New Year’s Festival Dublin raises the bar

The event offers two days of concerts, light spectacles, street food and entertainment for everyone

Judging from the weather forecasts, winter is probably not the best time to visit Ireland. But those of you who have witnessed the New Year’s Festival in Dublin will surely disagree. Marking its eighth year, Ireland’s biggest New Year Celebration promises to be bigger and better than ever in 2019 with 4 spectacular events spread out over 2 days.

Warming up to the big events, early risers can start the New Year’s Eve celebrations at CHQ in Dublin’s vibrant Docklands. There families and friends can pump up their festive mood with street food and live music by young voices such as Allie Sherlock, Scott Carey and many more. The music performances will be delivered from 12.00pm till 6.00pm at George’s Dock, right outside the CHQ building. The CHQ building itself will host lots of entertainment inside, including an interactive marine experience.

Interactive installation comes to life  

On 30^th December from 16:00 – 22:00 and on 31^st December from 12:00 – 20:00 the Triumph Arch at CHQ will become a giant abstract painting, brought to life by the movement of passers-by. The black and white stripes of the installation ripple and transform as people move, silhouettes dance and spar with other silhouettes, inviting us all to join the art experience.

The interactive installation Change Your Stripes, designed by the School of Looking, was originally commissioned by the Limerick City Gallery in 2006. It has since wowed global audiences as far as Yokohama in Japan and Sao Paulo in Brazil, not to mention venues of international renown such as the Pompidou Centre in Paris.

Concerts and light spectacles

On December 31^st, locals and guests are invited to celebrate with Irish performers Walking on Cars, Ash, Aimee and Lisa McHugh at the Countdown Concert (ticketed event). This is just the lead-up to the world class and free ticketed countdown spectacles – the family-friendly Liffey Lights Midnight Moment (Matinee) and Liffey Lights Midnight Moment where you can say farewell to 2019 and ring in 2020.

New pedestrian and cyclist bridge

To reach the scene of some of the events, revelers may use the brand-new pedestrian and cyclist bridge over the Royal Canal on North Wall Quay in Dublin’s Docklands, which officially opened on 20 December.   

On January 1^st, family and friends who won’t  be nursing a hangover, can kick-start 2020 by attending the New Year’s Day Concert in Temple Bar, the cultural heart of Dublin City.

The festival is organized by Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority and Dublin City Council, and is delivered by MCD Productions, Irish concert promotion company.

If you happen to be near, you can visit http://nyfdublin.com/ for more information and tickets purchase.