Something for the Weekend...

A round-up of events across the country

Bray Summerfest this weekend features the annual free air display on Sunday at 2pm. Other events playing out over Saturday and Sunday include the Summerfest Fun Fair (attractions individually priced with weekend special offer available) and the food and craft market on the seafront from 10am.

The Bundoran Carnival Weekend, in its second year, features a variety of free events across the town. Carnival workshops, parade, face painting and street entertainers are all included in the festivities. On Saturday there is a fireworks display at main beach. Small fee applies for vintage car display and workshops.

Hotter Than July in Dublin's Meeting House Square on Sunday is a mixture of world culture and music. The free day of events offers a taste of the world, celebrating the diversity of the capital with music and dance from South America, Eastern Europe and Ireland. The line up includes Cuban music from Conor Guilfoyle's energetic 10-piece salsa band Havana 'Che, traditional Irish tunes meet 90s hip-hop, world music rhythms and vocal beatboxing courtesy of Jiggy. Free daytime event beginning at 2pm.

The Quiet Tree is a traditional Irish musical performance specifically designed for young children and their families, set around the make-believe creatures of Whistleberry Forest. Led by musicians Thomas Johnston and Stephen Markham, the musical takes families on a journey through the forest, where they will become a band of musicians that explore instruments, sing and dance, helping Oran the owl, Sorley the snail and Faolán the frog bring the old oak tree to life. Saturday's performance is at the Charleville Mall Library at 11.30am and 2.15pm. Limited audience with one parent to two children. Further details and registration available at (01) 8749619 or by emailing charlevillemalllibrary@dublincity.ie.

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The Run Killarney Marathon takes place on Saturday, open to all runners of various levels and walkers. As well as the full marathon, there is a half marathon and a 10k event, with scenic routes expanding across Muckross House and Killarney National Park, and taking in landmarks like Molls gap and Torc Waterfall. Family, friends and spectators are invited to the finish line where there will be music, family entertainment and food.

The West Cork Literary festival in Bantry concludes on Saturday with an afternoon conversation with Irish Times cartoonist Martyn Turner in Bantry Library at 1pm (free event) and Michael Smith telling the story of Antarctic adventurer Tom Crean at St Brendan's School Hall at 1.15pm (€5 admission), among other events.

Mark Hilliard

Mark Hilliard

Mark Hilliard is a reporter with The Irish Times