An open-air concert featuring a 70-piece orchestra on a floating stage in George's Dock will be one of the main attractions of the third Dublin Docklands Festival, which began last night and continues over the weekend.
The orchestra, conducted by Gareth Hudson, will play a selection of "popular classics" in the festival's closing hours on Sunday night.
Today the festival will feature summertime jazz, with a free open-air lunchtime session at the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC). Before the jazz session, free boat trips are available, with three boats offering trips between the Matt Talbot and East Link bridges. E series, Voyage, with Dick Warner.
With up to 12 passengers allowed per boat for the 15-minute trip on the Liffey, organisers anticipate that over 600 trippers will be accommodated.
Boat trips will continue tomorrow, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and on Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. today, the Docklands splash gala will take place at the Sports Co, Ringsend. Pool games, coaching and swimming competitions are planned for the event. Tomorrow evening there will be a quayside funfair from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. in front of the Custom House. The funfair continues on Sunday, between 2 p.m. and 11 p.m. Motorists are warned that the road will be closed from noon tomorrow until 6 a.m. on Monday.
The Docklands Sail-In may be seen tomorrow, from noon onwards. There will be a sail-in by the Dublin yacht clubs on the Liffey, between the Matt Talbot and East Link bridges. Up to 500 yachts are expected to compete for the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) prize for the "best-dressed" yacht. The LE Aoife naval vessel will be moored at City Quay, with free tours for the public.
Sunday, the final day of the festival, will feature four theatre companies, 10 musical/dance acts, eight large interactive inflatable toys, clowns, mime artists, stilt walkers, some 20 face painters/ balloon modellers and two puppet shows.
The festival orchestra will play from the floating stage on the Liffey, from 9 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. . There will be a light show on the surrounding buildings, as well as fireworks displays and a large open-air TV screen on Custom House Quay. A live webcast will monitor the event on www.ddda.ie
Access to the site is along the quays from the Custom House and beside Jury's Inn. The road will be closed from 6 p.m.