and take a moment for yourself in Con Smith Park for this very special yoga session.
Suitable for all levels, bring your own mat.
Sunday 18th May, 12 noon
Big Top Tent, Con Smith Park
Kyle Riley & Little Folk - On The Road
Kyle’s back with his wildly popular family concert for young children. ‘Little Folk-on the Road’ is perfectly suited for 2-6 year olds and their adults.
Tickets: €10
Sunday 18th May, 12 noon & 2pm
Con Smith Park, Cavan
Amadan Ensemble present Madame Kakapo & Son
The amazing seer Madame Kakapo was found by her son Bruce in a tea chest down the docks. Little did he know that the boxes of fine Indian tea he'd bought actually contained the greatest fortune teller ever to have lived. Join us as we look into Madame Kakapo's crystal ball to discover your fate! Card readings also available.
This hilarious walkabout sees Bruce trailing his tea chests behind him. He’s a cockney, a jack-the-lad, geezer, who takes pride in his great find ‘The Fabulous Fortune Teller – Madame Kakapo’. She definitely isn’t his mother and while their plans to con the public always go astray, this dastardly duo are really endearing and full of charm and craic.
Sunday 18th May, 1pm
Con Smith Park, Cavan
Jerry Tremblay - Acrobatic Bike & Comedy
We’re delighted to welcome Canadian circus artist Maxine Poulin for his Irish premiere at Cavan Arts Festival, specialising in acrobatic bike and comedy.
Sunday 18th May (1-3pm)
Cavan Institute, Block A
Sensory Room
Cavan Arts Festival is proud to offer a dedicated Sensory Room in collaboration with Cavan Autism Centre as part of this year’s festival. Open to anyone who may benefit from a calm, low-stimulation environment, this space is designed to support relaxation, regulation, and inclusion.
Sunday 18th May, 1pm
Cavan Institute, Room 202
Cavan Community Cinema
Cavan Arts Festival is proud to present the launch of Cavan Community Cinema, a bold new initiative bringing people together through the magic of film. To launch this exciting new project, we will be screening ‘Unspoken’ by Cavan Director Alan Bradley at 1pm on Sunday 18th May in Cavan Institute.
This event is free to attend, but registration is required.
Sunday 18th May, 1:30pm
Big Top Tent, Con Smith Park
Slow Session with Brendan McCreanor and José Misael Rivas Cortéz
At the Cavan Arts Festival, Brendan will lead a very special festival edition of Slow Session, with guitar and bodhrán player José Misael Rivas Cortéz. We invite all ages and instruments to be part of this accessible music session.
Tickets: €10
Sunday 18th May, 3pm
Big Top Tent, Con Smith Park
Filidh
FILIDH [Fill-Ee] is a spirited and expressive Dublin based trad group comprised of Caty Cleary on fiddle and vocals, Neil Dignam on banjo, Ellen O'Brien on Flute, Declan Coles on bodhran and vocals, and Tama de Búrca on pipes and guitar. FILIDH has been established since 2024 and their name, the Irish for poets, relays their mission to share and weave the stories, images, and identity of Irish traditional and folk music.
Sunday 18th May, 3pm & 5pm
Con Smith Park, Cavan
Padraic Brady's Ojus Tours
Site Specific Street Theatre. Meeting Point: Peace Statue in Con Smith Park. Maximum of 25 people per tour. Duration: 50 minutes approximately.
Tickets: €10
Sunday 18th May, 4pm
Con Smith Park, Cavan
Dabke!
Join Mustafa Alsaidi from Belfast Dabke and his dancers for a memorable Palestinian dance with some cúpla focal gaeilge during this very special performance and workshop.
The Palestinian Dabke is a traditional folk celebration dance normally performed at weddings, festivals, symbolising unity, resilience, and the joy of communal life. Come watch the performance and join the dance!
Sunday 18th May, 4:30pm
Big Top Tent, Con Smith Park
Indigos Ego
Indigos Ego is a four-piece alternative/indie band formed in mid-2024 in Cavan, Ireland. Drawing inspiration from artists like The Smashing Pumpkins, Tori Amos, Radiohead & Manchester Orchestra. Their sound blends atmospheric textures with raw emotion and anthemic choruses.
Sunday 18th May, 6pm
Big Top Tent, Con Smith Park
Working Glas Heroes: Peter Broderick - Playing Songs from his Folk Album Blackberry
Peter Broderick is an internationally renowned composer and musician who is equally at home playing the Big Top Tent at Con Smith Park as he is delighting audiences at the National Concert Hall.
Sunday 18th May
Con Smith Park, Cavan
Storm Echoes
Bursary Winner 2025
Orla Galligan
Storm Echoes is a bold and sustainable art installation project that repurposes fallen trees and branches from Storm Éowyn into dynamic, colourful sculptures.
Sunday 18th May
Con Smith Park, Cavan
Re-Turn
Re-turn, Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme launched on February 1, 2024. When you buy a drink in a plastic bottle, aluminium, or steel can that features the Re-turn logo, you pay a small deposit in addition to the price of the drink.
When you return your empty drink container to participating shops and supermarkets, you get your deposit back in full.
Sunday 18th May
Con Smith Park, Cavan
Skate Jam with Cavan Concrete Surfing
Cavan Arts Festival are delighted to be teaming up with Cavan Concrete Surfing again this year.
Try skateboarding! Come and have a go at our welcoming & supportive have-a-try lessons.
Sunday 18th May
Con Smith Park, Cavan
Forest Feast Food Area
Join us for a fabulous selection of some incredibly tasty food from Oven Baked pizza to Fresh Sushi, Mouth watering burgers to hand made hot dogs, coffees, cakes, vegetarian options & refreshing treats - you name it we have it this year in our forest feast area.
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Official Cavan Arts Festival Programme 2025
A magical four days & nights of art & culture in the heart of Cavan Town