Bray residents say one of great things about going to Dublin is the trip back to Bray. With a scenic, coastal DART journey, it is a quite a sight. This year is the 10th Birthday of Bray’s art and cultural powerhouse, The Mermaid Arts Centre. To celebrate, the Arcadia festival will take place over ten days on Bray’s picturesque promenade and various venues around the town.
From June 8-17, Bray will be will the epicenter of all things cultural and theatrical. Kicking off the festival will be a picnic on top on Bray head with street performers taking a modern twist on the Pierrot mime clown. Other highlights include theatre productions like Victorian mellow drama Love All, and quirky Radio Fitzrovia. Radio Fitzrovia involves audience participation as a live radio show reminiscent of the 1940s takes place on stage. The festival boasts a nostalgic, old-fashioned fun programme. “It is very much about celebrating the Victorian era, the roaring 20s right up to the 50s and 60s when a lot of people from Dublin would come to Bray on their holidays” says Nora Hickey, Art Director of The Mermaid Arts Centre. Ballroom dancing on the band stand, Arcadia Cabaret Club, a flapper girl workshop, Victorian photography, 50s Bowlarama and a vintage car rally are to name just a few of the events inspired by forgotten culture.
Cathy Davey is performing at the Mermaid Centre, as well as a theatrical rendition of The Artist. For those gastronomically inclined, a food hunt will take place, offering cuisine from around the world. The mystery food trail is essentially pop-up restaurants with a twist- residents are opening their homes and gardens to the public. Rumours of a sushi bar, a South African braai (barbeque) and a cupcake picnic are floating around. The restaurateurs only require a small donation, so you can taste all at a super cheap price. Boat trips around Bray bay are also on offer, as well as kayaking with the hope of being up close and personal with Bray’s dolphins.
Small business and residents are embracing the festival, with over 20 companies showing support. “We’ve really involved the people in the festival. People are very passionate about Bray, certainly people who live here but also people outside of Bray.” There is a sentimentality to Bray, we all remember going to the beach on the one sunny day of the year. The festival is urging people to take a day trip to Bray, and re-ignite their love for the Brighton of Ireland.
For more information and a full list of events, see www.arcadiafestival.com
