Fermanagh Feast & Folk Festival

A free summer Saturday at Enniskillen Castle that combines the best of Fermanagh’s food producers, traditional music, and multicultural performance - the Fermanagh Feast & Folk Festival is the kind of day out that suits families, food lovers, and anyone who enjoys being outside in a genuinely impressive setting. With over 50 artisan stalls spread across the castle grounds and live entertainment running the full day, there is plenty to fill five hours without spending a penny on entry.

What to expect

The market side of the festival brings together local food and craft producers from across Fermanagh and beyond. Expect freshly made breads, local cheeses, seasonal produce, artisan preserves, and handmade goods - the kind of stall that actually stocks things you will take home. Running alongside the market are live cooking demonstrations from Paula McIntyre, one of the most recognised voices in Irish regional food, with sessions at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm. She draws on the larder of the northwest, so the demonstrations are grounded in what the county actually grows and produces.

The folk music comes from local families who have been playing this repertoire for generations - the O’Donnell and McCullagh families are both on the programme. Sharing the performance space are multicultural acts organised through Arts Ekta: Bollywood dancers, a Dhol drummer, Chinese fan dancers, and a Mexican folk dance group. The mix sounds eclectic but in practice it works well for families - children tend to stay engaged right through the afternoon.

Standard admission to the Enniskillen Castle Museum applies separately to the festival itself, so if you want to take in the Fermanagh County Museum or the Inniskillings Museum inside, factor in a few pounds extra per adult.

Getting there

Enniskillen sits at the junction of the A4 and A46, roughly 30 minutes south of Omagh and about an hour from Sligo or Armagh. The castle is in the town centre, right on the riverbank - easy to find and well signed. The A4 from Belfast via the M1 takes around 90 minutes. Cross-border visitors from Sligo or Cavan will find the roads straightforward via the N16 and A4.

Bus Eireann and Translink Ulsterbus both serve Enniskillen from Sligo, Omagh, Dungannon, and Belfast. The town’s bus station is a ten-minute walk from the castle. Parking is available in town centre car parks a short walk from the castle gates; the grounds themselves do not have large-scale visitor parking.

While you’re in Enniskillen

The town repays a longer visit - the Portora Royal School sat above the river, the Buttermarket craft centre, and a stretch of pubs and cafes along the main street all give you reason to stay past 4pm. There is more to see in Enniskillen and across Co. Fermanagh.

Good to know

• Saturday 1 August 2026, 11:00am to 4:00pm
• Free admission to the festival
• Castle Museum entry charged separately (standard rates apply)
• Cooking demonstrations at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm
• Check the event page at enniskillencastle.co.uk for any updates or booking requirements
• Outdoors event - dress for changeable August weather
• Tickets may be available through Digitickets; check the castle website ahead of your visit