There's a lot to look forward to at Waterford's Harvest Festival
Massive crowds at last year's Waterford Harvest Festival. Photo: Joe Evans
The annual Waterford Harvest Festival will take place in Waterford City from September 5 to 7.
Last year, the event welcomed over 50,000 visitors to the city and the organisers are hoping for even larger numbers this time around and they've worked hard at making a packed programme of events to make that happen.
The festival celerates food and passion of the people behind it.
You can read more about the festival elsewhere in this issue of Waterford News & Star but some of the programme highlights this year will include The Fawlty Towers Dining Experience, The Bridgerton Symphonic and the closing event - Beats, Bubbles and Bites, with Chef Keith Boyle.
Music fans will also have plenty to look forward to with some of the expected highlights being Mick Flannery, John Spillane, Derek Warfield and the Young Wolfe Tones, and The 80s Generation. There is a mix of free and ticketed events across the weekend, with ticketed events on sale.
Tickets can be purchased at waterfordharvestfestival.ie, and the full programme of events is available on the website. Now in their second year as Festival Directors, Mark Dunne and Martin Nolan of MPI Artists bring over 50 years of combined experience to the table.
Mark has been a key figure in the Waterford Harvest Festival since its inception in 2010 and has a wealth of production experience, having worked on some of Ireland’s leading events including Winterval, PÚCA Festival, Fleadh Cheoil Na hEireann and the Waterford City Tattoo Convention.
Looking forward to the festival he commented: "I've been fortunate to build a career in the events industry, working on some of Ireland’s leading festivals — but Harvest is hands down my favourite. What makes it so special is its broad appeal; there truly is something for everyone. It’s always a pleasure to work in my home city."
Meanwhile, Martin Nolan, serves as Co-Festival Director of Fáilte Ireland’s flagship Halloween celebration, PÚCA, which welcomed 40,000 visitors to Co Meath in 2024. Through his company, MPI Artists, Martin also represents many of Ireland’s top musical talents, such as The High Kings, Paul Brady, Mary Black, Jack Lukeman, Sharon Shannon, King Kong Company, Hermitage Green and more. Commenting on this year's forthcoming event in Waterford he said the organisers are excited to build on the momentum of last year's phenomenally successful event.
"This year, we’ll feature even more food demos, showcasing talented chefs from some of the city’s top restaurants," he said. "It’s a fantastic opportunity to explore the incredible variety of food and drink this historic city has to offer. We’re also expanding our walking tours, which will delve into the city’s rich culinary history, and we’re introducing a new holistic element to the festival.”
Waterford City & County Council has issued notice of impending road closures to facilitate the Waterford Harvest Festival.
The closures, which are being implemented under Section 75 Roads Act 1993, will see the following road closed to through traffic on the dates listed below.
Roads to be closed from 6am on Friday, September 4, until 10pm on Sunday, September 7 include: L5532 Arundel Square; L5531 Peter Street; L15237 Michael Street North (from its junction with Patrick's St. to Lady Lane); L91092 Broad Street; L91091 Barronstrand Street; L90352 George's Street; L90353 Blackfriars Lane; L90354 Arundel Lane; L90355 Little Patrick Street; L55301 Bakehouse Lane; L1525 Patrick Street; L15023 Sargent's Lane (from its Junction with Jenkin's Lane Car Park); L1502 O’Connell Street (from its Junction with Thomas Street); L5501 Gladstone Street. Closures to take place from 6am on Saturday, September 6 until 10pm on Sunday, September 7: L1528 John's Street (Applemarket).
A comprehensive Traffic Management Plan will be in place from the start of the road closures and all alternative routes will be signposted. Access to the Cork Road from Ballybricken Green shall be via Mayor's Walk and Barrack Street. Access to The Quays from Ballybricken shall be via James Street and Vulcan Street and there will be no access to The Quays from O’Connell Street after Vulcan Street.
Access and egress to Jenkin's Lane Car Park shall be via Meeting House Lane only and entry to Patrick Street will be controlled by security and barriers at its junction with Stephen's Street and Carrigeen Park. All non-permitted traffic will be directed to Stephen's Street and onto Lady Lane. Traffic permitted to the closed section of Patrick Street will be limited to taxis, Festival Production and emergency vehicles.
Access to Alexander Street will be via Stephen Street, with egress via Lady Lane.
The traffic direction on the section of Lady Lane, from Michael Street to Bakehouse Lane, will be reversed for the duration of the road closures and emergency access will be maintained for the emergency services at all times, to all areas subject to the road closures.
As on street car parking on the above streets will be unavailable during the event, car owners who reside on the affected streets will be asked to relocate to other areas of the city. Any vehicle found parked in such areas will be impounded and will be subject to a release cost.
All businesses within the cordon area will be asked to avoid, if possible, deliveries to and from their premises during the festival period. No unauthorised vehicles will be allowed within the site area between the hours of 8am and 9pm.
Access to all city centre car parks will be unaffected. Public parking on High Street - from its junction with Exchange Street Car Park to Conduit Lane - will be unavailable from 6am on Friday, September 5, until Sunday, September 7.
The following bus routes will be affected: W4 – Peter Street to Brown's Road. Full details will be made available closer to the event from Bus Éireann.
Arising from the closure of Peter Street and Arundel Square, the Peter Street Taxi Rank will be closed for the duration of the road closures and with the closure of the Peter Street rank, the nearest main rank will be 50m away at the appointed stand on Patrick Street.
Signage within City Square Shopping Centre and at Peter Street will direct users to the Patrick Street rank.
