John Joe for Virginia Festival

Olympic Medalist John Joe Nevin will make a special guest appearance at a boxing exhibition at Virginia Pumpkin Festival. The Virginia Pumpkin Festival will take place this bank Holiday weekend with a packed programme of events suitable for all the family. The legendary Hothouse Flowers will headline on the Saturday 27th October at the Pumpkin Dome in Virginia. Festivities begin on Friday evening at 6pm with a spooky haunted forest walk at Deerpark woods followed by a bonfire on the shores of the lake. Trevor Smyth's critically acclaimed show Friends in Low Places - the Ultimate Garth Brooks Experience is also scheduled for the Pumpkin Dome on Friday 26th October. A key highlight of the festival is the annual Pumpkin weigh-in which will see pumpkins from across Europe and Ireland compete for the coveted accolade of 'heaviest pumpkin'. Taking place on Sunday 28th October, this competition is always hotly contested with a prize fund of €6,000 up for grabs. Boxing champion John Joe Nevin will also join the festivities on Sunday at 2pm, showcasing his Olympic medal. With local boxing clubs from Virginia, Cavan and Inniskeen putting on an exhibition of boxing over ten bouts, the young boxers will get the opportunity to show their skills in the ring and get some tips from the Olympic hero. Other highlights of the festival include Ireland's largest fancy dress party with over 2,000 people expected in Virginia in fancy dress. All day Sunday street entertainment includes four shows by the Lambert Puppet Theatre, music on the band stand by Ríl Óg and Twisted Ninja, and a performance by Ireland's premier street percussion group, MaSamba. As darkness descends on the town there will be a spectacular street parade followed by fireworks display over Lough Ramor. Halloween night, Wednesday 31st October will also see the hilarious new GAA comedy directed by Seamus O'Rourke, 'For Club & County' at the Ramor Theatre. Tickets for The Hothouse Flowers, Friends in Low Places - the Ultimate Garth Brooks Experience and For Club and County are available from the Pumpkin Festival office in Virginia and from Multisound in Cavan and are all priced at €15 each. For further information visit www.pumpkinfestival.ie