Bray is ready for the 2026 St. Patrick’s Festival, returning with an extensive programme of events!

This year, we are proud to honour our heritage and community spirit with a high-energy celebration of cultural
diversity. From Friday, March 13th to Wednesday, March 18th, Bray will be buzzing with excitement. This
guide is your ultimate companion to six days of non-stop family fun, from the legendary parade to high energy gigs and seafront thrills. Dive into the festive atmosphere and join our unique wellness activities and insightful historical walk.

The 2026 St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the festival’s crown jewel and a definitive highlight for the community.
Kicking off at 2 pm from Town Hall, this vibrant procession is a masterclass in community spirit and cultural diversity. Don’t miss the spectacle as over 2,000 participants showcase their talents while winding their way down to the Seafront in a brilliant display of colour and creativity. To ensure everyone can enjoy the festivities comfortably, a Quiet Zone will be located along Seymour Road for those who prefer a lower sensory experience, and a dedicated wheelchair-accessible viewing area is located adjacent to the main viewing stand. Space in these areas is limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

We are incredibly proud to announce Dylan Kavanagh as our 2026 Grand Marshal. As the reigning Bray Person of the Year, Dylan is being honoured for his selfless dedication to families navigating health crises through The Shauna Kavanagh Foundation.

This year’s St. Patrick’s Festival has something for the whole family. Take a look at the line-up:

Friday, March 13th

• Bird’s Euroshow Funfair: Making its welcome return to Bray Seafront, opening on Friday, March 13th, at 2 pm, then daily from 11 am to 10 pm until Tuesday, March 17th. Top-class family entertainment is assured, featuring numerous children’s rides and family attractions.
• Mixed-Media Magic Workshops: Head to Bray Chamber House at 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm for a colourful blast with White Doodle Art for ages 5+. Sign up for free at bray.ie/stpatricksfestival.
• Funny Focail Comedy Gig: Get into the festive spirit with a laugh! A free show featuring talented bilingual comedians at Frank Duffs at 8:30 pm.
• Live Music Sessions: Nightlife kicks off with Music Bingo at The Palm and Goldsmiths (9 pm), Robin McGuinness and Scott Maher at The Martello (9 pm), and Mute the TV at The Harbour Bar (9:30 pm).

Saturday, March 14th

• The seafront stays buzzing as Bird’s Euroshow Funfair opens at 11 am until 10 pm, offering a full day of high-flying thrills, classic carnival games, and family-friendly attractions.
• Vintage Car Display: The Bray Vintage Car Club showcases a stunning collection of classic vehicles opposite the Bandstand from 2 pm to 4 pm.
• Rugby on the Big Screen: Cheer on the boys in Green as the Six Nations clash between Ireland and Scotland is shown live on a large outdoor screen at the Bandstand at 2 pm!
• Live Music Sessions: Evening highlights include Mac Fhearraigh (6 pm) and Body & Soul (9:30 pm) at the Boomerang Bar, Derek Quigley in the Beer Garden and the Juke Brothers in the Piano Lounge at the Martello (9 pm), Take Two at the Promenade Bar and Grill (9 pm), Seb & Sam at The Palm (9 pm), Simon Gin at Butler & Barry (9 pm), The Led Bellies at The Harbour Bar (9:30 pm), and VOCI at The Wild Goose (10 pm).

Sunday, March 15th

• Seafront Rise and Reset: Begin your Sunday with tranquillity on the Promenade from 9 am to 11 am. Features Macha Yoga, heat therapy in the Helios Rooftop Sauna, and a sea dip. Sign up for free at bray.ie/stpatricksfestival.
• Head to the promenade from 11 am to experience the electric atmosphere of Bird’s EuroShow Funfair, where world-class rides provide the ultimate Sunday afternoon of entertainment.
• Free Family Entertainment at the Bandstand: Enjoy a Puppet Show by Julie-Rose McCormick (12 pm), free face painting (12 pm – 2 pm), a Hip Hop Dance Off with Studio X (1 pm), and an Open-Air Céilí (2 pm).
• A Celebration of Traditional Music: A free, informal session showcasing Wicklow’s finest talent at the Mermaid Arts Centre from 2 pm to 4 pm.
• Guided Historical Walk & Talk: Explore the rich history of Bray with the Bray Cualann Society. Meeting at Bray Chamber House at 3 pm.
• Live Music Sessions: As evening approaches, the music continues with house favourites at The Harbour Bar (from 4:30 pm), LR Project (6:30 pm) and The Ceolin’ Stones (8 pm) at Frank Duffs, Scott Maher at the Martello Beer Garden (6:30 pm), Gypsy Lacy at The Promenade Bar and Grill (9 pm), and Ed Keating Jnr at the Boomerang Bar (9 pm).

Monday, March 16th

• The Bank Holiday buzz reaches the shore at 11 am as the Bird’s Euroshow Funfair serves as the heart of the St. Patrick’s Eve celebrations, offering a spectacular array of world-class rides and festive energy late into the evening.
• Live Music Sessions: The music continues with Niall and Tom at The Palm (8 pm), the Trad Session at The Promenade Bar and Grill (9 pm), live sessions at The Harbour Bar (9:30 pm), and Stereo Jacks at The Wild Goose (10 pm).

Tuesday, March 17th – St. Patrick’s Day

• Catch the final day of Bird’s Euroshow Funfair from 11 am to 10 pm, as the promenade reaches peak excitement for one last blast of world-class rides and festive seafront thrills.
• The St. Patrick’s Day Parade: The definitive festival highlight kicks off at 2 pm from Town Hall.
• Post-Parade Music: The town erupts into celebration with Derek Quigley (4 pm), Leah & Will (6:15 pm), and the Juke Brothers (8:30 pm) at the Martello Beer Garden, Paul & Friends at The Palm (4 pm), live music at The Harbour Bar (from 4:30 pm), and Paddy O’Byrne at The Promenade Bar and Grill (6 pm).

Wednesday, March 18th

• A Musical Farewell: The Boomerang Brass Band provides a grand finale with performances at The Martello Hotel (2:30 pm) and The Boomerang Bar (5:30 pm).

Multi-Day Activities

• Don’t forget the festival staples: the Family Treasure Hunt, offering an adventurous day for all ages
(visit Bray.ie/stpatricksfestival for the questionnaire)
• Bray Goes Green, where local landmarks are lit spectacularly in green nightly.

You can read more about the festival, download a guide and map, register for free workshops, sign up for
competitions, and access the treasure hunt questionnaire by visiting bray.ie/stpatricksfestival/.

The event hashtags are #StPatricksFestivalBray #PaddysBray #PaddysBré #Bray #LoveBray