5 Events Your Brand should be at this Summer

28/03/2023

Summer is around the corner, which means only one thing, event season is nearly upon us. We are bombarded with brand marketing through ads on social media everyday, so much so that we have become slightly numb to its effects. It is important that brands stand out from the noise.

In Verve experiential marketing or brand activation has long been a core part of our business. By having your brand on site for some of the country’s biggest and most influential events, it allows the consumer to connect with the brand and experience in a different way. Our brand activations team here in Verve use their expertise and knowledge of the market to make sure we know exactly what kind of brand activation would work for each brand, and where they should be showing up.

It is so important for your brand to be targeting the right audience. People bond over experiences more than anything else, so it is important to get out there and interact with your consumer. With that in mind, aside from the staple festivals like EP, sporting events like the Galway Races or the Guinness Six Nations, we’ve put together a quick list of places your brand can show up…

Forbidden Fruit: 3rd & 4th June

Kick off your summer at Dublin’s longest running city centre festivals. Forbidden Fruit marks the start of Summer in Dublin. The sun is out and music is blaring throughout Royal Hospital Kilmainham. Forbidden Fruit has been running for 11 years in Dublin and has gathered a dedicated fan base. The festival provides a mix of genres, with UK rapper Central Cee and Irish hip-hop star Malaki among the line up for 2023. The festival opens its gates to 10,000 people per day allowing any brand to sample to large scale crowds. Forbidden Fruit is an over 18’s festival which brings opportunities for all types of brands, including alcohol. Having a team on site for the summer’s first musical festival of the year is a sure way for your brand to make a memorable impact.

Taste of Dublin: 15th – 18th June

Taste of Dublin is known as the Irish foodie event of the year. Taking place in an ideal central location, Taste takes over Iveagh Gardens for a memorable day of food and drink. With food stands run by well known chefs and restaurants and an amazing collection of bars, it is the perfect place to bring your brand this summer. Taste features interactive and educational culinary features, exciting entertainment and more – all led by the top chefs and food influencers.

Taste has opportunities for your brand to have a food stall, a bar or a sampling stand at the event, with further opportunities to be involved in sponsorship. Every year more than 20,000 people attend the food event. If you brand centres around food or drink, Taste of Dublin is a must this Summer.

Sea Sessions: 16th – 18th June

Ireland’s biggest beach festival takes place in Bundoran every year, and puts a more imperfect spin on the typical music festival image. Swap your shorts and Hawaiian shirts out for some wellies and a woolly hat. It may be June, but the seaside town of Bundoran can get wild. The crowds at Sea Sessions are amazing for getting stuck into all activities on offer. Each year just a 15 min walk from the main event you can take part in Barefoot beach soccer, beach volleyball and beach frisbee. Every year, Sea Sessions draws massive crowds to see world famous artists such as Becky Hill and Kasabian. They also do a lot to celebrate Irish artists. There are opportunities to have your brand at a sampling station or take up a bigger role and get involved in sponsorship. If you have a brand that likes to take risks and get adventurous, Sea Sessions is the place to be this June.

Galway International Arts Festival: 17th – 30th July

Another Regional festival in the west of Ireland is the Galway International Arts Festival. The festival is a mix of artists, musicians, actors, writers, performers, friends and fans all gathered together in the heart of Galway City. The festival attracts people from all over the country and tourists from across the world. The festival takes place in over 30 venues across the city. With the wide range of venues and large scale crowds this is the perfect place for you and your brand to show up this summer. The festival will have designated areas for your brand to set up among bars, food trucks and local traders. If you want your brand to be at the heart of Ireland’s most creative festival, then Galway International Arts Festival is the place to be.

Fleadh Cheoil: 6th – 14th August

The Fleadh Cheoil is an Irish music festival run by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, a non-profit organisation. The Fleadh is a combination of live music events & competition and is hosted by a different town each year. This year’s festival will take place in Mullingar in Co. Westmeath. The Fleadh is the world’s largest celebration of Irish music and culture and a must for brands who want to make a big impact. The Fleadh is visited by nearly 500,000 people each year. Whether these people are local to the area, have travelled from other counties or have made the journey from countries all over the world, they have all come to witness one of the largest displays of Irish cultures there is to offer. The Fleadh is also broadcast live on all Irish TV channels for the full week, another great opportunity to get your brand seen. From massive crowds to TV exposure and an opportunity to connect with people from all over the world, the Fleadh is a sure fire way to get your brand out there.