Like an ice cream van for the Arts! FESTIVAL IN A VAN brings entertainment outside and makes it mobile
FESTIVAL IN A VAN FÉILE I VEAIN
The Show On The Road
A mobile live arts event, Festival in a Van brings live performance to you. A trad session in the town square, a classical concert on the green, Shakespeare at schools, craic at care homes, and poets proclaiming in parks... Festival in a Van tours nationwide, bringing the magic of live performance to the parts and places other venues cannot reach.
Our van has been transformed as a mini mobile venue. Equipped with sound, lights, a drop down stage and a truly lovely crew, we are popping up in parks, streets, squares, care homes and more. During the lockdowns, we made safe, fun arts experiences part of life again. Now we're back on the road, bringing art to where you are.
Supported by Creative Ireland and by The Arts Council, and led by a team of theatre professionals, Festival in a Van is is available to festivals, community groups, schools, Local Authorities, and absolutely anyone who likes the idea of something wonderful coming their way.
TOUR DATES & INFO
HAPPENING SOON
jUNE 2025 | VARIOUS DATES
Following on from a successful first year, Festival in a Van is back on the road this June with Fingal County Council and Creative Ireland for the 2025 iteration of Sounds Like Summer: Fingal Festival in a Van, a six-day tour which celebrates the communities and artists who make the county thrive, while making accessible to all the magic of live music, dance, and spoken word.
Funded by Fingal County Council and Creative Ireland. Produced by Fingal County Council, Fingal Community Development Office, and Festival in a Van
Current Workshops
Songlines
Songlines workshops are taking place throughout March, April, and May 2025 in four care homes in Wicklow and Monaghan. These artist-led workshops are focused on engaging people with dementia and cognitive impairment through fun, inclusive discussions of poetry and songs. Songlines will culminate in bespoke live concerts from the Van stage this May for care home clients, staff, friends, and family - we can't wait!
Proud to be funded by the Arts Council with support from Creative Monaghan, Monaghan Arts Office, Wicklow Arts Office, Réalta, and Poetry Ireland.
Sligo Youth Opera
2025 brings the creation of a new Sligo Youth Opera, presented by Sligo Baroque Music Festival and Festival in a Van, which will be developed and performed by local teenagers.
The young artists taking part will be supported through monthly workshops over the course of nine months by a dream team of award-winning artists from a diverse range of disciplines, including: Galway composer and performer Anna Mullarkey; Cork poet Molly Twomey; Kildare opera singer Sharon Carty; costume designer Claire Garvey; Sligo violinist Nicola Cleary; Opera Director Ute Engelhardt; theatre-maker and artist James Riordan.
Proud to be funded by The Arts Council Ireland YPCE Award.
Living Legends
Living Legends is the adventure of a lifetime! Kicking off in spring 2025, this project invites 24 young artists ages 14 - 17 from Limerick and Belfast to connect through creativity, storytelling, and folklore.
Over the course of the spring and summer, both at home and on multi-day immersive residential exchanges, the young creatives will be working with some of Ireland's best artists, storytellers, and folklorists, including Rab Fulton, Órla McGovern, and Pat Ryan. Through music, spoken word, drama, and more, the young people will share, trade, reimagine, and remake their stories into something truly legendary.
In partnership with Narrative4 Ireland and R City Belfast and Northern Ireland Youth Forum. Funded by Creative Ireland Creative Youth on a Shared Island Fund.
HOW TO BOOK
Vans can be hired as venues for your own programme, or we can curate and book a line-up of performers for you. Vans can spend the day in one location or make up to three stops in one day, depending on distances and performance duration.
Costs for Festival in a Van are based on a full day’s hire and include crew, fuel and all technical and safety equipment.
Festival in a Van is available for festivals, local authority events, schools, care homes, private hires and more.
If you would like Festival in a Van to visit you, or if you are planning a Festival and would like to hold performances somewhere that there isn't a stage, please contact us for more information
To learn more or to book Festival in a Van to visit your local community, please email Elizabeth Mohen or click below
NICE THINGS PEOPLE HAVE SAID ABOUT FESTIVAL IN A VAN
"We absolutely loved it! The children were so engaged and the whole crew were lovely. Children were walking home dancing!! Thank you so much"
Bríd Brophy, Principal @ St. Mary's Primary School, Dublin 7
(Event: Back to School Celebration with Gomba Educare, September 2022)
"Thank you for bringing Festival in a Van to Mooorehall Lodge Ardee. From when Gemma, the van, crew and Gavan arrived it was like our Residents and staff got a new energy - a new life. The whole event from start to finish was just so uplifting. the Residents watching the crew set up, not knowing what was coming next and then Gavan starting to sing: you could hear a pin drop, just class. Festival in a Van was the topic of conversation at lunch times and for days afterwards with everyone. We, as staff spoke together about the event to try and describe feeling everyone came away with, and we said it was an energy, new beginning, new hope. After 12 months of Covid 19, that feeling that yes, we are going to be fine! It was a lovely feeling".
Frances @ Moorehall (Event: Gavan Ring, Co. Louth, April 2021)
"I just wanted to let you know how impressed everyone was by the Festival in a Van company and production. Everything happened so efficiently (thanks Anthony) without any hiccups and the students (sixth years in particular) were thrilled to see King Lear come alive on the school grounds, with real actors! It was great to see them ask so many questions afterwards! And the actors were very happy to oblige!"
Teacher at Our Lady of Mercy College, Beaumont (Event: King Lear (in a Van), May 2021)
"From the moment the van pulled up this morning you could feel the excitement grow at school today.
Some pupils were hanging out the window to see what was going on and how a normal van was supposed to transform into a magical stage - I nearly didn't know how they did it even though I watched the whole thing unfold in front of my eyes! Magic in itself.
Suddenly we were at a festival - with a stage, a secure area for around the stage - everything you would expect to see at any venue was there - no attention to detail spared.
We got the green light to start at 10am on the dot and by 10:01 there were 73 children and 40 Staff dancing together at a music festival! It was genuinely amazing. Joyce and Steve played together beautifully - his husky voice complemented by her powerful traditional singing. An incredible experience.
Our school community needed a lift like this - it was amazing. Thank you"
Sarah McGinley, Principal, St. Josephs Special School, Galway
"Once again, I wanted to congratulate the team on the incredible work you are doing. It was such an honour to play for the people at Citywest. There was a powerful moment when just after my performance, a little Ukrainian girl of around 9/10 years old walked over to me and handed me a picture she'd drawn of me performing. She didn't have any English but through the help of an adult we had a little chat, and I gave her a CD of mine. It was a moment I won't forget."
KIRRU, Musician
(Event: Shared Music Sessions, November 12th, Citiwest, Dublin)
GET IN TOUCH
Contact us with any queries and to find out more about booking your very own Festival in a Van
Please fill in the contact form
or you can email directly
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