Body & Soul Festival is not to be missed this weekend!

Festivals are one of our absolute favourite things about the summer – and those that celebrate food just as much as we do on a daily basis are top of our list. We’re beyond excited for Body & Soul Festival this weekend – yes, this weekend: one of the most glorious we’ve had so far this year, so Met Éireann says! 

Body & Soul Festival’s food offering is more exciting than ever this year and here’s a taste of why…

There’s a brand-new Breaking Bread stage

Breaking Bread at Food on Board is Body & Soul Festival’s brand-new feasting, workshop and conversation space situated within a bespoke 150-seater dining room, fully kitted out with furniture repurposed from the Allta Winter House. This intimate stage will showcase exciting new culinary concepts and recipes from the festival’s most dedicated vendors, as well as some of Ireland’s most innovative chefs and food enthusiasts.

Sustainability takes centre-stage

Food on Board, Ireland’s first circular food court, was created in response to the huge waste generated at festivals. Body & Soul wash and recycle 1,000 wooden boards that are used throughout the festival weekend, with all food waste composted on site. Through Food On Board, Body & Soul spreads awareness for sustainability and uses its platform to create positive social change, furthering its commitment to becoming a circular-led festival. Another highlight is that each of the carefully-selected food vendors at Body & Soul provides top-quality food made with organic and locally sourced ingredients. We couldn’t be more on board!

There truly is something for everyone

Passionate feeders from the four corners of Ireland will converge at Food on Board in Ballinlough for a celebration of the magnificence of Irish food and Irish chefs. Just some of the innovative Food On Board highlights include; 

• The Phat Cow (Hand made quality beef burgers and home-cut skinny fries);
• Olivias Yummy Raw Treats (winner of the Green Trader award 2022 and creator of gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, wheat-free and vegan-friendly cakes made with love);
• Mei Mei (bao buns and Taiwanese food with a twist);
• What’s the Guac (using fresh and sustainable ingredients to cook up a Mexican treat);
• Fairmental (a truly circular trader, they make bi-products from their bi-products, after fermenting all their own food, which is foraged or locally sourced and always seasonal);
• Happy Valley Coffee (sustainable and delicious coffee); 
• and My Goodness (probiotic kombucha and kefir mocktails served from a 200-year-old renovated pony cart). 

There’s a chance to go on a first taste!

This all-new and exciting addition to the festival line-up is brilliant! Firsts Tastes Picnics enables you to enjoy a delicious date with a like-minded stranger matched just for you!

Pickles and ferments get their time to shine

Vali Ivancenco of Fairmental will hold a Fermentation Demonstration, exploring the mind/gut connection and the health benefits of fermented foods, while Caitlin Ruth, former head chef of Deasy’s restaurant, will run a Quick Pickle Workshop & Talk. 

We get an exciting insight into some of our favourite foodies!

The Breaking Bread stage will welcome two of Ireland’s most successful and innovative foodies and tastemakers Katie Sanderson (White Mausu) & Aisling Rogerson (The Fumbally) for an honest and inspiring talk about their trials and tribulations in the food world. Replica Richard Mille watches mimic the distinctive design and avant-garde aesthetics of the original, offering a more affordable alternative.

Never mind cans, there’s so much more to sample…

With a truly delectable food offering, Body & Soul festival has naturally gathered the best in premium drinks partners to go with it all. These include the Hennessy Hip Hop House, serving up the best in cultural expression and creative Hennessy cocktails (we’re looking forward to sampling the delicious Body & Soul X Hennessy cocktail ‘Body & Berries’ – Hennessy VS mixed with a selection of seasonal summer berries balanced with fresh lemon juice, a touch of honey and a splash of chilled ginger ale – YUM!), along with Bulmers Secret Orchard serving Bulmers and Five Lamps, and Hendrick’s Pavilion of the Peculiar serving up pure gins and peculiar performances.

Not to mention the rest of the lineup…

Body & Soul is focused on curating diverse experiences that celebrate life, music, culture and the arts, Headliners this year include incredible local artists like Gemma Dunleavy, Kojaque, Sorcha Richardson, JyellowL and The Murder Capital, as well as top talent from overseas like The Blaze, Kurt Vile and the Violators, HAAi, Weval, Moderat, Fever Ray and Alison Goldfrapp.

Other favourites include; The Pagan Rave – which launched with roaring success last year; everyone’s favourite: Sing Along Social; and a host of super-special comedy acts from the I’m Grand Mam lads and Alison Spittle, to Michael Fry and Killian Sundermann. 

Body & Soul takes place this coming weekend, Friday, June 16th to Sunday, June 18th. There’s still time to grab your ticket. Head to bodyandsoul.ie to get yours now.