Brave Maeve Family Festival | July 26 & 27 2025
Saturday, July 26th & Sunday, 27th 2025
Join us this summer, where you’ll see a legend come to life…
Bray Mythology was written and illustrated by Chris Judge © 2017
Magic, Myth & Maeve
Magic, Myth & Maeve
The Brave Maeve Family Festival is back by popular demand, transforming Bray Seafront into a magical world of mythology, music, movement, and mindful moments.
Inspired by the legendary tale of Brave Maeve, a giant heroine awakening from her ancient slumber, this free, family-friendly festival blends folklore and fun across five immersive themed zones: Showtime Stage, Beach Theatre Area, Crafty Cave, Imagination Station and Zen by the Sea Zone.
Whether you’re dancing to the beat, creating magical crafts, or unwinding in a mindful moment by the sea, the festival has something for everyone.
A Magical Mix of Fun, Creativity & Family Adventure Awaits!
The festival promises a magical experience for all and will take place on Saturday, July 26th, and Sunday, July 27th, 2025, daily from noon until 6 pm. Admission is entirely free (no tickets are required).
Check out the highlights from our festival below, then begin planning your fun-filled family weekend!
Explore the Beach Theatre Area with friends Doris and Mabel, showcasing enchanting aerial shows courtesy of Sanita Circus. Additionally, a vibrant street theatre show celebrates movement, myth, and creativity.
In the Crafty Cave, kids can dive into puppet making and arts and crafts.
Enjoy the vibrant Seafront Funfair, open from noon until 10 pm, featuring classic rides, games, and attractions for thrill-seekers and families alike.
The Showtime Stage features vibrant entertainment, including ever-popular Ruben the Entertainer, dynamic dance displays, and interactive dance classes.
Experience creativity at the Imagination Station with Teddy Bears’ picnic, storytelling, puppet shows, and the exciting Dr Brain’s Science Show!
For a balance of excitement, the Zen by the Sea Zone offers calming yoga and family-friendly fitness classes.
As if that were not enough, food trucks will offer a variety of cuisines to cater to all tastes, while artisan vendors will offer handmade crafts and more…
Participants are also encouraged to take part in the #2MinuteBeachClean, a simple but powerful initiative that invites everyone to give back to Bray’s beautiful shoreline.
The story of ‘Brave Maeve’ the giant is illustrated on a trail of images along Bray seafront. The story follows a young giant adventurer called Maeve as she sets out to find a home for her people and battles many monsters along the way.
This Bray Mythology was written and illustrated by Chris Judge with the help of 50 local Wicklow children who, between them, devised this exciting story.
People can travel along the trail using a special map and read the story together with their family or simply use their imaginations and create their own adventure with Maeve and the creatures she meets. The story is told in several brightly coloured murals in various spots along Bray’s seafront.
It’s the heart of the festival and a must-do for every family.
The project was curated by Donna Carroll and funded by Platform Pizza, Bray Municipal District, Megazyme and Bray Credit Union. The beautiful murals were painted by the team in Triskill.
It won the ‘Best Use of Creativity in the Community’ Award’ at the Business to Arts Awards 2018.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes, it’s free admission, no ticket is required to the festival but charges apply on all Funfair attractions, food, craft vendors and selected games and competitions.
The festival will take place on the weekend of July 26th and 27th, 2025, daily from 12 pm to 6 pm.
All events and activities are subject to change without notice and are weather permitting.
As with all large-scale national festivals and events, some level of disruption is to be expected due to the high volume of visitors expected in Bray. To help minimise congestion and ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all, festival-goers are strongly encouraged to walk, cycle, or use public transport where possible. Limited paid parking is available along Bray Seafront.
Here are our Top Travel Tips to help you get here smoothly:
Use public transport
Walk or cycle if you can
Park in town centre car parks (Herbert Rd or Bray Central)
Avoid illegal parking
Arrive early & stagger your return
Plan ahead at bray.ie/directions
- Irish Rail Train Station
- Star Leisure on Strand Road
There are also several machines in Bray Town Centre. Click here for location details.
There are several public toilets located along the seafront, at both the southern and northern ends.
The festival takes along a public space on Strand Road, Bray. The outdoor location is pet-friendly.
Please be mindful that your pet needs to be comfortable in noisy environments and remember don’t let your dog off the leash in crowded areas.
Be considerate of other people and dogs: Not everyone is comfortable around dogs, so ask before you let your pet approach someone.
Some dogs become overwhelmed and overstimulated, so could you check in on your pet and be ready to leave or have someone pick up your dog?
Don’t forget to pack enough waste bags to clean up after your pet and #LeaveNoTrace.
Artisan Events manages the Food, Craft & Brand Village at the festival so if you have any questions please see artisanevents.ie or call +353 1 4969883.
The Brave Maeve Family Festival is part of the #SummerInBray tourism campaign, which is a collaborative effort involving the Bray and District Chamber of Commerce, Bray Municipal District, Wicklow County Council and bray.ie. The campaign’s goal is to promote tourism products and strengthen the local economy. bray.ie is the trading name of Bray Tourism.
Click here to dive into the exciting family-friendly events awaiting you this summer at our beloved seaside resort!
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