Twenty-one years on, the beauty of Culture Night remains the same: it’s free, it’s for everyone, and it’s also a brilliant excuse to become a tourist in your own city for the evening.
Culture Night is officially coming of age, and Dublin is gearing up to throw it a very big birthday party. This Friday, September 18th sees the city’s museums, galleries, theatres, heritage sites, studios and cultural spaces opening their doors for the 21st edition of Culture Night with more than 300 free events taking place across Dublin from 4pm until late.
Denizens of the city can experience a buzzy night out as Dublin becomes one giant cultural playground, featuring everything from theatre, tango and trad to poetry, painting and even a spot of pole dancing on the menu. In honour of the big milestone, Culture Night is going bigger outdoors too, with open-air gigs, street parties and performances popping up across the city.
Over at Wood Quay Amphitheatre, expect plenty of movement, with urban dance from Irish National Breaking champion and Culture Night ambassador Leon Dwyer alongside Mexican ceremonial dance from Calpulli Mictlan. There’ll also be music from Dublin Gay Men’s Choir and St James’s Brass and Reed Band.
Meeting House Square is another one to bookmark, with family group Burnchurch bringing their blues-pop and traditional Irish sound to Temple Bar. K-Pop dance classes are also set to get the crowd moving alongside sets from Holly Munro, Pier, Celaviedmai, Jessie & The Veil and fellow ambassador Asha Ari.
Then it’s over to Dublin’s Central Plaza, where CoisCéim Dance Theatre‘s BENCH will bring dance artist Simone O’Toole’s work to the city, before Super Average DJs take over with disco, house and 90s classics from their legendary Mambo Caravan.
And because 21 is all about making a bit of noise, this year finally sees North Earl Street joining the celebrations for the first time. Alt-pop sisters Zeztra will headline a special set celebrating their East Wall roots, alongside Korean drumming, Mongolian music and music from local community groups.
A short walk away, O’Connell Street gets a rock’n’roll makeover courtesy of TimeBomb and a little help from some 1950s dance moves.
Capel Street, meanwhile, will become an open-air electronic music zone curated by Mooncup, while opera gets a moment in the spotlight at Father Collins Park in Donaghmede where plans include a sparkling gala designed for both seasoned fans and curious newcomers.
Meander your way across the city, and there’s even more to discover. Catch Irish dancing beneath the spectacular 1901 stained-glass window at Church Café Bar, encounter the ancient Bulgarian Kukeri tradition at the Embassy of Bulgaria, or head to Tailors’ Hall for Pretty Vacant, a high-energy musical satire soundtracked by Euro-pop bangers.
Lovers of the written word are invited to join the Irish Writers Centre‘s Fierce on Friday! at 19 Parnell Square, while history buffs get to uncover some of Dublin’s many stories of justice, gender and social change as part of a special edition of Richard Carson’s The Fire Next Time walking tour.
There’s also a chance to check out the LGBTQIA+ Tour of Collins Barracks at the National Museum, running twice in the evening. Reading the museum’s collections through an alternative lens, the exhibition surfaces hidden histories of identity, gender and sexuality through the stories of objects and individuals spanning eras from the 17th to the 21st centuries.
Visitors to Collins Barracks can also enjoy a hands-on history session, tracing a century of social change from Women’s Suffrage through to Trans Solidarity movements.
Pavee Point celebrates Traveller culture with an immersive VR experience, Dublin City Hall fills its Rotunda with choral performances, and Wildcat Ink invites budding tattoo artists to have a go on fake skin.
Away from the buzz, the Dublin Buddhist Centre is marking 35 years of mantra chanting and Tibetan storytelling, while Aerial Cirque offers beginners a welcome opportunity to take to the silks.
Twenty-one years on, the beauty of the night remains the same: it’s free, it’s for everyone, and it’s a brilliant excuse to become a tourist in your own city for the evening.
So if you’ve ever thought, “I really should explore more of Dublin’s cultural scene,” Culture Night is the perfect excuse to do just that.
Words: Martina Murray
Feature Image: Hector Toshiro, Leon Dwyer,Teresa Dominguez and Culture Night Ambassador Asha Ari pictured at the launch of the 21st anniversary programme of Culture Night Dublin, photographed by Sasko Lazarov / Photocall Ireland
Culture Night Dublin takes place on Friday, September 18th, from 4pm until late. All events are free. For the full programme, visit culturenight.ie/Dublin.
