Looking for something to do this October Bank Holiday weekend? Cavan Eco Féile is bringing three days of music, family fun, food, innovation and sustainability to Cavan Town from 23rd–25th October 2026 – and there’s plenty happening across the weekend.
Organised by Cavan County Council, Cavan Eco Féile is a celebration of the people, ideas and innovation helping to shape a more sustainable future for the county. From free live concerts and local food markets to climate talks, workshops, interactive exhibits and creative family activities, there’s something for all ages to enjoy.
A weekend of free family fun
Townparks in Cavan Town is to be the heart of the festival and will be transformed into an Eco Fun Zone throughout the weekend.
The newly refurbished multi-storey car park will host a wide range of family-friendly attractions, with the EcoFun Zone running from 11am–6pm on Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th October.
Visitors can explore everything from the Climate Action and Decarbonisation Zone and Retrofitting Showcase to Created in Cavan Artisan Food & Local Produce and Cavan Connects – Multimedia Fab Lab and Robotics.
There’ll also be an Eco Féile Challenge and Fun Zone, workshops, talks, local food and drink, and the Road Safety Authority VR Shuttle, making it an engaging day out for families, curious minds and anyone interested in what the future could look like.
Free live music all weekend
It wouldn’t be a Cavan festival without some live music, and Eco Féile has a brilliant line-up planned for the weekend.
The live gig rig in Tesco Car Park will host free concerts each evening, with the legendary Spirit of Smokie kicking things off on Friday 23rd October at 9pm.
On Saturday 24th October from 7pm, local favourites Highstool Prophets will take to the stage alongside Groev, fresh from their packed Electric Picnic show.
Then, bringing the festival weekend to a big finish, The Tumbling Paddies will perform on Sunday 25th October from 9pm.
And if that’s not enough music for one weekend, Jerry Fish will also perform a ticketed show at Townhall Cavan Arts Centre on Saturday 24th October at 8pm. Tickets and booking information are available through Townhall Cavan.
Step into the world of Gulliver 300
There’s another major celebration taking place as part of the Eco Féile programme, with Gulliver 300 marking the 300th anniversary of Dean Jonathan Swift’s classic satire Gulliver’s Travels – much of which was written in Mullagh, County Cavan.
Taking place at Cavan Courthouse on Sunday 25th October from 2.30pm–8pm, this free family event will take visitors on an imaginative journey to Lilliput through music, poetry, theatre, visual art, literature and creative activities.
As part of the celebrations, visitors can discover a spectacular illuminated Sleeping Giant, created by local artists and communities from across County Cavan, before seeing Cavan Courthouse transformed through digital projection mapping.
As darkness falls, the Dark Skies Lantern Parade will make its way through the streets of Cavan Town, eventually heading towards Tesco Car Park for late-night music.
Ideas, innovation and Cavan’s future
Eco Féile is about much more than what’s happening on the festival stage. Throughout the weekend, the festival will bring together local communities, education providers, government agencies and industry leaders to look at how Cavan is preparing for the future.
On Friday 23rd October, Irish Independent columnist Sarah Carey will host a business breakfast at Cavan Digital Hub, featuring leading figures from Kingspan, Mannok, Goodbody and the Cavan Dublin Business Network.
This will be followed by a special event marking the successful completion of the rollout of the National Broadband Plan in County Cavan by National Broadband Ireland.
Friday will also feature ‘Why Cavan 2036?’, an exhibition and series of panel discussions exploring how the investments, partnerships and ideas taking place today could help shape the Cavan of 2036.
Celebrating Cavan’s sporting community
Sport will also have a big role to play over the weekend, with Eco Féile linking up with Cavan GAA for a major celebration of underage Gaelic games.
Sixteen U-13 County Finals will take place at Kingspan Breffni, before approximately 600 young players and mentors make their way to Eco Féile to join senior county stars for a special celebration on the main festival stage.
It promises to be a brilliant opportunity to celebrate the next generation of Cavan GAA talent as part of a packed weekend in the county town.
Make a weekend of it in Cavan
With three days of events, free concerts, family activities, local food, talks, workshops, art, sport and plenty to explore, Cavan Eco Féile is set to bring the town to life this October Bank Holiday weekend.
Whether you’re interested in sustainability and innovation, looking for a family day out, want to catch some live music or simply fancy exploring what’s happening in Cavan, there’s plenty to add to the calendar.
Cavan Eco Féile takes place from 23rd–25th October 2026 in Cavan Town.
For the latest programme information and updates, visit ecofeile.ie.