The Milford Events Committee have just announced the details of the Summer Festival which they are organising in August. Following on from the success of the Christmas Lights Switch on and then the big parade on Easter Sunday, the Committee have decided to organise a Summer Festival. A lot of credit must go to the committee who have been working very hard over the past few months putting together a programme of events which will appeal to a large number of people. It will begin on Friday the 7th of August at 7pm with the official opening by Cathal Hagan from Milford followed by music from Malachi Eastwood and Catriona Shiels. On Saturday it begins early at 10am with Gaelic4Mothers and Others at Moyle View Park followed from 12noon to 6pm for a Kids Fun Day. Also at noon Sheila Friel will lead a Heritage Walk from the Festival Office and at 1pm theres a Pet Show at the Gig Rig. At 2pm the Battle of the Bands takes place at the Gig Rig and at 3pm there will be a Single v Married Men/Women football match at the Milford Utd. Astro Pitch. Then from 4pm there is live free music at Gig Rig, starting off with Churchill’s Maria McCormick and friends followed at 6pm by Shane McGinley and then at 8pm the Big Band will be Rhythm and Sticks. Sunday begins with music from 12 noon to 2pm with Ruairi Friel and Friends and they will be joined by the young Irish dancers from Scoil Rince Ní Ghallchóir at the Gig Rig. At 2pm the Milford Jiu-Jutsu Club will put on a display before the Colour Run at 3pm. At 4pm Soak The Coach will take place with Irish International and Finn Harps footballer Gavin McAteer in for a wet afternoon! The Sunday evening music starts at 5pm with Keelan Pritchard Music on the Gig Rig with the Closing Ceremony and presentations at 7pm before the Big Band of the night will be David James Music. In the lead up to the weekend the Singing Pubs competition takes place starting with Burger Jacks on Monday the 3rd August, the Hi Da Way Bar on Tuesday the 4th, Dusty’s Bar on Wednesday and the Traveller’s Inn for the final on Thursday the 6th and also the selection of the Festival Queen. Cullen’s Funfair will be in town all weekend as well as Buskers on the street performing all weekend. Most of the events are free of charge and the committee have been running a number of fundraising events over the past few months. They are also very appreciative of the donations from various groups in the town to date. Draw To help fund the Festival they have launched a fund raising draw. The top prize is One Night B&B and dinner at the Villa Rose Hotel in Ballybofey. Second prize is a Healthwise Pharmacy Hamper and 3rd is Sunday Lunch for 4 at the Mulroy Woods Hotel with 4th and 5th €100 vouchers for the Water’s Edge Restaurant and the Bridge Bar in Ramelton. All the prizes are sponsored and the tickets are now on sale at €5 each, 3 for €10 or 7 for €20 with the draw taking place on Sunday the 9th of August at the closing ceremony.
