LIMERICK will be very much in the spotlight for all the right reasons this holiday weekend with the Riverfest festivities promising a packed programme of entertainment and fun for all age groups. Laura Ryan, Limerick Communications Office, says months of planning and preparation have gone into the four-day event, designed to showcase the best Limerick has to offer, with an emphasis on the river Shannon and its amenities, music, sporting and cultural, not to mention food. Hundreds of bednights, restaurant visits and retail sales are expected to be created.
Mayor Jim Long promises a wonderful experience.
“We will kick-off with the Mayor’s Ball on Friday and there is a huge volume of people staying in hotels for that,” he told the Limerick Post.
“Then we have the BBQ on Saturday, where I will definitely be sampling the goods and which is sure to attract thousands; Followed by the Run on Sunday.
“We couldn’t ask for a better showcase of Limerick at the start of summer. All we want are favourable weather conditions”.
Celebrations will kick off on Friday as the famed Tuam band, The Sawdoctors, will play the Big Top at the Milk Market.
Food lovers and businesses across the Mid West will take part in the Great Limerick Barbecue on Saturday, on George’s Quay, from 11am.
Up to 100 teams will cook-off.
BBQ participants are invited to create their own unique sauce, with the winner’s creation to be sold in shops across Limerick.
On Saturday a Riverfest Raceday will be held at the Racecourse from 2.30pm.
Sunday will see 7,000 participants take part in the Great Limerick Run.
The Run brings athletes and fun seekers from Ireland and abroad.
Ahead of the Run, a sports expo will be held at the South Court Hotel with retailers displaying their products and services.
Over 12,000 will visit the expo, the largest outside Dublin.
The Irish Powerboat Championships will take place on Sunday between Shannon Bridge and Sarsfield Bridge, and the Pop Up Living Garden will be held at the Hunt Museum.
The sky will light up Saturday from 9.30pm with a fireworks display on the bridges around the River Shannon.
The Continental Market will be in place on Michael Street from Saturday to Monday.
Laura Ryan said that Riverfest has proved a great success for the city and that this year will be no different.
“I’m looking forward to the buzz that the festival always creates, the positive vibes and the definite boost to the economy that it will bring”.
See www.limerickpost.ie for further details and map.
Riverfest 2012 kicks off in Limerick this weekend with a host of entertainment events across the city including fireworks, powerboating and the Great Limerick Run. Lorraine Turner is pictured at George’s Quay ahead of the giant BBQ this Saturday when amateur chefs who enter the Great Limerick BBQ sauce competition will have their winning creation produced and sold in shops across the city by local company Supreme Cuisine. Picture by Keith Wiseman
