Culture Night returns to Waterford, on buses, stages and in venues across the city - News - Waterford News & Star

’Whether it’s getting a sneak-peek behind the scenes of Spraoi Studios, enjoying spoken word in Waterford’s Cultural Quarter or experiencing music ...

Pictured launching Culture Night are Cian Gill, WCCC Climate Team and musician; poet Joanne McCarthy; Mayor of Waterford Metropolitan District, Cllr. Lola O'Sullivan; Mick Faherty, Service Delivery Manager, Bus Éireann; Harry O'Neill of Luca Records & Decks, and Adam Mernin of City of Waterford Brass. Photo: Waterford City & County Council

Erin Gahan Culture Night returns to Waterford City and County on Friday, September 18, bringing a full evening of free cultural events to venues, streets and unexpected spaces across the city and county.

One of these unexpected places being the Waterford city bus routes.

Music and Poetry in Motion, delivered in conjunction with Bus Éireann, will bring local musicians and poets on board Waterford city bus routes from 6pm to 9pm, giving commuters and passers-by a live performance as they travel the city's streets.

It's a journey the organisers describe as "good for the soul, and for the environment".

The night officially begins though, at Theatre Royal, which will host an after-hours takeover running from early evening through to after midnight while Music Generation Waterford officially opens the night from 5pm to 7pm with performances from its Wind Band, Harpers and Pipers, and a relaxed open mic for young musicians and spoken word artists.

This year's Culture Night Late activity at Theatre Royal is funded by the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon through the Night-Time Economy initiative, and features among this year's national Culture Night Late highlights.

From 10pm, Slip of the Tongue takes over the Stage Door Bar with a high-energy night of spoken word, poetry, live music, drag and comedy curated by poet and playwright Wayne Power, headlined by Dublin poetry collective The Poetry Kiln.

The night closes then with Luca Records and Decks presenting Theatre Vestibule (10.30pm –00.30am), a late-night set curated by Harry O'Neill featuring headliners The Slinkies alongside drag performance from Alien:Nation and The Haus of Goofy.

Now in its 21st year nationally, Culture Night is stewarded by the Arts Council in partnership with local authorities, and this year's Waterford programme is coordinated by the Culture Night Waterford team on behalf of Waterford City and County Council Arts Office.

A new Festival Tasters strand will also debut at this year's Culture Night, giving audiences a behind-the-scenes look at two of Waterford's flagship arts festivals ahead of their 2027 editions.

Imagine Arts Festival marks its 25th anniversary at Bank Lane from 6pm, with surprise guests on the night and a sneak peek of this year's full festival programme.

Spraoi Studios, Ireland's only purpose-built street performance creation centre, opens its doors from 4pm to 6pm, with visitors invited to see the workshop, rehearsal and costume rooms where Spraoi's award-winning parade, Halloween and spectacle shows are built by the team behind the annual Spraoi International Street Arts Festival.

The iconic Culture Night Waterford outdoor stage returns to the Apple Market again this year, anchoring the evening in the heart of the city.

The line-up brings together some of Waterford's best-loved performers alongside new voices taking to the stage for the very first time, with a few surprises kept under wraps until the night, all showcasing the immense depth of talent in Waterford's arts scene.

At Garter Lane Arts Centre, Trust Artists Unconditionally opens with a discussion and exhibition walkthrough at 6pm followed by an official opening at 7pm with curator Sean Lynch — an exhibition revisiting a series of flagship public art commissions delivered across the city between 1995 and 1999 by artist Garrett Phelan and then-director Annette Clancy.

The Studios building opens for Open Studios (6pm – 8pm), where visitors can meet resident artists and see their work in progress, alongside a family-friendly drop-in workshop creating team jerseys and parachutes inspired by the exhibition.

Across the city's Cultural Quarter, further venues throw open their doors for the evening, each bringing their own flavour to the night's spirit of discovery.

Speaking on Culture Night in Waterford, Mayor of Waterford Metropolitan District, Cllr. Lola O' Sullivan said: “There is something special about Culture Night in Waterford. It connects people and communities through music, poetry, art, and creativity, and this year is no exception.

“Whether it’s getting a sneak-peek behind the scenes of Spraoi Studios, enjoying spoken word in Waterford’s Cultural Quarter or experiencing music and poetry in motion on public transport, Culture Night has something for everyone.

“Waterford’s arts and cultural organisations, the Arts Office, and Waterford City and County Council's Arts Officers have put together a programme that celebrates our richness and diversity, so I would encourage everyone to immerse themselves in Culture Night across the city and county.”

For the full Culture Night Waterford programme and further updates, visit www.culturenight.ie/events.