Your Dublin weekend: free river festival, live music and more

A free, citywide riverside festival with the 106th Liffey Swim, tall ships, water activities, walking tours, live music, street theatre, aerial displays, and family-friendly fairground attractions. It stretches along the quays and is one of the best all-day picks for weekend visitors.

The Liffey Festival continues on Sunday with flotilla action, waterside entertainment, live performances, and more family-friendly activity along the river. It is the easiest free option for travellers who want a lively, walkable central Dublin experience.

A ticketed supper-club style evening at Rascals Brewing Company, ideal for travellers looking for a social food-and-drink experience in Dublin 8. The setting makes it a good fit for a relaxed Saturday dinner out with a local feel.

Live music at Dalymount Park featuring John Francis Flynn and Bricknasty, with a strong Irish music draw for an evening out. It is one of the more distinctive Saturday concert picks for visitors who want something beyond the standard arena show.

An 18+ nightlife show with a circus theme at the National Basketball Arena, best suited to visitors after a late-night party atmosphere. It offers a bigger production feel than a typical club night and adds variety to the weekend line-up.

A runway show and afterparty at Hen's Teeth in Dublin 8, giving the weekend a fashion-and-nightlife edge. It is a compact evening event that suits visitors looking for a creative, late-start Saturday plan.

A major arena concert listed for 12 September, making it one of the biggest mainstream music options in Dublin that weekend. It is a strong choice for travellers wanting a high-profile night out, though the source result did not provide a ticket price.

An evening concert at 3Olympia Theatre with a more intimate city-centre feel than the arena shows. This is a solid option for travellers who want live music in a central venue after dinner.

A pre-season rugby fixture at Laya Arena that gives sports fans a straightforward Saturday afternoon option. It is especially useful if you want to pair sport with dinner or nightlife later in the city.

A heritage-themed festival in Clonsilla with a full weekend programme and free entry, making it a good family-friendly alternative to the city-centre events. It is more community-focused and less touristy, but still appealing for visitors who want a local festival atmosphere.

The second day of the Liffey Festival remains the top free outdoor pick for travellers, with riverside entertainment, boats, and walkable access between attractions. It is the best all-ages option for a Sunday in central Dublin.

An exhibition-style wildlife and nature excursion along the coast that suits visitors who want an outdoor Sunday beyond the city centre. It is a strong choice for travellers interested in scenery, walking, and Dublin Bay’s natural heritage.

A walking tour with a local-history angle, good for visitors who want to add a cultural layer to their Sunday. It is a practical daytime activity if you prefer experiences over large-scale events.

A social outdoor walk from Bull Island to St. Anne’s Park that combines nature, exercise, and meeting other travellers or locals. It is a relaxed Sunday option if you want something active but not overly structured.

A niche community event in Dublin 15 with free entry and a weekend-long schedule, useful for families or visitors staying in the northwest suburbs. It offers a different side of the city compared with the main central festival scene.