September 25th - October 18th 2020
Presented by Donegal County Council Culture Division
WELCOME
Level Three Covid-19 Restrictions & Live Performances
With Donegal’s move to Level Three of the Plan for Living with Covid 19 now confirmed until October 16 next, this has implications for all of the planned programme of Donegal Bay live music and theatre performances at the Abbey Arts Centre, Ballyshannon and the Balor Arts Centre, Ballybofey.
Due to the additional restrictions on indoor gatherings that will follow, it will not now be possible for these venues to host any of the Donegal Bay and Blue Stacks Festival live performances as advertised, as the period of Level Three Restrictions coincides wih the festival dates. As such, the Festival, the venues and the artists impacted are working together to devise optimal solutions for each impacted event. Our collective aim will be to save as much of the festival programme as possible by rearranging performance dates to late October and to November. This website will be regularly updated to inform the public of details of rearranged performances, or other possible solutions such as online broadcasts.
Members of the public who have already purchased tickets for festival events which cannot now take place on their original dates may opt for a full refund immediately, or they may wish to rebook for their particular event, as rescheduling is organised over the coming days. Please check with the festival website or contact the venue where the booking was made, for further updates.
Meanwhile, the Festival’s online programme commences this evening ( Friday, September 25) with the first episode of Dark Daughter’s four part online drama, Drumshee Days, which you can enjoy from 7.00pm on the festival Youtube channel, or on this website.
The 20th Donegal Bay and Blue Stacks Festival
A Festival of Music, Theatre, Comedy & Literary Events
Over the past 20 years, the Donegal Bay and Blue Stacks Festival has supported artists and engaged communities throughout South and South West Donegal with the best of theatre, music of all kinds, arts for young folk, visual arts, crafts, spectacle and literary events. This year, we had big ideas for a grand 20th birthday celebration but, like everyone else, we have had to temper our ambition and adapt to the ongoing Covid 19 situation and the challanges it has placed before us.
We cannot, unfortunately, host a Carnival Parade this year, and neither have we access to that rich network of parish halls and other community facilities which have hosted so many memorable festival concerts, plays and schools shows, over the years.
But we still very much have a festival this autumn. Our partner artists and venues have come together to create a blend of live and online events that will showcase newly created work, give fresh platforms to old favourites and provide new ways for our communities to access and enjoy the best of arts and entertainment, as the evenings draw in.
