Now in its 24th year, The National Circus Festival of Ireland returns to Tralee from October 31st to November 3rd, and will be full of captivating homegrown and international talent. Visitors of all ages will enjoy performance workshops, colourful conventions, a spectacular parade, fireworks and more!
The NCFI is a four day celebration of contemporary circus that is thrilling and challenging and continues to set the standard for contemporary circus performance in Ireland. Each year, the NCFI sees some of the world’s most talented circus with jaw-dropping handpicked acts at the top of their game from all over the world, including Canada, Argentina, Italy, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Belgium and France who are set to thrill, delight and amaze the lucky audiences.
Festival Highlights
- Parade and Fireworks – Fang-tastic Fireworks and Fun for all the Family in the capital town! The Kerry Homecoming Festival at Halloween and the National Circus Festival join together for an unforgettable parade and pre fireworks show in Tralee on Friday 1st November. Enjoy all the spectacle of the circus along with spectacular Friday fireworks on Denny Street.
- Children’s Circus Workshops – Learn how to juggle, spin plates, to the hula hoop and throw the Diablo. Run away with the circus for a day!
- Circus Siamsa – At the heart of and always a highlight of the festival is Circus Siamsa, a variety show. It brings the stars of contemporary circus, street and variety performance to the stage in Siamsa. This year acts from France, Germany, Spain, America, Sweden and the UK will delight the lucky people of Tralee for one day only. It’s a family show but not just for kids!
- The Whistle II – Like its predecessor, ‘The Whistle II’ explores interactive performance that takes the audience down a rabbit hole of intertwining plotlines. It invites the audience to take charge of their own experience as the complex layers of the game start to unfold. The Whistle II, performed by a juggler, a dancer and a musician, opens up a multitude of new worlds to experience. Taking inspiration from cinema, game design and cognitive behaviour studies the work will play with the fallacies of our minds to bring us to weird and wonderful places. This is the world premiere and proudly commissioned by the NCFI, thanks to support from The Arts Council of Ireland.
- Circus, Juggling, Acrobatic and Aerial Convention 2024 – There’s a four-day convention full of intensives and adult workshops in the KDYS Hall on Denny Street (Circus and Juggling Convention) and the Moyderwell Hall in Boherbue (Aerial and Acrobatic Convention). Over 45 workshops are included as part of the Convention Pass. You’ll be spoiled for choice!
- Film Night – Join us for NCFI’s much celebrated film night, Thursday 31st October, 7pm at the Kerry County Museum. This year the festival presents ‘The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari’, a 1920 German silent horror film directed by Robert Wiene and written by Hans Janowitz and Carl Mayer. Considered the quintessential work of German Expressionist cinema, the film features a dark, twisted visual style, with sharp-pointed forms, oblique, curving lines, structures and landscapes that lean and twist in unusual angles, and shadows and streaks of light painted directly onto the sets. Admission is €5, free with Convention Ticket.
- Future Producers Industry Day – Are you an aspiring producer, artist, or arts enthusiast eager to delve into the dynamic world of creative production? Join NCFI for the Future Producers Industry Day, a unique opportunity to learn, connect, and be inspired.
