East Mayo town all set to host Riverfest this month

The Riverfest team in Foxford are excited to announce details for the festival which is now taking place after ten previous successful years. This year, the Riverfest will be held Friday evening August 22 and Saturday 23. Each festival builds on experience and ideas from previous years and this year is going to be as amazing as ever.

Market Square in Foxford is the only place to be in Mayo for the very best of free entertainment and fun. This year, there’s also a real push on the Children’s Entertainment, with spruced up marquees in the grounds of the Church of Ireland in the heart of Foxford filled with the most amazing, and for kids captivating, fun and games. 

It all starts as with every festival with the famous Candles to the Sea on Friday evening. Shops and businesses around the town will have labels available the week before for people to write a message about a loved one who has passed. These will be collected and burnt with candles which are released upstream in the town by some local fishermen to drift downstream under Foxford’s famous bridge, providing a spectacle to both honour and celebrate the life of those loved. The event will start as always with music from the Foxford Brass & Reed Band, followed by blessings then as the candles are released, the talented Seoda, who have recently performed on TG4 and RTE will perform live. 

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The next day will see live music throughout the day, from noon on. Taking place in the square, there will be a wide variety of music from rock to trad, ballads to jazz, there will be something for all to enjoy. 

The parade, at 9:15pm is becoming another favourite fixture in the festival. In the weeks leading up to the event, several drumming workshops led by Anthony Mc Namee with volunteers learning how to Bang their own Drum and had several lantern making workshops. These come together along with the fantastic lanterns and costumes made by Mick Smyth and his Mayo Arts Squad team to provide a spell binding spectacle of light, movement and sound as many weave through the town. 

There will also be plenty of angling activities taking place throughout the day on Saturday while there’ll be many stalls set up in the square showcasing local crafts. In Cruiser’s bar, refreshments will be available to all with everyone welcome.

The Foxford Riverfest is free of charge, but all donations are greatly appreciated. People interested in donating can do so by clicking here https://www.idonate.ie/event/FoxfordRiverfest2025.