The Taste of Kildare Festival of Food & Drink, brought to you by Into Kildare and supported by Ballymore and Kildare County Council’s Local Enterprise Office, is just days away! From September 20th to 22nd, Naas Racecourse in Co. Kildare will come alive with a vibrant celebration of food, drink, live entertainment, and family fun, showcasing County Kildare’s finest culinary offerings.
The weekend forecast looks promising, adding to the excitement as preparations get underway for what is set to be the festival’s largest and most exciting year to date.
With over four jam-packed sessions across the weekend, visitors can expect an array of culinary delights. Whether you’re in the mood for fine dining, street food, or exclusive dining experiences, the Taste of Kildare offers something for everyone. For those looking to indulge, the Kildare Village Premium Garden Lounge VIP ticket offers fast-track entry, all-access to the garden lounge with table service, and panoramic views of the racecourse from the balcony.
Kildare’s Best Cuisine awaits from the Champagne and Oysom Oyster Bar, to sushi at Lemongrass Fusion, and burgers from Harte’s, visitors will be spoiled for choice. Highlights include dishes such as Crispy Prawn Tempura Futomaki Roll, Cheesy Cheese Burger with Bacon Jam, and Chilli Beef Nachos from The Silken Thomas/Lock 13.
Food trucks will also serve up mouth-watering street food, including Mexican-style pulled Cajun chicken tacos from Spraoí. For an exclusive treat, Dubh Restaurant from Newbridge will pop up on Friday and Saturday evenings, offering delights like a baby pizza with pumpkin purée, pickled pumpkin, nduja hot honey, and pumpkin seed dukkah.
In the BBQ area, Fallon’s of Kilcullen will roast a pig on a spit all weekend, serving sumptuous pulled pork in Waterford’s famous Blaa with Asian slaw and baby gem lettuce. Pitt Bros will turn up the heat with their Flat Iron Steak on Smoked Ramiro Pepper Salsa and Chimichurri.
eir Presents The Talk Stage eir, Ireland’s leading telecommunications provider, is the proud sponsor of the Talk Stage, where visitors can learn from top local producers, chefs, and artisans. Hosted by food writers Dee Laffan and Ali Dunworth, the Talk Stage, Powered by eir, will feature insights from producers such as Beara Bitters, Sweet Cheeses, The Nude Wine Company, and Aisling’s Taste of Home.
In addition, eir will present five prestigious awards to participating hotels, restaurants, and producers throughout the weekend, including the ultimate ‘Best in Fest Award’, which will go to the best dish or product at the festival.
“We are so excited to welcome everyone to this year’s Taste of Kildare,” said Áine Mangan, CEO of Into Kildare. “The festival will be an amazing experience with something for everyone—from fabulous food and live music to family fun at the Bord na Móna Family Fun Day. It’s a true celebration of our local food culture and the creativity of our producers.”
Calor Chefs’ Theatre & Craft Market The Calor Chefs’ Theatre will showcase 12 of Ireland’s top chefs demonstrating their culinary prowess through live cooking demonstrations. Visitors will also be treated to masterclasses, elegant afternoon tea, and gourmet dishes from local food trucks.
A key highlight of the weekend is the GATHER craft market, featuring products made by local artisans from the LEO Kildare Creative Cluster. Visitors can browse through handmade crafts, boutique goods, and unique Kildare-made products, offering a chance to take home a piece of Kildare’s creativity.
The Bord na Móna Family Fun Day on Sunday promises entertainment for kids, making the festival a family-friendly experience. Throughout the weekend, attendees will also enjoy an exciting lineup of live music across all four sessions, including performances by Superfly, Smash Hits, Rodeo Cats Line Dancing, and Newbridge Gospel Choir and Bingo Loco.
Supporting Shine Mental Health Charity this year, the festival is proud to support Shine, a Kildare-headquartered mental health charity. Shine has been supporting individuals affected by mental illness for over 40 years. Their volunteers will be present, giving out Green Ribbons to support the national stigma reduction program.
Tickets are now on sale at www.tasteofkildare.ie/tickets, with general admission starting from €15. Bundle tickets, priced from €32 per person, offer admission and two signature dishes from participating restaurants for one session. Group, VIP, and corporate bookings are also available, with a special BBQ session on Friday night. Free parking is available on-site, with a shuttle service running from Naas town centre.
