STRAWBERRY FAIR PLANS AT ADVANCED STAGE
PLANs for the 52nd Co Wexford Strawberry Fair, Street Rhythms and Roots festival are at an advanced stage with an eclectic line-up of acts set to grace the stage in Enniscorthy.
The event will take place over the June bank holiday weekend, will feature music, song, dance and food and will have something for all members of the family.
The Strawberry Fair, which is Ireland’s second oldest festival after the Rose of Tralee, traditionally marks the start of the summer season in Enniscorthy and with the long range forecast predicting good weather over Whit Weekend the organisers are anticipating this year could be the best one yet.
A spokesperson for the organising committee said there will be numerous exhibitions around the town in addition to free outdoor entertainment, pub drama, pub talent and a music gig trail.
The highlight of the festival will be the crowning of the Strawberry Queen but there will also be dance and art exhibitions and a wide range of children’s entertainment.
The Street Rhythm and Roots festival brings its own unique element to the fair and it has been growing in popularity each year.
This year’s festival will include Dorothy, from The Wizard of Oz, and Strongbow, from Norman times, who will be trying to return to where they came from and the committee spokesperson said their respective endeavours should ‘make for some interesting ‘ head scratching’ as they pursue their goals’ on Sunday, June 2.
That will be part of the Fairytales in the Castle initiative which will see the iconic Enniscorthy Castle play an integral role in the events.
‘They will be supported by a huge cast of characters, all of which will be well known and much loved by younger children,’ said the spokesperson.
Last year’s ‘Fairytales in the Castle’ attracted over 2,000 visitors during the day and this year the programme is even more ambitious with the organisers hopefully that a record attendance will be set on June 2.
The Strawberry Fair, Street Rhythms and Roots Festival, is being sponsored by Wexford County Council and Enniscorthy Municipal Authority.
The gig trail for the Street Rhythms and Roots Festival will include 12 licensed premises throughout the town with each of them featuring top class music acts.
Pub entertainment will begin at 9.30 p.m. each night and there will be a live performance by one of the world’s foremost Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute bands in Market Square on Sunday night, June 3.
The fair will begin with the traditional Strawberry Ball in the Riverside Park Hotel, on Wednesday, May 29.
The organisers have paid tribute to their sponsors who make it possible to run such events and to the local businesses that have gotten behind this year’s event including The Riverside Park Hotel; Enniscorthy Credit Union; Treacy’s Hotel, Failte Ireland, Wheelock Fruits and Diagio.