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family · Friday 14 August 2026 · Various 
Blackrock Family Funfair Festival 2026
At Blackrock Lower Carpark · Blackrock, Co. Louth
At Blackrock Lower Carpark · Blackrock, Co. Louth
A traditional funfair coming to the seaside carpark at Blackrock is the kind of August event that pulls families out of the house on a Friday evening and keeps them there until Sunday. Organised by Louth County Council, the Blackrock Family Funfair Festival runs across three days - 14 to 16 August 2026 - at the Lower Carpark right beside the beach. It is aimed squarely at children and families, and the coastal setting makes the whole thing feel like a proper summer outing rather than a car-park afternoon.
The council’s brief calls for high-quality fairground attractions suited to children and families, in a safe and inclusive environment. Expect rides scaled for younger children as well as older kids and teens, games stalls, and the noise and atmosphere that makes a funfair feel like a funfair. Ride prices are to be confirmed by the operator, who was being selected through a formal tender process as of June 2026 - check louthcoco.ie or the Dundalk Democrat closer to the date for the confirmed line-up and pricing.
It is worth noting that a separate Blackrock Village Festival takes place the following weekend (21-22 August), so the village gets a solid fortnight of summer activity. The two events are run independently.
Blackrock sits on the R173 coast road, about 5km south of Dundalk town centre - roughly a ten-minute drive. The Lower Carpark is at the seafront and is easy to find when you arrive. Bus Eireann runs services between Dundalk and Blackrock; check the current timetable at buseireann.ie. Dundalk itself is on the main Dublin-Belfast rail line, with the town centre a short taxi or bus ride from the coast.
Blackrock has three beaches - the main beach at the south end and two quieter ones to the north - worth an hour before or after the funfair. The village has cafes and pubs at the seafront. There is more to see in Dundalk and across Co. Louth.
Heading to Blackrock Lower Carpark in Dundalk? Louth has plenty more to see. Read the Dundalk area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.