There will certainly be no rain dances performed at this year's Waterford Spraoi, given that last year's grand finale parade, even after being deferred by 24 hours, had to go ahead amid heavy showers.
In spite of this, last year's colourful band of street artists and performers drew more than 12,000 spectators.
Such enthusiasm is expected to be repeated and multiplied this year if the sun shines on the capital of the south east for at least some of the time next weekend.
With a celebration of nocturnal life as this year's theme, onlookers should prepare themselves for all kinds of ghosts, ghouls, owls, cats and other firey and fiendish nighttime creatures. What started out as a percussion-based street festival has, over its five years, developed into a more broadly-based street art and performance event with international credibility. Many performance-based companies now include Waterford on their European touring itinerary. Crash (renowned for their comic routines and clever balancing acts), Mark, Mark (a daring duo whose expertise ranges from fire eating to juggling and stilt-walking) and Casablanca Steps (re-creators of the musical mood of the 1920s and 1930s) are among those who will be entertaining throughout this year's festival. Sonny Condell, the Cafe Orchestra, The Bogus Brothers, Ceol Batucada and the Ebony Steel Band from the Notting Hill Carnival are some of the headlining music acts who will perform in outdoor and indoor venues in Waterford city centre over the three days. Meanwhile, home-grown talent is nurtured through Spraoi's own performance wing, under the creative direction of T.V. Honan, formerly general manager of Red Kettle theatre company. "We are currently running workshops for 10-14 year olds who will perform in this year's finale parade, which will have a cast of 150 and 10, themed sections," he explains. Earlier this year, Spraoi performers took part in the St Patrick's Day parade in Dublin and put on a show in Tramore, Co Waterford. "By next year, we hope to take a serious look at developing a stage-based show to take to other festivals in Ireland," Honan says.
The Spraoi grand final parade, starting at 10 p.m. on Sunday, will wind through the city centre from John Street to Merchant's Quay, where the whole festival culminates in "a staged event". Phone 051 841808 or 051 841809 for more details.
