Friday Night, Culture Crawl - Culture Night 2015

Culture Night takes place again this September with a record number of venues opening their doors and welcoming guests well after hours.

Culture Night 2015 takes place on Friday 18th September. The event comprises hundreds of events across the country and abroad. Arts, historical and cultural events will be open until late hosting free events across music, dance, theatre and performance as well talks and tours. It’s a night to discover, explore, adventure, create and celebrate the wonderful things happening in creative and iconic spaces across the country.

This year a colossal 230 venues are partaking in the capital alone, including landmarks such as Christ Church Cathedral, the National Museum of Ireland, the Science Gallery, The Guinness Storehouse, The Pepper Canister Church, Dublin Castle, and a couple of hundred others.

Culture aside – just for a minute – it’s also a once-in-an-annum opportunity to get inside some of those buildings you’ve wondered about, dismayed you’d never have any business in. Windmill Lane Studios, Airbnb, The Lilliput Press, The Abbey’s costume and props department? There’s pretty much something for every discerning taste.

One of this year’s highlights is the Aerial Cirque performance in the cultural quarter. They’re also hosting flying workshops in aerial cocoons on the night, free, but booking is required. For times and tickets visit the Aerial Cirque website.

RTÉ’s Philharmonic Choir return and will appear with the Army No. 1 Band at Trinity College. The Irish Times is again running Downstairs Dublin, a programme of events, talks, screening and pop-ups in the basements of Merrion Square. There are also several walking and bike tours on the night exploring various quarters.

Dublin Bus is providing free services to operate between the event’s main areas. But if last year’s Culture Night downpour taught us one thing (and dampened a few spirits) it’s to have a plan. Some events can be very busy, so check out the programme, make a schedule, bring a map and a brolly – just in case.

Culture Night 2015 takes place on Friday, 18th September. The full programme of events for Dublin and environs is available on the official website.