Youthfest 09 - 26th September; The Peoples Park - update

Limerick Youth Service is hosting Limerick’s first ever Youth Fest on Saturday 26th September in the People’s Park. A drug and alcohol-free event, it has been organised by many of the young people who attend Lava Java’s Youth Café at Limerick Youth Service, along with various other projects there. It is supported by AIB’s Better Ireland Programme and the Mid West Regional Drugs Taskforce. Other supporting partners include Limerick City Council which provided the venue and Limerick City Sports Partnership which is overseeing the sporting component of the day.

One of the organisers, Tanya O’Sullivan, youth worker with Limerick Youth Service says, ‘The Youth Fest came about because so many young people felt that there simply wasn’t an event that they could go to locally where they could get together and have some fun. Many are too young to go to the bigger festivals like the Electric Picnic and Oxegen so Limerick Youth Fest is aimed specifically at 13 to 19 year olds. It will provide all the fun of these big occasions but will be drug and alcohol-free.’

The event will run from 2.00pm to 6.00pm and will feature a number of local bands performing throughout the day. There will also be lots of workshops including drumming, Tai Chi, art and crafts and a good old fashioned sports day that will include favourites such as sack and three legged races.

It will be an event to remember as we celebrate with the theme “Youth through the Generations” with a number of tents that will display all kinds of memorabilia from the ‘70s through to the present day. Limerick’s Animal Welfare and Amnesty International will have a presence at Youth Fest. A bouncy castle and sumo suits will provide some opportunities for fun. There will alos be dance workshops, DJs showcasing their talents along with local radio broadcasts. The highlight of the event will be an attempt at breaking the Guinness World Record for the fastest egg and spoon race over 100 metres!

Admission to participation in the day’s activities is free and everyone between the ages of 13 and 19 is welcome! The aim of the organisers is to make this an annual event that will grow to takes its place in the calendar of festivals.

For more information please contact Tania O’Sullivan on 061 412 444.