Joy In The Park returns for its second year, bringing a whole host of music and entertainment to Fitzgerald's park in Cork on the afternoon of Sunday July 23, 2023 from 11am-6pm.
In partnership with Cork Mental Health Foundation, Joy In The Park is a celebration of life, whilst highlighting the importance of minding our mental health and well-being through bringing the community together and finding our Joy.
This year promises another stellar line up with headliners, The Frank and Walters, one of Ireland's best loved and most recognizable alternative Indie Irish bands in the past three decades. They are joined by Cork's own soul queen, Karen Underwood and her band, award winning traditional folk artist, Aoife Scott, acoustic house brass band BoolaBoom, and ska favourites, Pontious Pilate & The Nail Drivers.
The Mad Hatter's tent will feature some of Cork's finest grass roots artists including Elly O'Keeffe, Hank Wedel, Victoria Keating & Aine O'Gorman, Leah Sohotra & Martin Leahy, ADT (Alan Tobin) and Clare O'Mahony, whilst the Joy Sylvie Stage will host a mix of spoken word and hip-hop with acts yet to be announced.
A free, fun-filled family afternoon, Joy In The Park promises a quirky and eclectic mix of live music, spoken word, storytelling, children's entertainment, circus, workshops, wellness activities alongside a delicious food market.
Families will be spoilt for choice with a full programme of entertainment throughout the afternoon including the return of the Circus Factory performing their spectacular shows, as well as giving audiences the opportunity to try out some circus tricks through their afternoon of workshops. This year also welcomes Circus Fanzini's Professor Plunger, the infamous comedy clown guaranteed to cause outbursts of laughter, whilst characters of the Eccentric Hatter's Crew go walkabout, keen to meet & greet anyone who cares to say hello. Jammed with activities throughout the afternoon, including arts & crafts, giant outdoor games, Kinderama's movement for kids under 6 and mediation for all ages with Kelsang Drolma, there is simply something for everyone.
The Couch Sessions in association with Minding Creative Minds, Ireland's first 24/7 (32 county and Irish overseas) wellbeing support programme for the entire Irish creative sector, will present a mental health panel and an introduction to their mentoring services. Joy In The Park are also delighted to welcome Comhairle na nÓg, whose project for this year supports youth mental health, where they will host a number of fun activities and games in the Rose Garden.
Joy In The Park will balance that sense of fun with connection and understanding, whilst raising awareness for mental health and well-being through an engaging programme of wellness, sensory activities and workshops, provided by the HSE Cork & Kerry Community Health Action Zone and a number of organisations and community groups including SHINE, MyMind, GROW, Cork Counselling Services and Jigsaw. They will be joined by PIETA, Samaritans, Shine A Light, Aware.ie and the National Learning Network who will be at the event as part of the support hub, offering their support and information throughout the afternoon.
Joy In The Park is a free event for everyone and is able to take place because of the financial support provided by a number of institutions. Funding confirmed to date include HSE Cork & Kerry Community Healthcare, HSE Cork Connecting For Life Programme, Cork City Council's Arts Office, Cork City Council Ward Funds and Minding Creative Minds.
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