Elevate your autumn on the island of Ireland with a selection of festivals that celebrate community, tradition and heritage. From harvest fairs to feasts of local bounty, this is a season to savour
There’s something particularly special about autumn in Ireland, and much of it comes down to its links to harvest time. For starters, there’s the food, from orchards full of plump apples to salty oysters from the Atlantic to floury potatoes.
Then there’s how colourful the Irish landscape gets in the autumn: think paths strewn with crunchy amber leaves, golden grain fields and dewy greenery in parks and forests. It’s a time to throw on a scarf and wrap up for an invigorating walk, followed by a cosy night by the fire in a local pub, sipping a homegrown cider.
Harvest season, which runs from August through to October, traditionally began in Ireland with the ancient festival of Lughnasa (one of the year’s four main seasonal festivals, the others being Samhain, Imbolc and Bealtaine) on Lá Lughnasa, 1 August. From that day onwards, communities would gather to harvest crops, working intensively to ensure the darker months of winter would be filled with bountiful food. The harvest would end with “Gleaning Sunday”, when people would gather up any crops that had been left over in the fields.
It can be easy in today’s world to lose touch with harvest time and forget about the huge amount of work it takes to grow the delicious food that ends up on our dinner plates. But taking part in Ireland’s contemporary harvest festivals is a fantastic way to make that connection both to the land and to the island’s ancient past.
Florence Court Harvest Fair
One of the festivals that celebrates harvest season and the abundance of fruits, vegetables and grains it offers is in County Fermanagh: the annual Harvest Fair takes place at the stunning Florence Court on Saturday 25 October from 11am to 4pm. (Tickets are free – you just have to pay admission into Florence Court itself, which is well worth exploring.)
This historic 18th-century Georgian mansion is set in a large sustainable estate near the island town of Enniskillen, and boasts beautiful, lush parkland and woodland trails. The estate, which was in the same family’s hands for over 250 years, also has longer trails in the adjoining forest park where visitors can take a walk or a cycle, alongside fascinating heritage features like a water-powered sawmill and a blacksmith’s forge.
The Florence Court Harvest Fair will include a food village showcasing the spoils of local farm-fresh produce and delicious homemade treats. There’s a firm focus on local producers: the artisan food and craft market is being held in collaboration with Tully Mill and will include over 40 crafters. Foodies can pop into the cookery tent in the Kitchen Garden, where there will be live demonstrations from local chefs and baking stars. As for the kids, face-painting, storytelling, and even a scarecrow competition will keep them well entertained.
Savour Kilkenny Food Festival
Food-lovers shouldn’t miss the Savour Kilkenny Food Festival in the medieval city of Kilkenny, which runs from 24 to 27 October, the October Bank Holiday weekend. This is a prime destination for soaking up Ireland’s incredible food scene and is considered one of the country’s leading food festivals. Its pedigree is underlined by the quality of the Irish chefs, including Rory O’Connell, Rachel Allen and Paul Flynn, who will be doing live cookery demos over the weekend.
There will also be workshops on chocolate making, cake decorating, a pizza-making workshop for kids, and even a foodie tour of the city. Fans of craft beers and whiskeys should check out the Brewers and Distillers Marquee to try some homegrown tipples. Plus, the buzzing Savour street food market on the Parade will feature over 100 stalls from artisan food makers and vendors, offering everything from hearty lunches to tasty desserts.
It’s a virtual smorgasbord of delectable delights, highlighting how important harvest season is to people across the country, and how Irish food deserves its space in the spotlight. Last year, over 68,000 people attended this hugely popular festival, and no doubt 2025 will be even bigger.
Killarney Pumpkin Farm
If there’s a vegetable that’s a classic symbol of harvest time, it’s the pumpkin. You might associate pumpkin farms with the USA, but here on the island of Ireland, we have our own Killarney Pumpkin Farm in County Kerry. You’ll find it tucked away in the hills of Headford, not too far from Killarney town.
This year, the farm is hosting its fifth Samhain celebration in October. Samhain was the Celtic precursor to Halloween, which marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. During the festivities, you can explore the large pumpkin patch, grab some seasonal food at the Harvest Eats courtyard, stir up magic at its Potion Station or have a dance at its Pixie Disco.
It’s a perfect family visit, with face-painting on offer for children and lots of whimsical, fanciful events that make the most of the spooky, autumnal setting (there’s even a corn maze to try and get lost in). Expect twinkling fairy lights and outdoor settings that will look brilliant in family photos. Plus, visitors can select their own pumpkins or gourds to take home. Tickets are €18.50, with family bundles available and under twos go free.
Armagh Food and Cider Weekend
A lovely harvest celebration to pop on the calendar for 2026 is the Armagh Food and Cider Weekend. This event takes place in the heart of “Orchard County” in early September, and features cider tastings, farm-to-fork feasts, pop-up dining experiences and orchard tours.
It’s emblematic of how Ireland celebrates harvest time – by leaning into the local produce on offer, while highlighting the benefits of sustainability and seasonal eating.
ARTICLE CREDIT; TOURISM IRELAND MEDIA
