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Birr Vintage Week
Now in its 40th year, Birr celebrates the coming of motorised vehicles in style every year, with costumed parades and displays of vintage vehicles of every kind - from fancy Rolls Royces to humble motor bikes, carriages to early tractors and other farm machinery. The highlight of the week is the parade of vintage cars, which travels through towns theoughout the area on Saturday and through the town's streets on the opening Sunday.
Vintage sports are played too - costumed lawn tennis, croquet - and the residents of the town now have a stock of vintage costumes so extensive that they can, and do, dress elegantly and in period for any event.
To mark the 40th Anniversary of the Festival in 2008 a special commemorative programme is planned, looking back at previous events and reviving some of the features of past festivals.
While classic cars and vehicles are everywhere in Birr this week, and at the centre of many events, there is a lot more to Vintage week that those with less of an interest in old motors will enjoy. There is music of all sorts, including street entertainment with a busking competition, an antique and fine art fair and a special programme of movies at the local cinema.
There are also visual arts exhibitions at a nunber of venues and the pubs of the town go all out, with a wide selection of live entertainment to chose from every evening.
Kids are well catered for, with art and music workshops, treasure hunts, go kart racing and many other events.
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What else to do in Offaly?
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 Midlands and East Area Guide.
