Grab your picnic blanket and go to the Summer Cottage Market

The Summer Cottage Market Event 2026 is back! Featuring more than 40 Cavan-based vendors across food, arts, crafts, and community, the free outdoor event caters for different tastes and pleasures. Saturday July 18 and Sunday July 19 from 12 noon to 6pm will see Con Smith Park transformed into a joyful showcase of local artisan talent, food, and culture. Bring your picnic blanket and enjoy the day.

At the DineYard, hot food, local produce, and take-home treats will be served by popular names including Forest Hill Farm, Aunty Netta’s, People’s Restaurant, The Pigs Tail, Little Chef, Ice Cream Treats, and Café Nua. Over in the Food Court, visitors can sample and shop from our much-loved Created in Cavan food producers.

A focal point this year is the Barrel Marquee, a showcase highlighting 10 local makers, including members of Cavan’s new network, the Cavan Craft Collective. Art lovers can experience the brand-new Open-Air Art Gallery and a live Plein Air Event. Two original outdoor art installations were created specifically for the event by Cavan-based artists Julie Karlshøj and Elena Duff.

The weekend kicks off each day at 12pm in the Drama & Demo Tent with the lively 40 minute comedy "What Are We Eatin’ Anyways?". The area will feature live chef demonstrations and storytelling sessions. Throughout both days, a host of local Cavan musicians will take over Bandstand.

Building on their ethos, the event marks Year 2 of The Cottage Market Zero Waste Programme, run with the dedicated support of the Cavan County Council Environmental Section. The Family Fun Zone will be buzzing with a Cavan-based juggler, face painting, Gaelic games with a jumbo rebounder, and the Croí na Foraoise Forest School. Visitors can even explore a brand-new Honesty Box Trail, beautifully representing the diverse network of farm-gate honesty boxes found across Cavan.