Fifth Basant Festival to Bring Kites and Culture to Carrigaline

Carrigaline Community Park will play host to the fifth Basant Festival on 4 July 2026, with a free afternoon of kite flying, live music, traditional drumming, food stalls, and cultural celebration for all the family.

Running from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm, the event is expected to draw more than 1,000 visitors from across the country, making it one of the most anticipated multicultural community gatherings in Co. Cork this summer.

Basant, meaning "yellow" in Punjabi, has been celebrated for centuries across Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan as a festival marking the arrival of spring. In the Punjab region, the occasion is synonymous with fields of blooming mustard and sunflower crops, while in cities such as Lahore, rooftop kite-flying displays fill the skies from dawn until dusk.

In Cork, the festival has grown into a vibrant celebration of South Asian culture, open to all.

Amna Walayat, festival organiser, said:

"Events like Basant create welcoming spaces where people from different backgrounds can come together, learn from one another, and celebrate culture through shared experiences. We need more public spaces where communities can connect, understand each other, and build stronger relationships despite our differences."

She added:

"I don't see Basant as merely a kite-flying festival. It is a large-scale collective public cultural performance where people share traditions, skills, and experiences from their countries of origin. Throughout the day you see people helping each other, learning from one another, and creating meaningful connections."

This year's programme will also feature a display of traditional Japanese Koinobori kites by Cork-based artist Kim-Ling Morris. The carp-shaped kites symbolise perseverance, strength, and the ability to overcome challenges, with their movement in the wind representing youth, energy, and hope.

Previous attendees have spoken warmly of the festival's atmosphere. Sadia Ather Butt, who travelled from Longford with her family for a past edition, described it as "a great display of culture and inclusion." Cllr. Patrick Donovan, who attended as Chief Guest on behalf of the Mayor of County Cork, called it "a great community event bringing together many nationalities having fun."

The festival is supported by Cork County Council through the Creative Communities Scheme and Local Festival Fund, ensuring it remains free and accessible to all. Additional support has come from local businesses.

Organisers are encouraging everyone to come along, wear something yellow, and take part in what has become one of Cork's most colourful annual traditions.

The Basant Festival takes place at Carrigaline Community Park on 4 July 2026, from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Admission is free. Further information is available at corkbasant.com.