Vantastival 2010 – one week to go till Ireland’s newest music festival!
Work is well underway on site at Dunany Estate, Dunany, Co. Louth, for the inaugural Vantastival festival, which will take place over the May bank holiday weekend. Kila, Jack L, Mick Flannery, FRED, O Emperor and The Dublin City Ramblers are among the musical acts due to perform at the North-east’s newest festival, which is expected to attract over 3,000 music lovers from all over Ireland. Vantastival is sponsored by Louth Local Authorities and the amazing line up also features Bell X1’s David Geraghty, Túcan, local man Jinx Lennon and over sixty more acts.
Vantastival is the first festival in this country to focus particularly on the needs of campervan and motor scooter enthusiasts, with a host of attractions including a trade area, competitions, and vehicle-based workshops. However, it is open to everyone and you don’t have to be a vehicle nut to enjoy the music, craic, children’s activities, swing dancing, healing area, food and craft fair, and lots more on offer. Two separate campsites will be available – one for general tent campers and a second catering to campervans and residential vehicles.
Vintage Volkswagen campervans have been spotted in cities across the country promoting the festival, and club members are planning to travel in convoy on Friday 30 April from all over Ireland. However, it’s not just vintage vans that are welcome at Vantastival, with many festival goers travelling in home-converted vans and coach built motorhomes, all of which will be permitted to park on the festival site with no extra charge. Featured activities include a campervan cook-off, homebrew demonstrations, and a ‘scrapheap challenge’ involving the on site renovation of an old van into a camper, which will then be raffled off for local charities. The Gramophone Disco of Electric Picnic and Glastonbury renown will provide a late night speakeasy offering vintage visuals and sounds and the Psychedelica Openmicadelica stage will give festival goers a chance to demonstrate their own musical talents.
Vantastival is a family-friendly event and will have a full range of children’s entertainment and a dedicated family camping area. It runs from Friday 30 April to Sunday 2 May and ticket prices are very recession friendly at €85 for three nights camping, with €40 day tickets available, €30 entry for 14-17 year olds and free entry for children under 14. Tickets can be purchased online from the website, from the Dice Bar in Smithfield and from the Spirit Store in Dundalk. Check the website for further details – www.vantastival.com
