Countdown on as Foyle Maritime Festival set to return to Derry
The countdown has begun with just seven weeks to go until the Foyle Maritime Festival returns to Derry’s quayside, with a number of new attractions planned for this year.
Over 100,000 people are expected to gather once more along the quay over the course of the four day festival, which is due to take place from Thursday, June 25 to Sunday, June 29.
The Council is planing a number of new additionss this year, including a night-time ‘Sails of Solas’ lighting installation incorporating the visiting ships and vessels for three full nights of the festival, while a new Festival Finale Fireworks on the Sunday night is expected to help “increase footfall and revenue streams”.
The Foyle Maritime Festival takes place every two years and is one of Ireland’s most popular summer festivals.
Organisers at the Council said recently that preparations were “well underway to transform the riverfront into an international marina with all the tastes, sights and sounds that come together to create this epic experience”.
There will be a range of themed zones and performance spaces throughout, “all set to a magical backdrop of live music, water activities, animation, markets, visiting ships and boats, fantastic food, and a festival village featuring bars and a live music stage, as well as bespoke keynote events,” a Council officers’ report states.
The theme this year will be ‘Forged On The Foyle - It’s in Our DNA’ which will enable the Council to “showcase our new museum at Ebrington, with stories, characters and exhibitions bringing the museum characters and concepts to life along the riverscape”, with a DNA Marquee as a prequel to the 2027 opening of the £15million DNA Museum at Ebrington.
Other programme highlights include The Science of Water, ‘Carnival Of Colours: The Big Splash’ festival, visiting ships and navy vessels, boat tours and excursions, water
sport displays, river races and taster sessions.
There will be a full road closure along Queens Quay "enabling riverfront dining, Merchant and Maritime Markets, bespoke animation and a vintage fairground”.
The report adds: “The tourism team in Council are curating the LegenDerry Street Food Festival which will return once again to the event. This brings together the very best of locally
produced, artisan food and drink, creating a totally unique dining experience.”