Family fun by the sea as Ballyheigue summer festival continues to thrill

FAMILY fun and frolics continue in Ballyheigue this week as the annual Summer Festival continued until Sunday, July 10.

The festival began in earnest on Monday offering locals and visitors such treats as an ice-cream party, soccer blitz, a children’s treasure hunt and Ballyheigue’s own Bushtucker Trial, and there’s plenty more lined up for the rest of the week too.

Wednesday and Thursday see events kick off at 5pm – on Wednesday the action begins with a kids table quiz at the White Sands, followed by the blessing of the boats, and Inshore Rescue Demonstration and dancing at the crossroads (at the Castle Gates) at 8.30pm.

On Thursday, the action begins with kids’ fun at the beach; a Slip to Shore Swim; pig racing at 8pm, followed by the annual festival bingo and karaoke at 9pm.

Organisers have lined up a full day of great entertainment on Friday, kicking off at 11am with the festival family fun day at the local Family Resource Centre until 2pm. The terrier racing on the beach at 5.30pm is guaranteed to draw a crowd, followed by the King of the Beach Run competition at 6.30pm and the hugely entertaining Ball Run at 8pm.

Highlights of Saturday’s programme of events include a car treasure hunt, sand castle competition, kids disco, egg toss and youths obstacle course, culminating with the selection of the 2016 Festival Queen at the Community Centre at 7.30pm.

And while the festival may draw to a close on Sunday, there’s still plenty to keep the little ones and their parents entertained, including a farm skills competition, bonnie baby competition, puppet show, tug of war, a ‘keepy uppy’ competition and wheelbarrow race, as well as the All Ireland Rock/Paper/Scissors competition on Dolly’s Green at 2pm.

The festival will officially draw to a close at 4,30pm with the annual festival parade on the main street featuring floats, community groups, music and the newly crowned Festival Queen.

A full line up of events, times and locations is available at www.ballyheigue.ie