BURTONPORT is preparing for its biggest week of the year, with the 50th Summer Festival set to fill the village with music, races and reunions from Friday, July 17 until Saturday, July 25.
Founders David Alcorn and Mick Maloney, who launched the very first festival back in 1977, will return to open this year’s celebrations following a community parade on the Saturday, marking half a century since they first got the idea off the ground.
Children will be well catered for, with a bonny baby competition, talent show, fancy dress and a beach day among the highlights, while the ever-popular island adventure returns on Tuesday, July 21 with an “Escape from the Island” challenge sending families across to Rutland Island in search of clues.
A day later, a history-themed bus tour will take passengers on a trip through the area’s past, guided by two familiar festival faces.
Oisín and Killian Forker pictured in the basking sun in Burtonport this week ahead of the 50th Burtonport Festival. Photo Brian McDaid.
The week’s sporting side is just as packed, taking in a duathlon, road races, a football blitz, sea angling, tug of war and the perennial duck derby, alongside treasure hunts by both car and foot.
Music remains at the festival’s heart throughout, building to a fireworks display over the harbour at 11pm on Friday, July 24, following a live performance in the village.
The festival then winds down the following evening with a seafood and wine buffet in St Columba’s Community Centre, bringing the milestone year to a close.
Organisers say the anniversary programme reflects nearly 50 years of volunteer effort that has kept the festival alive, and are hoping for one of the biggest turnouts yet as Burtonport celebrates a golden year.