The Top Events This Summer In Dublin For People Who Don’t Like Festivals

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From Electric Picnic to Body & Soul and everything in between, the calendar in Ireland this year has no shortage of festivals to keep music-lovers entertained all summer long.

In fact, as we described a few weeks ago, you could just about make it to a different Irish festival every weekend this summer if you tried hard enough.

But what if music festivals aren’t your thing?

If the thought of spending three days in a mud-drenched tent or shelling out €250 for concert tickets fills you with dread, worry not. There’s something for everyone in Dublin this summer, and we’ve compiled the best of this summer’s events for everyone’s tastes.

Cinema

Cinephiles in Dublin are in luck this season, with a variety of cool film events scheduled over the next few months and even more in the works.

Events group Happenings have outdoor cinema events on the schedule all summer long in locations all over the city, starting with a screening of The Van this Friday, June 5, in the oh-so-apt surrounds of Dalymount Park.

The Lighthouse Cinema in Smithfield, meanwhile, has turned June into Bill Murray Season, and will be hosting special screenings of the actor’s hits all month long. Get your tickets now, because events like Lost in Translation with movie-screen karaoke and a Stripes and Caddyshack double bill are going to sell fast.

Culture

The Irish Museum of Modern Art is hosting its Summer Rising festival from June 4-14, billed as a “celebration of art, food, music, and performance” and promising live music, theatre and spoken word performances, interactive art installations, food stalls (Cake Café and Fish Shop, anyone?), and cooking workshops.

You can get tickets for evening events and food from just €15 or pop by the daytime events for free.

Of course, Dublin Pride is set for a particularly special year, and is a can’t-miss event for all members and friends of the LGBTQ community still on a high after the marriage referendum.

Pride takes over Merrion Square from June 19-28 and comes to a head with the Pride Parade on Saturday June 27. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for the full lineup of events.

Meanwhile, if art and parades aren’t your thing, but you enjoy smoothies and head massages, Morning Gloryville will be hosting their 12th Dublin breakfast rave at Hangar on July 1.

DJ sets, yoga classes, a dance floor, and a team of “Wake-Up Angels” to attend to your every coffee need, all before breakfast? You’d better get your tickets now.

Food

Let’s start with the big one here.

The 10th annual Taste of Dublin moves into Iveagh Gardens from 11-14 June. Beeftro, Jaipur, and Pichet are just a few of the all-star Dublin restaurants participating in the festivities this year, and you can find a lot more – along with tickets starting at €15 – on their website.

The Beatyard moves to Dun Laoghaire for the first time this year, and, in addition to their incredible music festival lineup, they also have a great culinary experience at the ready in their Eatyard village. With 3FE, Staple Foods, and the Bernard Shaw’s Big Blue Bus all on board, neither Eatyard’s eats nor Beatyard’s beats should be missed this year.

Day and weekend tickets are available now from €39.

If barbecue is more your style, head to Herbert Park this August 13-16. The Big Grill BBQ & Craft Beer Festival is back this year and better than ever, with food demos and workshops, a chili eating challenge, and Ireland’s first international BBQ competition. Day tickets for this festival start at just €10.

Music festivals (without all the fuss)

If a full weekend of festival revelry isn’t your thing but you still want top-notch live music, all is not lost. Lots of the best festivals in Ireland this summer offer day passes for the live music of the festival scene with no tents, no sleepless nights in the mud, and no triple-digit price tags required.

Try a day of music and surfing at Donegal’s Sea Sessions for €45 or a day pass to Indiependence in Cork for €49 – Sunday alone will get you to both Kodaline and the Dandy Warhols, to name but a few (which makes now as good a time as any to whip out this old classic).

The ultimate day pass experience, though, is undoubtedly Longitude.

This one requires not only no camping and no big expense – a day ticket will run you only €59.50 – but no commute, either, with the July 17-19 festival contained entirely to Marlay Park on the edge of town. Try Friday for Hozier, Sunday for The Chemical Brothers and Tove Lo, or our personal favourite, Saturday for the diverse mix of alt-J, Years & Years, and Pusha T.