Electric Picnic Festival 2019

Stradbally, Co. Laois, Ireland

Ireland’s answer to Glastonbury is the epic Electric Picnic Festival 2019

There is no down time at the Electric Picnic Festival in the Irish midlands, rocking out 24/7 is encouraged. Since 2004, Electric Picnic has become Ireland’s most epic all-weekend music festival, attracting premier music acts from all over the world and 55,000 festival goers.

Groove Armada, Fatboy Slim, Damien Dempsey, Bjork, Basement Jaxx, The Chemical Brothers, Artic Monkeys, Florence and the Machine, Sam Smith and Hozier are just some of the greats that have hit the stage at the festival, held in the Irish midlands.

As a vast array of acts play on multiple themed stages during every single second of the festival, there are also art installations, oddities and food areas to explore.

There are over 28 special areas and stages on the huge site this year, including Jerry Fish Electric Sideshow Circus, Green Crafts, Lake Swimming, Artlot, 3-Disco, Salty Dog Stage, Just Eat Retreat, Sound Dome, Trailer Park and The Hazelwood Stage.

Festival goers can swim in the man-made lake at Cosby Hall, where the festival is held, which adjons the “Jimi Hendrix” campsite area for family swims, open swims and adults only swims!

ANACHRONICA is a artwork designed to replicate an forgotten city concealed in the woods, built using scrap and recycled materials, when the lights of the main area go down, picnickers can dance to the mesmerising beats in the forest.

‘Leave the ordinary world behind and join the laughter, music and magic in the forest for 3 days of immersive fun.

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Where does the Electric Picnic 2019 take place

Electric Picnic takes place at Stradbally Hall in Country Laois in the midlands of Ireland. The estate is a private residence owned by the Cosby family, who have hosted the picnic festival since its inception on the 600 acres of fields and woodlands.

How to get around County Laois

Rail services from Dublin to Portlaoise and then local shuttle to Stradbally.
There are regular shuttles from all major cities in Ireland direct in and out of the festival.

There is also local buses and a local taxi service available.

Where to stay for Electric Picnic 2019

The festival provides a number of camping facilities for the festival, from glamping in luxury to pitch your own tent.

The Pink Moon Village offers showers and toilet facilities, its described as an “oasis” within the festival, as well as the Harvest Moon Village which boasts Yurts, TiPi’s and Pods.

There are also chalet-style huts, bohemian tents and wooden pod huts painted in bright colours. The “Kip n’ Go” campsite area provides a tent at a minimal cost, already put up, and you can leave it behind when you go, it will be donated to homelessness charities.

There are also loads of Airbnb’s and hotels in the area. For the best deals head to the map below.

Things to do at Electric Picnic

During the picnic have a go at singing yourself. The “Sing Along Social” at the Bold Motel is a safe place for singers and non-singers alike to come together and croon along to their favourite tunes in the company of friends and strangers; you don’t have to know the words, just go along and have a go.

The Heineken area will play host to their incredible Live Your Music Rooms, the experience is immersive and interactive, it allows you and your friends to control the sounds, mood, visuals of the festival in the control rooms. There are three festival experiences to control, including the nightclub with strobes and lighting effects, the Music Box, with drum pads, synths and triggers and In Scope for GIF-technology and visuals to explore. Theres not many festivals around that let you take over, so this is a unique chance to be king of the festival world!

Electric Picnic 2019 Dates

The dates for the 14th annual Electric Picnic Festival is 30th August – 1st September 2019.

Photo credit: Conal McSweeney