28/08/2026
Inaugural BlanchFest hailed a major success as almost 30,000 enjoy free family festival
BlanchFest made a highly successful debut last weekend, attracting almost 30,000 people to a weekend of free family entertainment in Blanchardstown. This new two-day festival brought families and communities together for a packed programme of entertainment and activities for all ages including live music and performances, Fingal Active Travel, circus acts and children’s shows, bouncy castles and inflatables, face painting, balloon modelling, interactive experiences, Explore Fingal, a dedicated sensory area, and a variety of food, craft, and market traders including the Fingal Food Circle.
Early feedback from the event has been extremely positive. More than 520 people completed the post-event survey, with 86% of respondents expressing satisfaction with their BlanchFest experience. The event also delivered on encouraging sustainable outcomes. Just over 47% of surveyed attendees chose to walk, cycle, or use public transport to travel to the festival. Fingal County Council has welcomed this as a significant achievement for a major event attracting thousands of visitors over two days.
The Mayor of Fingal Cllr Tony Murphy said:
"It was a pleasure to attend BlanchFest on Saturday and to experience first-hand the fantastic atmosphere throughout the event. It was wonderful to see families, friends and neighbours of all ages coming together to enjoy what was a vibrant and welcoming festival for the local community.
The fantastic turnout over the weekend demonstrates the strong appetite for high-quality, accessible community events in Dublin 15. I would like to congratulate everyone involved in organising and delivering the first BlanchFest. Most importantly, I want to thank the local community for embracing the festival and supporting it in such great numbers. The success of this inaugural event is a testament to the strength of the community in Blanchardstown, and I hope BlanchFest will become a much-loved annual event for years to come."
Feedback from attendees has been particularly positive about the family atmosphere, range of free activities, organisation of the event, circus entertainment and sensory area. Respondents also provided constructive suggestions for future years, including additional activities for teenagers and older children, increased face painting and balloon modelling capacity, improvements to accessibility and seating, and an even greater variety of local craft and food traders.
One attendee summed up their experience by saying: “It was an absolutely fantastic event. I have three kids (aged 3, 5 and 7) and they absolutely loved it. The Gruffalo show was a highlight, as was the cinema and the inflatables. There was an excellent choice and variety of food vendors, and the area was kept very clean and safe. We’re looking forward to next year already!”
Events Manager with Fingal County Council, Paul Barnes, thanked everyone who contributed to the successful delivery of the inaugural festival and said: “Delivering an event of this scale is very much a team effort. I want to sincerely thank our first responders, An Garda Síochána, Fingal Volunteers, event crews, contractors, performers, traders, community partners and Council staff who worked throughout the weekend to make BlanchFest happen.
“Most of all, we want to thank the people of Blanchardstown and the wider Dublin 15 community who came out in such huge numbers and created such a positive atmosphere across the weekend. To welcome almost 30,000 people in our first year, alongside an 86% satisfaction rating, gives us a really strong foundation on which to build.”
Fingal County Council will now review the extensive feedback received from attendees and stakeholders to identify opportunities to further improve and expand the festival. Following the success of its inaugural year, the Council is now looking to build on BlanchFest in the years ahead by developing the programme and continuing to create an inclusive, accessible, and high-quality festival for Blanchardstown and the wider Dublin 15 community.
For more information and upcoming events across Fingal, visit: www.eventsinfingal.ie
Fingal County Council Fingal Volunteer Centre Explore Fingal fans Fingal Volunteer Centre Fingal Food Circle
