EVENTS IN WEXFORD


Wexford is a hub of creativity and entertainment with an extensive year-round calendar of annual Wexford festivals, events and cultural activities. This means you will never be short of something entertaining to see and do on a Wexford Staycation. Take your family to Wexford and enjoy the family attractions while you stay at Clayton Whites Hotel.

We are delighted that some of our most renowned festivals will be taking place over the coming months including the Wexford Festival Opera, the Wexford Fringe Festival, the Wexford Spiegeltent Festival and the Wexford Winterland Festival.

Don’t miss the opportunity to visit National Opera House.

Festival Highlights Include:


May

SpringMoves Dance Festival 2023

An energetic celebration for dance in Wexford, centred around the National Opera House and moving out onto the streets of Wexford Town! Starting the 6th May. Saturday, 6 May Up-Close 11:30AM – 12:30PM. For more information click on the following link: https://www.nationaloperahouse.ie/whats-on/show/springmoves-dance-festival-2023.

June

Country Music Weekend at Clayton Whites Hotel

15th – 17th June 2023

THURS NIGHT 15th JUNE  BARRY KIRWAN and his BAND   Plus   JIMMY BUCKLEY and his BAND
FRI NIGHT 16th JUNE   PATRICK FEENEY and his BAND  Plus  MICHAEL COLLINS and his BAND
SAT NIGHT 17th JUNE   ROBERT MIZZELL and his BAND  Plus  LIAM KELLY and his BAND
FRI AFTERNOON 16th JUNE  EMMA DONOHUE
SAT AFTERNOON 17th JUNE  TONY, THERESA and the STARS

For more information or to book click on the following link: https://bookings.claytonwhiteshotel.com/offer.

July

Art in the Open

Art in the Open, Europe’s largest outdoor painting festival, based in Wexford town.

30th July – 7th August

Art in the Open Festival is a chance to have a wonderful holiday in the South East of Ireland and offers so much.
Stunning Paint-out Locations each day, including Wexford Town, New Ross, Ballyhack, Rosslare Strand and Ballymore Demesne. There’s an opportunity to meet fellow Plein Air Artists from Ireland and from all over the world and the chance to attend private workshops with some of the world’s finest plein air tutors.

August

Enniscorthy Rockin’ Food & Fruit Festival

The Rockin’ Food & Fruit Festival has become the highlight of many summer calendars around the Southeast, in particular, for food enthusiasts, families and Rock ‘n’ Roll music fans who arrive to Enniscorthy over the August Bank Holiday Weekend to enjoy the very best in local food and fruit producers, family entertainment and as always, the best of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

The 2023 festival takes place from Friday 4th August – Monday 7th August and will have lots of new events running throughout the weekend as well as welcoming back some festival favourites. The Artisan Food, Drink and Crafts Market brings over 50 vendors taking over the market streets.

For more information visit: https://www.rockinfoodandfruitfestival.ie/.

September

Social Dancing at Clayton Whites Hotel

10th – 12th September

SUNDAY AFTERNOON 10th SEPTEMBER 3-5pm TREVOR MOYLES
SUNDAY NIGHT 10th 8-10pm BERNIE HEANEY followed by 10-12 JOE DAVITT and his BAND
MONDAY AFTERNOON 11th SEPTEMBER 2-3pm Dance Class with DECLAN FLANAGAN followed by 3-5pm TEDDY and CATHAL BARRY
MONDAY NIGHT 11th 8-10pm MURIEL O’CONNOR and FRAN CURRY followed by 10-12 SABRINA FALLON and SHANE MOORE
TUESDAY AFTERNOON 12th SEPTEMBER 3-5 pm TONY, THERESA and the STARS
TUESDAY NIGHT 12th 8-10pm AISHLING RAFFERTY followed by 10-12 OLIVIA DOUGLAS

October

Wexford Festival Opera

The annual, internationally renowned Wexford Festival Opera takes place in Wexford Town from 24th October – 5th November 2023. Wexford Festival Opera brings forgotten artistic pieces back to life through a feast of sound and award winning sets and costumes, all set against the backdrop of the majestic National Opera House. Clayton Whites Hotel is a proud sponsor of Wexford Festival Opera.

Wexford Fringe Festival
The Wexford Fringe Festival coincides annually with the Wexford Festival Opera and offers a variety of entertainment and cultural events. Opening with giant fireworks display on the quays in Wexford Town, this festival runs alongside the famous Wexford Festival Opera and the Wexford Spiegeltent Festival.

Artists from around Ireland and further afield participate alongside home-grown talent, as the Wexford Fringe Festival is embraced across the entire town with over 300 events staged in pop up venues as well as established venues such as theatres, hotels, art galleries, cafes and civic buildings.

Arts & Crafts Exhibition at Clayton Whites Hotel, Wexford
27th October – 5th November.
Daily.

As part of the Wexford Fringe Festival, Clayton Whites Hotel hosts an annual Arts & Crafts Exhibition, showcasing the very best independent artists and craftspeople.

2023 Exhibitors

– Exhibition of paintings by Jean English 
Hotel Reception (GROUND FLOOR)
Description: Inspired by nature, I always try to catch the light
Reception Lobby, 27th Oct. – 5th Nov. Daily.
Medium: oil

– Exhibition of paintings by Carol Ann Waldron
Description: Carol Ann has a unique style- a symphony of colour and movement. Colours are balanced with abstract care in the impressionist style. Her painting is an orchestration of colour, influenced by emotion before ideas.
Reception Lobby, 27th Oct. – 5th Nov. Daily.
Medium: Oil

Exhibition by South East Makers 
Description: Assemblage of quality artisan pieces by master craftspeople using both mixed & single media
Reception Lobby, 27th Oct. – 5th Nov. Daily
Medium: Mixed

Mary Wallace
Description: Exquisite paintings by Mary Wallace merge the elegance of Japanese pottery with the beauty of an Irish garden
Business Centre Lobby 27th Oct. – 5th Nov. Daily
Medium: Mixed Media – wax, pigment, goldleaf

Joined by:
Pauline Quigley 
Description: My work has been described as being bright, interesting, transparent and transcendent. Using a medium which is hard and unforgiving to create art which is soft and gentle.
Medium: Glass

Marley Irish
Description: Marley hosts her latest collection of vivid oils and acrylics titled “Romance Of Life”. Her caption of The Ballerina Dancers to the earthly portrayal of The Freisin Cows in palette knife is quite mood evoking.
Pembroke Suite:  27th Oct. – 5th Nov. Daily
Medium: Acrylic

Joined by:
Eamon Byrne
Description:
Eamonn’s work is a calm reflection of his experiences in nature.
Medium: Oil

I Love My Pearls
Description: “I Love My Pearls is an artisan pearl jewellery business based in Wexford”
Selskar Suite:

Waterford and Wexford Education & Training Board, Community Education
Mc Carthy Suite 2: Community Education- informal learning contributing to the development of the local community.
Medium: ‘Art & Crafts’

Carmel Felon
Description:   Award winning Artist who paints atmospheric Soft Pastel paintings of the Irish Landscape, and Wildflowers.
Walter Dene: 27th Oct. – 5th Nov. Daily
Medium: Pastel on Paper
Image title: ‘Poppies & Scabias’

Awe Walk
Description:  Part of a collection… ‘The Celtic Gods and Goddesses’ series – Artist: E.L Sanby
Title – The Celtic Goddess ‘Brigid’
Westgate:   27th Oct. – 5th Nov. Daily
Medium: Photograph, Body art & Costume design

Wexford Spiegeltent Festival
The Wexford Spiegeltent Festival on Wexford Town quayside hosts the best of music, comedy, opera, theatre, film and kids’ shows in a giant Victorian circus style tent. The festival runs for 11 days and nights and the eclectic programme of events features contemporary music, comedy, theatre, film, classical music and burlesque.

“Hits From The Musicals”- Wexford Light Opera Society
Wexford Light Opera Society are geared up to captivate audiences yet again with the annual spectacle “Hits From The Musicals”.

The much-anticipated 2023 edition of this event will span four enchanting evenings, starting from Monday 30th October, and running through Thursday 2nd November 2023, in Clayton Whites Hotel, coinciding with the Wexford Opera Festival.

Tickets are €25.00 – available to purchase via Wexford Opera House website.

November

Country Music Weekend at Clayton Whites Hotel

10th – 12th November

FRI NIGHT 10th NOV  MICHAEL ENGLISH and his BAND  Plus  PADDY O’BRIEN and his BAND
SAT NIGHT 11th NOV  DECLAN NERNEY and his BAND  Plus  GERRY GUTHRIE and his BAND
SUN NIGHT 12th NOV  MIKE DENVER and his BAND  Plus  SHAWN CUDDY and his BAND
SAT AFTERNOON 11th NOV  TONY, THERESA and the STARS
SUN AFTERNOON 12th NOV THOMAS MAGUIRE and FHIONA ENNIS

December

Wexford Winterland

Get in the festive spirit with this celebration of all things winter! Santa’s North Pole Experience will have you feeling the joys of Christmas. Dates and details for 2023 to be announced.

Christmas Party Nights at Clayton Whites Hotel

Enjoy an unforgettable Christmas party in Wexford in the run-up to Christmas including a delicious 4-course festive feast then dance the night away with your friends and colleagues with live entertainment followed by a DJ until late. Enjoy all this Christmas fun for only €64.00 per person.

More Information.

Christmas at the Terrace Restaurant

Get together with family, friends, or colleagues for a Christmas party in Wexford and enjoy a delicious 4-course festive dinner with live piano music whilst you dine.

More Information.

Private Company Party Nights

The Terrace Restaurant is also the ideal venue for any private company party nights. Our Terrace Restaurant can be reserved privately for any groups of 100 pax or more on any Friday or Saturday before Christmas.

More Information.

Festive Afternoon Tea

Celebrate Christmas in style with our beautifully presented festive Afternoon Tea that caters for all dietary requirements at Clayton Whites Hotel.

More Information.

Santa Claus – An Enchanted Christmas at Johnstown Castle

Johnstown Castle, December 1st – 23rd, invite you to be apart of something really special this Christmas at the Enchanted Johnstown Castle in Wexford.

More Information.

Get in Touch


Book your stay now at Clayton Whites Hotel and experience one of these fabulous Wexford Festivals. Call +353 53 912 2311 or see here for our latest special offers

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