Well Festival 2025 launches exciting lineup of arts and wellbeing for Waterford
Mystic Holistic Claire O'Sullivan, who will present a vibrant workshop at this year's Well Festival
Taking place in venues across Waterford from Monday, February 17 to Saturday, February 22, the 12th Well Festival of Arts & Wellbeing features a massive line-up of over 30 fun, free and sociable arts events for all ages.
The festival will feature music, art, dance, poetry, crafts and storytelling, alongside dedicated activities for younger audiences through the Wellies programme.
Presented by Waterford Healing Arts and Waterford Libraries, festivalgoers will experience the joy of creativity through music, art, dance, literature, talks, workshops and interactive opportunities for everyone.
The programme also includes Wellies, with events designed especially for younger audiences including dance workshops, crafting, storytelling and more.
In addition to events across the city, the festival has a special focus on arts for people in healthcare settings with a range of activities and immersive experiences planned for patients and staff at University Hospital Waterford.
A much-loved element of the Well Festival, the 'Fancy A Lift' event, has been curated this year by the highly regarded poet Kerrie O’Brien, who has chosen an absorbing selection to give people a daily lift.
A new poem will be shared each day with the University Hospital Waterford (UHW) community via patient meal trays and staff emails, and with the wider Well Festival audience through Waterford Libraries and online.
The Annual Réalta-Well Festival Keynote conversation this year will feature Dr Austin O’Carroll, champion of quality healthcare access for all, with Waterford’s own Dermot Keyes.
With the 'Slow Stitching - Sip and sew for wellness' event, guests will discover the ancient art of mark making through needle, thread and fabric with Christina Drennan in a social sewing session.
'Dance Yourself Free' is an energising dance workshop for teens aged 15-18, with Sinéad Gould at Central Library on Tuesday, February 18, whilst the 'Cuppa & Ceol' event will offer a sociable, music-infused tea party with well-known musician Liam Merriman.
Another standout, 'Yutori', is a unique ambient sound art installation by Patrick McGlynn (aka: Dr Mindflip), with sounds that change depending on the day, hour and minute. It will be positioned in the UHW main foyer during the Well Festival, and in various public and patient spaces at the hospital thereafter.
All events this year are free of charge, but some events still need to be booked to ensure a place. Detailed listings are available from www.wellwaterford.com.
The festival takes place from Monday, February 17, to Saturday, February 22.
