Cork Cycling Arts Festival

13th Jul 2009

Cork Cycling Arts Festival

A completely free celebration of cycling, arts, fun and creativity, the festival gets into gear from Monday 20th to Sunday 26th July 2009 with a wide range of events celebrating bicycle culture in the vibrant streets of Cork.

Cork Cycling Arts Festival will be a fun and energetic event, promoting bikes as a healthy and inexpensive lifestyle choice with a positive environmental message and a free and youthful outlook.

The festival's imaginative programme features themed cycles, art, film nights, workshops and a family cycling picnic. Highlights include:

The Sense of Cycling" Art Exhibition

Bike polo for the hurling mad.

The art exhibition will be installed in the Unitarian Church and Civic Trust House throughout the festival (11am-6pm) where artists and performers will explore all sides of the cycling experience. The opening is on Tuesday 21st at 5:00pm.

Cycle Through the Planets
Cycling goes cosmic on Wednesday 22nd (7pm) for a guided journey through the Solar System, starting in the city centre and finishing at Blackrock Castle Observatory.

Bicycle Polo
The city's first Bicycle Polo contest is brought to us thanks to visiting players from the Bicycle Polo Association of Ireland, who will teach local cyclists the basics before the competition begins with BBQ refreshments available to keep up the energy. Show up at UCC, The Lower Grounds from 5pm on Saturday 25th.

"My Lovely Bike" Competition
Civic Trust House hosts on Friday 24th at 8pm Cork's first ever beauty pageant for bicycles! It's time to polish the chrome and wax the paint job… with host Ronan the-Man-with-the-Hat Leonard.

Bicycle Treasure Hunt
Explore the city by bike and solve the riddles to discover hidden treasure! This enticing and family-friendly treasure hunt will leave at 2pm from the Unitarian Church on Saturday 25th.

Cycling Advocacy Meeting
The annual advocacy meeting on Monday 20th has a broad spectrum of guest speakers, including author and cycling safety expert John Franklin (UK), followed by a lively debate on cycling with audience members. Join the discussion at 7:00pm on UCC campus, The Quad (downstairs) to have your say!

Cork Songs Cycle Tour
Enjoy a fun, friendly bicycle tour of Cork discovering the city's songs and history on Thursday 23rd July (7pm) with Cork Folk Festival director William Hammond. (highly recommended by PROC)

Darren and kids at the official festival launch at Blackrock Castle.

Cycling Picnic
Sunday 26th will be the perfect day to chill-out at the festival's summer cycling picnic in Joe McHugh Park by the harbour at Mahon, organised in co-operation with Cork Food Web (1pm).

Critical Mass
Critical Mass rides are organised everywhere in the world to celebrate cycling and people-friendly streets. Join the movement on Daunt Square at 6pm to reclaim our public space!

Bicycle Spa
Fix up and pimp your bicycle in the Unitarian Church on Saturday 25th afternoon (1pm-5pm) - Think of it as a bicycle spa!

Cycling Film Nights
Three movie nights will be held during the festival, featuring cycling documentaries, exhilarating art short films and a cinema masterpiece. Check the festival website for time, venue and programme.

The Festival is sponsored by Cork City Council and the Smarter Travel section of the Department of Transport. There are also by number of local business sponsors including, The Edge Sports Shop, Giant Bicycles, Kellys Bicycles, Trek bicycles, trailriders.ie, rothar cycles and dealfeedr.ie.

Festival partners are UCC, Cork Community Bikes, Cork Cycling Campaign, Cork-Kerry An Óige, Cork Environmental Forum, Boutique Events, Cork Greenmap, Cork Food Web, Blackrock Castle Observatory and Civic Trust House, Bicycle Polo Association of Ireland.

For more information on events, including dates, locations, schedules and volunteering, please visit the festival website www.cork-cycling-arts-festival.org

Download full programme PDF