Tauranga Irish Festival 2025

Sure, it’s not Galway, but on St. Patrick’s Weekend 2025, Soper Reserve in Mount Maunganui will transform into the Emerald Isle itself for the first annual Tauranga Irish Festival. From 3pm to 10pm, get ready for a craic-filled day of mighty Irish culture and revelry.

What’s da story?

* A traditional Irish welcome ceremony with bagpipes as we open the gates.

* Live Irish music by The Shenanigans, Sean Kelly and The Silver Spear, and the Sean and Baz Duo 'Dodgy & The Bastard'. You’ll be jigging like a Paddy in no time.

* Hosted by Irish comedy legend Alan McElroy—prepare for belly laughs bigger than a pint of the black stuff.

* Irish dancing by Scoil Since Ni Ghabhann Dance School—get ready to tap your feet faster than you can say Riverdance.

*Irish kai including piping hot Irish stew, epic baked spuds by The Spud Collective, stalls selling authentic Irish fare, and, of course, Guinness on tap.

*Games and entertainment to keep the craic going all day long, including the Spud and Spoon Race with prizes for winners and runners-up.

*A bar serving Guinness, Mount Brewing Co brews and RTDs, New Zealand wines, and a range of low and zero alcohol options.

Think you’ve got the luck of the Irish?

Dress like the Paddy you were born to be, and you might just nab yourself a spot prize for Best Dressed Paddy—go all out, no half-arsed wans here.

Feeling fancy? Go VIP! Here’s what ye get:

*Skip the zero craic of the queues – VIPs get their own dedicated entry lane—no waiting about like an eejit.

*First dibs – Get earlier access to the festival grounds to claim your spot and soak in the Eire vibes before the crowds roll in.

*The VIP treatment – Enjoy your own exclusive area with a private bar and toilets—no queuing with the riff-raff here.

*A Céad Míle Fáilte - Irish Welcome – Your first pint of Guinness or bubbles is on us, along with a token for a piping hot bowl of Irish stew and fresh bread to warm the cockles.

*Free to wander like a Paddy – With your VIP pass, you can jig between the VIP zone and the general admission area as you please.

*Irish merch freebies – Because who doesn’t love a wee bonus?

This R18+ event is not just for the Irish—everyone’s welcome to join this global cultural party of the year.

This is the first Tauranga Irish Festival. With your support, we can achieve our goal of making this a week-long celebration that includes family-friendly events, workshops, and Irish cultural celebrations in the Bay of Plenty for years to come.

Important Information

Tickets are non-refundable.
Please bring a valid NZ ID.
This event is disability accessible. It will include loud music and flashing lights—please get in touch if you have any specific queries.

Sláinte! See ye on St. Paddy’s!