Cork City is preparing to host the first of this year’s 'Open Streets' series of events Saturday, May 31 with live music, free games to play and creativity for all the family on Lapps Quay.
Cork City is preparing to host the first of this year’s 'Open Streets' series of events Saturday, May 31 with live music, free games to play and creativity for all the family on Lapps Quay.
Open Streets on Saturday May 31 will take place on Lapps Quay (directly across the river from City Hall) from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. in association with Meitheal Mara, Ocean to City and Let’s Play Cork.
This is a kick-off event in a series of 7 planned events - the subsequent events will take place on:
- Saturday, June 21 - The Shandon Festival
Shandon Area Renewal Association and Shandon Festival Working group will organise a series of fun activities in conjunction with Cork City Council.
- Sunday, June 22 - Animal Operetta in City Centre
In association with Cork City Council and Cork Midsummer Festival, a herd of seven monumental and curious red giraffes will move nonchalantly around the city centre led by an operatic diva and some ringmasters. There will be two performances – one at 2pm and one at 9pm.
- Saturday August 16 & Sunday, August 17 - Playing with food!
In association with Cork on a Fork, Cork City Council and Let’s Play Cork. A series of pop-up play events on the street with a food theme on Cornmarket St.
- Saturday August 23 - North Main Street Carnival
In conjunction with Middle Parish Community Association, North Main Street Traders and Cork City Council, North Main Street will be opened to play, music games, food and more.
- Sunday, August 24 – Blackpool Festival
Blackpool Festival will take place on the afternoon of Sunday, August 24. It will be a day of music, games and fun and a great opportunity to come out and meet your neighbours and get involved in your local community. It is being organised by the Blackpool Community Centre, Cork Community Artlink, HSE Community Work Dept, and the Community Gardaí.
- Sunday, September 7 – Douglas Street Autumnfest
Led by Douglas Street Business Association, this stretch of road goes car free for its annual festival. The event has grown in success year on year and is jam packed of activities.
- Friday, September 19 - Corks Culture of street play.
Series of city centre activities that celebrate play and creativity on the street.
The organisers welcome suggestions from other groups in the city and its suburbs, from those who wish to host similar events in their communities.
While car parks are unaffected for those who do need to take the car, the organisers are encouraging everyone to walk, cycle or take public transport into the city that day.
The ‘Open Streets’ concept involves the opening of roadways as spaces for social & community events. This encourages a culture where streets are seen as shared spaces for health and well-being and recreation, rather than just for vehicles. Through an integrated approach with the local businesses, business representative organisation’s, public transport bodies and community groups, Cork City Council, with its partners, is organising a two-year campaign to devise a series of ‘Open Streets’ events, both in the city centre and in the larger suburbs of Cork city. It forms part of a net zero city pilot project.