What’s on day-by-day
12 noon Wexford Races, Wexford Racecourse Bettyville Chase Day at the races, with the first race starting at 12.50 p.m. 2 p.m. Pre-Opera Talk, National Opera House
3 p.m. L’Oracolo/Mala Vita National Opera House Opera double bill from Franco Leoni (L’oracolo) and Umberto Giordano (Mala vita). 7 p.m. Danny O’Brien, Wexford Spiegeltent
Irish comic’s ‘Lock In’ Edinburgh stand-up show. 8 p.m. Ballycogley Players, One Act Comedy, St. Michael’s Hall, Green Street 2018 All-Ireland drama winners onstage in SVdP centre. 8 p.m. Wexford Drama Group presents The Factory Girls, Wexford Arts Centre Award-winning local group in production of Frank McGuinness play set in shirt factory.
8.30 p.m. Gala Concert, National Opera House
Always a Festival highlight, All proceeds to Wexford Festival Opera. 10 p.m. The Boomtown Rats, Wexford Spiegeltent.
Bob Geldof and his band back in Wexford town for first time since 1970s.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 29
10 a.m. Puppet Making Workshop with Caoimhe Dunne, Arts Centre Creative workshop with Wexfordbased model maker and puppeteer. 12 noon Jackula Children’s Show, Presentation Centre, Enniscorthy
Inspirational Hallowe’en magic show for the family with Dracula’s younger brother Jackula, as seen on TV. Runs to 1.30 p.m. 12 noon Wexford Races, Wexford Racecourse
Race day at Bettyville, with first race off at 12.50 p.m.
2 p.m. Wexford Male Voice Choir, Wexford Spiegeltent Closing Spiegeltent Festival show with local favourites founded by Dr George Hadden in 1941. 4 p.m. Jackula Children’s Show, Wexford Arts Centre
Inspirational Hallowe’en magic show for the family with Dracula’s younger brother Jackula, as seen on TV. 7 p.m. ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ marking 40 years of Wexford Mental Health Association, St. Iberius Church Gala concert as part of Mental Health Association’s 40th anniversary, with County Wexford Youth Choir, Stephen Murphy, Patricia Giggins, Ruth Gallagher, Jimi Cullen, Ian Doyle, Tony Carty, piper Mark Redmond, and Yvonne Collier. 8 p.m. Wexford Light Opera Hits from the Musicals, Clayton Whites Hotel Multi-award winning WLOS in performance of West End musicals and operetta favourites. 10.45 p.m. Singing and Swinging Pubs, Thomas Moore Tavern.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30
12 noon Winnie the Witch Hallowe’en Puppet Show, Wexford Library Lisa Goold of Shine Bright Theatre presents a fun event for the undereights. 1.05 p.m. Lunchtime recital, St. Iberius Church
The recitals continue with Gemma Summerfield, soprano, and Jessica Hall on piano. 3.30 p.m. La Fanciulla Del West, Clayton Whites Hotel.
Opera Shortwork - condensed performance of possibly Puccini’s greatest work. 7 p.m. Winning the Vote: Irish Suffrage with Dr Margaret Ward, Wexford Library Illustrated talk on the Irish suffrage movement 7 p.m. Pre-Opera Talk, National Opera House
8 p.m. Il Bravo, National Opera House Saverio Mercadante opera in three acts, sung in Italian. 8 p.m. Wexford Light Opera Hits from the Musicals, Clayton Whites Hotel Multi-award winning WLOS in performance of West End musicals and operetta favourites.
8 p.m. Bridge Drama presents two OneAct Plays, Wexford Arts Centre
A double treat - ‘When I Snap My Fingers’ by Bruce Adams and ‘After The Picnic’ by David Foxton. 9.50 p.m. Singing and Swinging Pubs, Sinnott’s, Distillery Road 10.35 p.m. Singing and Swinging Pubs, the Mocking Monck.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31
1.05 p.m. Lunchtime Church recital, St. Iberius Baritone Brett Polegato is joined by Andrea Grant on piano. 2 p.m. Hallowe’en Face Painting, Wexford Arts Centre.
€3 per child. Runs until 5 p.m. 3.30 p.m. Don Pasquale, Clayton Whites Hotel
Opera Shortwork, by Gaetano Donizetti. 7 p.m. Pre-Opera Talk, National Opera House
8 p.m. L’Oracolo/Mala Vita, National Opera House Opera double bill from Franco Leoni (L’oracolo) and Umberto Giordano (Mala vita).
8 p.m. Wexford Light Opera Hits from the Musicals, Clayton Whites Hotel Multi-award winning WLOS in performance of West End musicals and operetta favourites. 8 p.m. Bridge Drama presents two OneAct Plays, Wexford Arts Centre
A double treat - ‘When I Snap My Fingers’ by Bruce Adams and ‘After The Picnic’ by David Foxton. 9.30 p.m. Singing and Swinging Pubs, Mackens (The Cape)
10.20 p.m. Singing and Swinging Pubs, T. Morris
11.10 p.m. Singing and Swinging Pubs, The Merry Elf, Killinick
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1,
1.05 p.m. Lunchtime recital St. Iberius Church The popular festival attraction continues in the company of Francesca Tiburzi, soprano, and Giorgio D’Alonzo on piano. 3.30 p.m. Bernstein A La Carte, Clayton Whites Hotel
Opera Shortwork - Roberto Recchia directs celebration of one of America’s greatest composers. 7 p.m. The Ros Tapestry Talk, Wexford Library
Writer and historian Eithne Scallan talks about the history, while Kay Dolan, Rosa Ronan and Susan Synott-Shannon deal with the working/technical details. Two of the Tapestry panels will be on display.
7 p.m. Pre-Opera Talk, National Opera House
8 p.m. Dinner at Eight, National Opera House William Bolcom opera set in Depression-era Manhattan. 8 p.m. Wexford Light Opera Society, Hits from the Musicals Clayton Whites Hotel Multi-award winning WLOS in performance of West End musicals and operetta favourites. 9.15 p.m. Singing and Swinging Pubs, Sky and the Ground
9.50 p.m. Singing and Swinging Pubs, The Talbot Hotel 2018 show from last year’s Singing winners
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2
1.05 p.m. Lunchtime recital St. Iberius Church Joo Won Wang, baritone, and Tina chang, piano. in the final recital of the 2018 programme. 3.30 p.m. La Fanciulla Del West, Clayton Whites Hotel
Opera Shortwork - condensed performance of possibly Puccini’s greatest work. 7 p.m. Pre-Opera Talk, National Opera House
8 p.m. Il Bravo, National Opera House Final festival staging of Saverio Mercadante opera in three acts, sung in Italian. 8.30 p.m. Holy Mary (Eoin Colfer), Jerome Hynes Theatre
Hilarious and heartbreaking play from pen of Wexford native of Artemis Fowl fame.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3
11 a.m. The War At Sea Around Ireland 1914-18, Wexford Library Lecture by Dr Pat McCarthy of the Military History Society of Ireland examining the strategy and tactics used by both sides. 12 p.m. Vocal Recital (Rachel Kelly), National Opera House
Rising star in programme exploring familiar and lesser-known French repertoire, accompanied by Fiachra Garvey. 3.30 p.m. Don Pasquale, Clayton Whites Hotel
Opera Shortwork, by Gaetano Donizetti. 7 p.m. Pre-Opera Talk, National Opera House
8 p.m. L’Oracolo/Mala Vita, National Opera House This year’s final performance of opera double bill from Franco Leoni (L’oracolo) and Umberto Giordano (Mala vita).
8.30 p.m. Holy Mary (Eoin Colfer), Jerome Hynes Theatre
Hilarious and heartbreaking play from pen of Wexford native of Artemis Fowl fame.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4
11 a.m. Festival Book and Collectibles Fair, Talbot Hotel Sale of rare and collectable books, including extensive collection of books of County Wexford interest. Entrance fee €2, but children free. Runs to 5 p.m. 3 p.m. Chorus and Orchestra Concert, National Opera House
Performances of Handel’s ‘Dixit Dominus’ and Vivaldi’s ‘The Four Seasons’ in the O’Reilly Theatre. 7 p.m. Pre-Opera Talk, National Opera House
8 p.m. Dinner at Eight, National Opera House The Festival’s closing performance of William Bolcom’s opera set in Depression-era Manhattan.