Savour Kilkenny's latest programme update gives visitors a free music option in Kilkenny Castle Park on Sunday, 25 October. The organiser's announcement, dated 13 October, schedules Sounds of Samhain from 11am to 4.30pm and says no booking is required. [1]

That arrangement belongs to the Sunday programme. It should not be applied to the separately listed Castle Park Concert on Saturday, 24 October, which the Festival Quarter page describes as requiring pre-booked tickets. [3] The shared park name can otherwise hide a practical difference.

Start with the particular performance

The Sunday announcement names a children's disco with Hannah Hoops, Burnchurch, traditional music from Craobh Osraí and an afternoon set by The Uptown Band. [1] Choose the part of the programme that interests the household and confirm the current running order before travelling; the announcement does not give a separate start time for every act.

A plan for the free daytime music needs the Sunday date and the park. A plan for Saturday's concert needs its own ticket and event information. Keep those entries separate rather than saving only Castle Park in a calendar.

The festival dates are broader than the full market

Savour runs from 22 to 26 October, but the organiser's FAQ says the full Festival Quarter is open on the Saturday and Sunday, with a reduced market and Madra Monday on the Monday. [2]

The Festival Quarter listing gives provisional opening hours of 10am to 9pm on Saturday, 24 October and 10am to 6pm on Sunday, 25 October. It lists a reduced Monday programme on The Parade Plaza from 11am to 4pm. [3] Recheck those provisional hours when finalising the day.

The 13 October market update also describes Monday as a scaled-back market. [4] Do not arrange a Thursday or Monday visit on the assumption that it reproduces the full Saturday market.

Free entry does not cover every experience

The FAQ says Festival Quarter admission, street entertainment and the main cookery demonstrations are free and unticketed. Dining experiences, workshops, tours, talks and other special events have their own admission arrangements. [2]

If a specific activity is the reason for visiting, open its individual listing and confirm the required ticket. Avoid assuming that a free market entry covers a dining event, or that a general festival announcement proves tickets are still available.

Leave time for moving between activities

Pick one fixed-time activity and leave the market visit around it flexible. Confirm travel, the return journey and any accessibility or dietary questions with the relevant service or organiser before departure. Free admission is separate from food purchases and travel costs.

The useful plan has three distinct entries: the music or ticketed event chosen, the market hours for that day, and the journey home. This gives the household something more precise than the festival's five-day date range.

Sources were checked on 13 October 2026. Recheck the organisers’ latest event information before travelling.