Fun in the sun
The summer is festival time and while Cork Midsummer Festival is over, there’s plenty more on the horizon, kicking off this weekend with a brand new one.
One of the great uncertainties about outdoor events in Ireland is of course the weather but hopefully the hot weather continues as long as this Sunday when Joy in the Park kicks off in Fitzgerald’s Park from 12 noon until 6pm.
For those that don’t know, the free summer festival will be quite different to any other current festival. It plans to be both a celebration of life, along with a focus on minding our mental health and wellbeing.
It is being run along with a host of health groups, mental health organisations and wellness practitioners. I was at the launch back in May in City Hall and it sounds a very impressive event, even though it’s the very first one.
Founded by Linda Plover, it is a labour of love and a way to celebrate life itself with an eye to helping us all to live in a better way.
The festival aims to balance a sense of fun with connection and understanding, whilst raising awareness for mental health and well-being through an engaging programme of wellness, sensory activities and workshops, provided by the HSE/Cork Kerry Community Healthcare Community Work Health Action Zone Team and a number of organisations and community groups including Shine, MyMind.org, GROW, Cork Counselling Services and Jigsaw. They will be joined by Pieta, Samaritans, Shine A Light and Aware.ie who will be at the event as part of the support hub.
The list of groups involved give a real sense of just how big a focus the wellbeing side of the festival is. The Cork Independent is proud to be a media partner for the event.
Having said that, some of Ireland’s finest artists and musicians will be involved and organisers have promised a carnival atmosphere. Visitors will be treated to an eclectic mix of live music, spoken word, storytelling, children’s entertainment, circus, wellness activities as well as a delicious food market.
The event will feature a great music line-up with ringmaster Jerry Fish performing at the John McCarthy Main Stage alongside innovative world music band Kíla and Pontious Pilate & The Nail Drivers.
A wide range of performances will take place, including the Mad Hatter's Tea Party Tent and the acoustic stage headlined by John Spillane and featuring some of Ireland's finest musicians.
So be sure to head over to Joy in the Park this Sunday for a lot of free fun events!