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family · Monday 10 August 2026 · 12:00pm 
Athy Summer Festival - Family Entertainment Programme
At Athy Town Centre · Duke Street and surrounding areas, Athy, Co. Kildare
At Athy Town Centre · Duke Street and surrounding areas, Athy, Co. Kildare
Athy’s annual summer festival turns the town centre into a gathering point for families across south Kildare for five days each August. Organised by Athy Town Council and free to attend, it fills Duke Street and the surrounding squares with outdoor performances, street entertainment, children’s activities, and food stalls. If you have young children and want a relaxed day out without paying for entry, this is a straightforward choice - and Athy itself rewards the trip with more to see than most towns its size.
The festival runs across the town centre, with Duke Street as the main spine and the surrounding areas pulling in activity throughout the day. Expect live music at various points along the route, street performers, interactive games and activities pitched at children, and a good spread of food and refreshment vendors. Town council festivals in Ireland at this scale tend to mix local community groups with professional acts, so there is usually a mix of the familiar and the unexpected.
The programme runs from midday each day, with activity continuing into the early evening. The full line-up for 2026 will be confirmed closer to the event - check the Athy town website at athy.ie for updates as August approaches.
Athy is in south Kildare, roughly 85 km from Dublin. By road, take the M9 motorway south and exit at Junction 3 - the town is a few minutes from there. The journey from Dublin takes just under an hour in normal traffic.
By public transport, Bus Eireann runs services between Dublin and Athy, and there are connections from Carlow, Kilkenny, and Naas. Athy is not currently on the mainline rail network, so bus is the main option without a car.
Parking is available in the town car parks off the main streets. On a busy festival day, arriving before midday gives you the best chance of a space close to Duke Street.
The Shackleton Experience on Emily Square is worth building into your visit - it is the only museum in the world dedicated to polar explorer Ernest Shackleton, who was born nearby in Kilkea in 1874. The restored 300-year-old Town Hall houses 11 galleries with original artefacts and expedition footage. The River Barrow runs through the town as well, and the quayside is a pleasant stretch to walk. There is more to see in Athy and across Co. Kildare.
Heading to Athy Town Centre in Athy? Kildare has plenty more to see. Read the Athy area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.