19/08/2026
Save the Date: New Family Food Festival Coming to Carlow This October ๐ฟ๐ฅฆ๐
The Big Barn Bash โ Family Food Festival will bring two days of food, family fun, outdoor activity and entertainment to Carlow on Saturday, 31 October and Sunday, 1 November 2026.
A brand-new festival experience for Carlow, The Big Barn Bash is being brought to life through a partnership between Carlow County Council , Coppenagh House Farm , Carlow Tourism and Active Carlow , with the development of the festival supported by Fรกilte Ireland
Set against the stunning backdrop of Coppenagh House Farm, the festival will celebrate food, farming, family and the outdoors, creating an experience that connects the farm with the wider community and provides something for visitors of all ages.
The two-day festival will feature a packed programme of activities, including a new family fun run, food demonstrations, an outdoor eating area, a kidsโ barn experience and much more. The festival is being designed to offer families an opportunity to get outdoors, enjoy great local food and experience a unique venue in the heart of County Carlow.
The full festival programme will be officially launched in early September 2026, with tickets for the various activities and experiences going on sale at that time.
Speaking about the development of the festival, Kieran Comerford, Head of Economic Development & Enterprise with Carlow County Council, said:
โWe are delighted to bring The Big Barn Bash to life alongside our partners. From the outset, we wanted to create something that would be different, welcoming and enjoyable for the whole family, while making the most of the stunning setting at Coppenagh House Farm.
โAt the heart of the festival is the idea of creating a genuine connection between the farm, food, community and visitors. We want people to come to Carlow, spend time here, discover somewhere new and enjoy a festival experience that they may not have encountered before.
โEvents like this are important in creating reasons for people to visit Carlow, while also encouraging visitors to explore everything else the county has to offer. When people come for a festival, they stay, eat, shop and explore locally, and that helps support businesses and the wider local economy.
โThe Big Barn Bash is about creating a new annual experience for Carlow something families can look forward to, enjoy together and hopefully return to year after year.โ
The development of The Big Barn Bash โ Family Food Festival is supported by Fรกilte Ireland as part of efforts to develop new visitor experiences and encourage people to explore and enjoy destinations across Ireland.
Announcing the festival dates, Cllr Paul Doogue, Leas Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council, said:
โIโm always delighted to see something new being developed in Carlow, particularly when it is something that has families and our local community at its heart.
โPeople are always looking for new experiences and new reasons to get out and about, and I think The Big Barn Bash has all the ingredients to become a really exciting addition to the Carlow events calendar.
โThe setting at Coppenagh House Farm is fantastic, and bringing together food, farming, outdoor activity and family entertainment gives this festival something really special. Iโm looking forward to seeing families from Carlow and further afield coming along and enjoying what promises to be a great weekend.โ
The festival launch and full programme announcement will take place in early September 2026, when details of the individual events, activities and ticketing arrangements will be revealed.
So save the date โ Saturday, 31 October and Sunday, 1 November โ and get ready for Carlowโs new family festival experience.
Watch this space for the full programme launch in September.
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