Ireland's Silliest Party - Festival of Fools!

Belfast’s city centre is gearing up for a whirlwind of acrobatics, comedy, and street theatre as the Festival of Fools returns from May 3rd to 8th, 2025!

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, this beloved festival transforms the streets into stages, with a mix of performances that are entirely free to the public during the day.

A Feast of Performances

This year’s lineup is a testament to the festival’s commitment to showcasing fun and dynamic acts:

• Missy Impossible: Dive into a world where the impossible becomes possible, celebrating daring tricks and the joy of attempting the unachievable.

• Embolic: Experience the silent charm of Catalonia’s clown maestro, inviting audiences into a playful and interactive performance.

• We are the Champions: Finnish performer Circus Simon brings uplifting circus feats that inspire and entertain.

• What's Watt: Symmetry Circus presents Irish inventors and their uniquely angled kinetic motion machines.

• Roll Play: London’s Simple Cypher merges circus artistry with hip-hop in a high-energy performance.

• Stupidly Dangerous: Sideshow Ramone delivers laughter-filled shows with a twist of danger.

• The Bemusement Games: Fuinseog Woodland Crafts offers hand-crafted wooden games designed to entertain the whole family.

• A Stroll on Our Shoulders: Cikada Circus takes audiences on an acrobatic journey through Belfast’s cityscape.

• Mr Barbra Time: Paul Currie’s avant-garde clowning and anarchic physical comedy promise a very silly experience.

• Ludo & Arsène: Be Flat’s acrobatic duo roams the festival, always on a mission, bringing spontaneity and surprise.

• Old and New Fools: A showcase of emerging talents performing alongside seasoned classics, offering a blend of fresh and familiar acts.

Evening Highlights

As the sun sets, the festival continues with special evening performances:

• CHOP by Lords of Strut: A hilariously absurd deep dive into fragile egos and environmental collapse, featuring big axes and bigger laughs. Scheduled for May 7th at 7:00 PM at MAC Belfast. Tickets for this event are priced at €11.50

• VARC by Emmen Jude Donnelly: An immersive performance combining physical theatre and aerial artistry, set to an original score by Belfast sound artist Marty Byrne. Tickets for this event are priced at €17.50.

Plan Your Visit

With over 70 performances across various city centre locations, including Cornmarket, St. Anne's Square, Writers' Square, and 2 Royal Avenue, there’s something for everyone. All daytime shows are free, and donations are welcomed to support the artists and the festival's continuation.

For detailed schedules, performer information, and tickets to the evening show, visit the official Festival of Fools website.