The Athlone River Festival and food village is taking place this weekend, promising a varied and interesting line-up of activities and, naturally, food.
Events include skydiving and hot air balloon displays and a soap box race during the two day festival starting on Saturday evening (September 12th) at 5 pm. There will also be a street tug of war at 7.30 pm on Saturday.
Many of the events are aimed at children and the river festival component will feature several on and off water events including some at Burgess Park. Pony rides, athletic and a junior angling exhibition are just some of the many activities the organisers have put on.
The food village will feature a number of local restaurants and food producers which will be showing you what Athlone and Lakelands has on offer including award winning beef, lamb and pork as well as seafood, cheese, bread and chocolate. The food village which takes place on Sunday, spreads from outside Sean’s Bar to the banks of the Shannon.
On Sunday at 11am a kids cooking demo will take place where kids will be encouraged to get involved in cooking food and trying it afterwards.
The event will be opened by former minister and Fianna Fáil deputy Mary O’Rourke at 3 pm. It is believed that she will be putting her own cooking skills to the test on the day.
JP McMahon who writes a column in The Irish Times will be showing you how to make tapas in the Flogas Kitchen.
At noon and 3 pm organic gardener and herbalist Paula Sharkey will invite people on a foraging trip where she will collect wild herbs from two local meadows.
And if all that wasn’t enough that will be a number of musicians and acts performing in Athlone around the streets during the festival.