There's 1 Month To Go To Laya Healthcare's City Spectacular!

Laya Healthcare’s City Spectacular returns to Dublin and Cork in 1 month with its biggest and most spectacular five-day programme of events for all ages.

This summer’s festival intergrates the old and the new, with festival favourites that everyone knows and loves, and a new mix of exciting programming to elevate Laya Healthcare’s City Spectacular to a whole new level.

Dublin’s Merrion Square and Cork’s Fitzgerald Park will be transformed into Ireland’s busiest summer festivals, running on July 12 to 14 and July 20 and 21 respectively. Expect over 150 street performances from jaw-dropping international talent, feel good family health and wellness area with Laya Healthcare, a live music stage with bop-worthy bands, an even bigger Just Eat Street food market with delicious global cuisines from barbecue to bratwurst to burritos, an imaginative play universe for kids and hands-on lego model building, children’s storytelling and creative writing, vintage funfair rides and a plethora of free spectacular programming for all ages.

Marvel at the extraordinary feats of circus, sideshow and international street performance with a host of the world’s best talent including world famous sideshow celebrity and 55 time Guinness World Record holder The Space Cowboy, internationally acclaimed Argentinian football freestyler Victor Rubilar who has shared the stage with football giants Pele, Messi, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos and many more, the stunningly beautiful all-female aerial acrobatic show of The Silver Starlets and world champion living statue Portugal’s Cartoonette. Look forward to NYC break dance troupe B-Xtreme, Irish comedy magician and ventriloquist Jack Wise, Rubik’s cube solving knife-master Pete Anderson's Unstable Acts, Denmark’s Mr Toons and escapologist and magician Magic Brian. Discover the exciting world of science with Orbax & Pepper Do Science’s exhilarating street show and join in on their explosive science shows and interactive experiments. The line up of the world’s best street performers are ready to give the Irish crowds their best and they rely on the audience to make a living. Show your appreciation and make a contribution directly to the talented performers at the end of their shows. Join Irish funnymen Damo Clarke and Kevin O’Sullivan for some surprise giggles as they host and MC the street performance stages across the two festival weekends.

Dance, drum, jump and join in at Laya healthcare’s It’s Good To Live family health and wellbeing hub. Social media superstar James Patrice hosts this action-packed area where you can travel back to the 80’s and get into the groove with Retro Sweatro, enjoy high energy trampoline classes from Boogie Bounce, find your rhythm with Drum Nature and so much more. Little ones will transform into budding chefs and prepare culinary delights at Lil Laya Ville, the imaginative farm to table play experience. Colour outside the lines at the Super Troopers Graffiti House and enjoy mind boggling puzzles and conundrums for kids of all ages. Laya Healthcare’s partners Leinster Rugby will make a special appearance over the Dublin weekend with their skills sessions and mascot Leo the Lion who will be ready for some ROARsome action. 

Become the ultimate master LEGO builder and build 3D and motorised models with Bricks 4 Kidz - LEGO Masters. At Bricks 4 Kidz kids will learn the basics of STEM and practice critical thinking, problem-solving and organisational skills - all while making cool LEGO creations! Get creative in Johnny Magory’s Explorer’s Storyland where kids can explore their love of writing and adventure and join in on Story-writing workshops. Little ones will learn of the wonders of Irish mythology and heritage. They will be enwrapped in imagination and engrossed by the magical explorations of Johnny Magory as the Irish author brings the tales to life in Storytelling sessions. Families can go further afield and take part in the old style games or venture off on the Johnny Magory Explorer Guide’s Nature Hunt of Merrion Square and Fitzgerald Park. Calling all children, warning all Parents! If you want to get your parents back, Kid's Court returns this year messier, meaner and more mischievous than ever. The Judge will be trying, sentencing and punishing parents at Kid's Court. This is where the kids rule the turf!

Get ready for the fun filled Volkswagen Playground where adults and children alike can relax, play and soak up the summer sun. Let your inner child free and explore the automotive themed playground with giant games, tyre swings, a bespoke collaborative mural plus much more!

Just Eat, Ireland's favourite takeaway app will once again tickle your taste buds with over 35 global flavours at the Just Eat Street, the international street food festival within Laya Healthcare's City Spectacular.Tuck into a smorgasbord of savoury and sweet international dishes, treats and tastes featuring Arctic Stone, Umi Falafel, La La Poutine, Say Fish, Knockout Pizza, Masala, Tadka House, Market Burger, Pacheco Venezuelan Street Food, Garden of Vegan and many more. 

Paws Everything! No Laya Healthcare’s City Spectacular is complete without the p-awsome festival area of Pet-acular with official festival charity partner DSCPA and Purina. Mutt and man will enjoy doggy delights such as the DSPCA Scruffs dog show, dog training & agility demos with the DSPCA Dog Training Academy, pet health advice and Purina will also be on hand with some pet-approved surprises! Their Vet nurse will be chatting all things pet, so pop over to discuss anything from dental health to weight management!

Lovers of our four-legged furry friends will have the op-paw-tunity to meet dogs who are looking for forever homes in the DSPCA Doggy Adoption Parade. The DSPCA will be joined by Cork animal welfare charity CSPCA and their cuddly canines at our Fitzgerald Park, Cork festival. You'll be barking glad you joined us!