Our favourite weekend of the year is nearly here! St. Patrick’s weekend has become a time to celebrate our community, culture and creativity with family and friends. St. Patrick’s Festival Kilkenny 2024, has four days worth of events to bring you together!
The 50+ event programme means there is something to look forward to from morning to night this St. Patrick’s weekend here in Kilkenny! Events are a mix of free, payg and ticketed. So make sure to check out the programme, plan ahead and nab your tickets before they are all gone! You can find all the essentials to plan your visit here, or keep reading for some of our day by day picks!
Thursday 14th March
Western Carolina Marching Band – 12noon – Kilkenny Castle Park
Cherokee Trail High School Concert– 7.30pm – St. Canice’s Cathedral (free but ticketed)
Pop-up Gaeltacht – 8pm – Bollards Bar
Kilkenny Tales & Legends Evening Walking Tour – 8.30pm – Meet at the Courthouse (ticketed)
Friday 15th March
Festival Market – 11am – 6pm – Mayors Walk, Kilkenny City
Vintage Carnival – 11am-8pm – Parade Plaza, Kilkenny City
Olentangy Orange High School Marching Band – 11.45am – Kilkenny Castle Park
Monsieur Gusto in the Castle Park – 12.30pm
PK Entertainment Magic Show & Balloon Modelling – 11am-4pm – Parade Plaza, Kilkenny City
Kilkenny Tales & Legends Evening Walking Tour – 7.30pm & 8.30pm – Meet at the Courthouse (ticketed)
Kilkenny Tradfest Music Trail gigs across the city – throughout the evening
Saturday 16th March
The Saturday line-up is bursting at the seams. From music workshops, to spectacular fire shows, American Marching Bands and a comhrá with friends!
Try the Pipes Workshop (u18) – 10am – Rothe House (free but ticketed)
Mr Boom and Mr Rumble’s Bongo Party Interactive Drum & Music event – 11.30am | 1pm | 3pm – Mayors Walk
Lakeville South High School Marching Band – 12.30pm – Kilkenny Castle Park – Kilkenny Streets
Science Hill Marching Band – 1.30pm/2pm – Kilkenny Castle Park – Kilkenny Streets
Daredevil Circus – 5pm – The Closh (ticketed)
Kilkenny Tales & Legends Evening Walking Tour – 5pm & 6pm – Meet at the Courthouse (ticketed)
Pyro Collective Fireshow – 7.30pm & 9pm – County Hall Carpark, John St (ticketed)
Céilí Mór with Tulla Céilí Band – 8pm – Kilkenny Rivercourt Hotel (ticketed)
Kilkenny Tradfest Music Trail gigs across the city – throughout the evening
Sunday 17th March – St. Patrick’s Day
Check back in on Thursday for our full hour by hour breakdown of St. Patrick’s Day in Kilkenny! Kilkenny City St. Patrick’s Day Parade begins at 1.30pm, with activities across the city before and after and Fireworks (ticketed) in the Castle Park ending the night!
Monday 18th March
Out of the Blue Circus Show – 11.30am & 2pm – Festival Tent, Market Yard (ticketed)
Guido Fanzini’s Impossible Circus Show – 1pm & 3.30pm – Festival Tent, Market Yard (ticketed)
Fruity & Dishy Interactive Show & Workshop – 11am-5pm – Parade Plaza, Kilkenny City
The Absurdist Pipe Band – 12pm-3pm – Parade Plaza
Vintage Carnival – 11am-8pm – Parade Plaza
These are just some of our highlights! Don’t forget the Festival Market, Vintage Carnival, Face Painting, Festival Tent, Daredevil Circus and street entertainment take place each day March 15th – 18th.
Come celebrate our Big Festival in a Small City! Bígí Linn!!