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Ballina Salmon Festival
This festival incorporates the Ballina Street and Arts Festival and in spite of it's name is not all about either fishing for or eating Salmon!
Most events during the festival take place outdoors on the streets and at various locations in the town. This is a particularly family friendly festival, with more than one third of events specifially aimed at children, and it will be very easy even for visiting children to join in the fun and mingle with the locals at play.
The biggest event of the week is Heritage Day (and night!) when the streets of the town are taken over by the transport and lifestyles of years gone by. Craftsmen and women will display their skills and wares including cobblers, blacksmiths, beekeepers, potters, thatchers and weavers.
There will be entertainment in the form of musicians, performers, dancers, all wearing old world costumes, which those attending are encouraged to do also - and many do.
A huge and always well attended event is the Teddy Bear’s Picnic and a Mardi Gras that brings colour and excitment to the streets of Ballina with a costumed parade in which many of Ireland's newer residents will be in national dress. Mayo's Got Talent will see local performers compete in a varied evening of entertainment.
This is the best sort of local festival, with just about everyone in town involved, and is very welcoming to overseas visitors.
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What else to do in Mayo?
For a look at some other activities and attractions that we recommend within reach of this event, including tour itineraries and articles of interest, see our West Area Guide.
