New family festival in the heart of Carlow officially launches today

A brand new family food festival for County Carlow will officially launch today, Tuesday, September 8, with organisers promising a weekend packed with food, family fun, outdoor activity and entertainment.

The Big Barn Bash Family Food Festival will take place at Coppenagh House Farm on Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1, bringing a new two day festival experience to the county.

The official launch will take place at 5.30pm today and will be hosted by Carlow County Council, in partnership with Carlow Tourism, Active Carlow and Coppenagh House Farm, with the development of the festival supported by Fáilte Ireland.

The launch event will give attendees the first look at the festival programme, with organisers set to reveal more about the activities, events and experiences planned for the October bank holiday weekend.

Among the highlights will be a brand new 5km family fun run, cookery demonstrations featuring well known chefs Rachel Allen and Edward Hayden, appearances from local chefs, an immersive food experience area, a dedicated family zone and a wide range of activities and entertainment for all ages.

Located at Coppenagh House Farm, the festival will celebrate food, farming, family and the outdoors, while giving visitors the opportunity to experience the farm and connect with the wider community.

Kieran Comerford, Head of Economic Development & Enterprise with Carlow County Council, said the festival was designed to offer something “different, welcoming and enjoyable for the whole family”.

“At the heart of the festival is the idea of creating a genuine connection between the farm, food, community and visitors,” he said.

“We want people to come to Carlow, spend time here, discover somewhere new and enjoy a festival experience that they may not have encountered before.”

“Events like this are important in creating reasons for people to visit Carlow, while also encouraging visitors to explore everything else the county has to offer,” he added.

He says that the ambition is for the Big Barn Bash to become an annual event for the county.

“The Big Barn Bash is about creating a new annual experience for Carlow, something families can look forward to, enjoy together and hopefully return to year after year.”

Cllr Paul Doogue, Leas Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council, also welcomed the development of the new festival, saying he was particularly pleased to see families and the local community at its heart.

“People are always looking for new experiences and new reasons to get out and about, and I think The Big Barn Bash has all the ingredients to become a really exciting addition to the Carlow events calendar,” he said.

Tomorrow’s launch will also provide an opportunity for local individuals, businesses and community groups to hear more about the plans and discover how they can become part of the Big Barn Bash story.

Guests will be able to network, hear about the festival programme, enjoy light refreshments and find out more about the various opportunities surrounding the event.

With the full programme being unveiled as part of the launch, tickets for the various activities and experiences will also go on sale in September.

Families across Carlow are being encouraged to save the date for Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1, for the county’s newest family festival.