Ireland’s biggest summer festival celebrates 10 years

THE free festival that brought together 14,000 people dressed as Where’s Wally, 1,500 bouncing on space hoppers, a custard pie throwing championship, a rainbow disco and hundreds of jaw-dropping street performers from all over the world is getting ready to blow out its candles and celebrate its tenth birthday in July.

A 12-time Guinness world record holding sword swallower, a weight-lifting strong woman, a

‘silent disco tour’ and slapstick, rapping and science workshops for the little ones are among the programme highlights at this year’s Laya Healthcare’s City Spectacular in Merrion Square from July 10 – 12.

Opening its gates in 2006 for the first time, the spectacular has grown from attracting crowds of 26,000 to 240,000 to become Ireland’s second highest attended annual festival after St Patrick’s Day.

Formerly named the Street Performance World Championship, the festival remains the key date in the international street performance calendar.

This July’s event brings some of the very best entertainers to the city and sees the return of some fan favourites including sword-swallower and blind-folded chainsaw juggler The Space Cowboy;

‘bed of nails’ and fire-eating Sideshow Shep; world record holding football freestyler Victor Rubilar and b-boy troupe USA Breakdancers who have been touring with Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson

‘One’ tour.

The Laya Healthcare’s City Spectacular has also expanded its programme to include free children’s workshops in art, music, theatre and science; a family farm area where you can bring a sheep for a stroll or pet a pig; an award-winning Belgian trampoline display; and an Irish food area with loads of free samples and artisan offerings throughout the weekend.

All activities are free and the full programme is listed on www.cityspectacular.com