PREPARE yourself for some fantastic food this weekend, as two of the events listed revolve specifically around eating, and the others provide attendees with great lunch options.

There’s fancy-dressing, teddy bear making and bug and duck hunting to keep you active. We’d also advise some dancing to the live music.

As usual we’ve rounded up the most interesting things going on. Here’s what’s happening this weekend.

Dublin

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The Big Grill Festival is running in Herbert Park until Sunday, and an estimated 20,000 people are attending. ‘Headline chefs’ include John Relihan, (Holy Smoke, Cork), Box Burger (Wicklow), The Pigs Tale (Wexford) and Dublin favourites, Kinara Kitchen, Pitt Bros and Asador

There will be vendors selling their barbecued wares, as well as craft beer and cider pairings. Bodytonic DJs will be playing throughout the weekend. There will also be chili and hot wing eating contests so hot the contestants will have to wear googles.

For children there is a ‘bug hunt’ and a demonstration on how to survive in the wilderness. Tickets range from €15-€29, though under 12s go free.

There is a Blues, Roots and Brass festival taking place in Whelan’s and the Opium Rooms over the weekend, with live bands playing and O’Hara’s Irish craft beer.

There’s also the Dublin International Tattoo Convention on in the Convention Centre.

Leitrim

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The Ballinamore Festival will run for its 5oth year this week. There will be a fun fair, children’s fancy dress, a duck hunt, a teddy bear picnic and a fireworks display for those looking for family friendly activities. There will also be live music in pubs around the town and skiing on main street.

Meanwhile, over in Carrick-on-Shannon, the Wild Words children’s book festival is taking place, providing children with workshops on writing, drawing, poetry, and on the Titanic.

Wexford

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The Wells House and Garden Summer Festival is on this weekend in Gorey. There will be extracts from Shakespeare in the woodlands, a craft courtyard, house tours, an animal farm and archery. There will also be a man cycling round on his Penny Farthing, an old style bike, and live music from Corner Boy and Donna Marie.

For lunch, attendees have the option of barbecue or ordering food from the restaurant and having it outside for a picnic. The entry fee is €8 per car.

Cavan

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The Taste of Cavan will be on this Saturday in the Cavan Equestrian Centre. Nearly 40,000 people are expected to attend. There will be plenty of exhibitors stands for fair-goers to check out, including Áine handmade chocolate, Corleggy cheese, and Manor Farm chicken.

For adults there will be cooking demonstrations from well-known chefs such as Rachel Allen and Neven Maguire, and talks on preparing healthy lunchboxes for children and budgeting for busy women. Local pubs and hotels will have special offers on food and accommodation.

There are also activities to keep kids interested, including bouncy castles, teddy-bear making, face-painting, lego workshops and a pet farm. Entry is €5 at the door, though kids under 12 go free.

Offaly

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Neven Maguire is going to be busy this weekend, as he attends the Taste of Cavan on Saturday and then the Tullamore Show on Sunday. The focus in Tullamore will be on the national livestock show, but there will also a rare breeds animal show, sheepdog trials and workshops on cooking, craftwork and photography.

Punters are expected to come looking their best, with competitions for the best dressed lady and gentlemen, a glamourous granny and traditional farmer, a little Mister and Miss Offaly, a bonny baby, and a fancy dress dog. The top prize for the best-dressed lady is €1,000 cash.

If you see any interesting events coming up, email liz@thejournal.ie.

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