FRESH FROM its success in hosting the Tall Ships, Waterford is preparing for another weekend of mayhem and delight when an estimated 100,000 people are expected to attend the Spraoi Festival in the city over the bank holiday weekend.
In previous years, Waterford has hosted Spraoi in the Park at the start of July and the Spraoi Festival on the August bank holiday, but because of the Tall Ships visit earlier in the summer, Spraoi in the Park has been deferred until this weekend.
“It just means that we’ve decided to amalgamate Spraoi in the Park and the Spraoi Festival,” programme director Miriam Dunne said, “so this year’s event is going to be bigger than usual and we’re expecting to attract thousands to the city again.”
Now in its 19th year, Spraoi has become a major tourist attraction, not just in the southeast but nationally, with visitors coming from all over Ireland to savour an eclectic mix of street theatre acts supplemented by a vibrant series of concerts and gigs.
“We have a really international selection of street theatre groups – Galumpha from the US, Tumble Circus from here in Ireland, Piano C from Italy, Bencha Theatre from the Netherlands and Sid Bowfin from the UK are just some of the acts,” said Dunne.
Among the many unusual attractions this year is Afghan Omar Nasser, who has built his company, Nasser Volant, around the wonderful kite-flying traditions of his native country. He and the group is performing today and tomorrow in the People’s Park.
“Over 100 custom-made, multi-coloured kites will take to the air – all the kites are between three metres and five metres high so they are hugely impressive and it promises to be a really great spectacle with a specially commissioned music score,” Ms Dunne added.
Another work that looks expected to attract attention is The Three Sisters, which sees Spraoi collaborate with Éigse Carlow and the Kilkenny Arts Festival in a project that involved members of the public helping to design an artistic panels.
Of course, Spraoi would not be Spraoi without the Spraoi parade. It kicks off at Waterpark School on the Newtown Road at 4.30pm tomorrow and circles the People’s Park in what promises to be a riot of colour and characters.