Planning Your Visit
THE ROSE OF TRALEE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
The Rose of Tralee International Festival is a five day festival that takes place in Tralee, Co Kerry during the month of August each year. It usually begins around the middle of August, but always starts on a Friday and continues through to the following week. This year the Festival dates are Wednesday 14th to Tuesday 20th August 2013.
A FAMILY FESTIVAL
The Festival is suitable for all ages, from young age to old age, and there is something for everyone.
STREET CARNIVAL
As well as the appearance of the International Roses, the Festival also includes Street Carnival entertainment in the town during every day and evening. This can be anything from live music, parades, fireworks, children’s entertainment and market stalls, to marching bands and donkey derby. A full list of events can be found here.
ROSES
The Rose element of the Festival is focused around the International Roses who, along with their families and friends, have travelled to Tralee from Ireland and around the world in the hope of becoming the Rose of Tralee. The Roses are out and about around Tralee every day to meet festival-goers and sign autographs. The Roses are also part of the RTÉ Rose of Tralee television show that is broadcast live from the Festival Dome on the Monday and Tuesday nights of the Festival, culminating with the announcement of the Rose of Tralee at the end of the show on Tuesday night. The Rose of Tralee is then paraded through the centre of Tralee town for Midnight Madness celebrations and fireworks, an event where thousands of men, women and children line the streets for good view of the new Rose.
WHERE TO STAY
When planning your visit to the Festival we suggest you bear in mind that accommodation in the town can be booked out several weeks in advance of the Festival date (if not a couple of months). A full list of accommodation in Tralee can be found here.
TICKETS
Ticketed events in the Dome, particularly the Rose Selection Nights on the Monday and Tuesday, tend to sell out in advance so do make sure you have all the tickets you need before your arrival. Tickets to events can be purchased here on our website, or by calling +353 (0)66 712 1322. Please check our Tickets page first for a listing of events and their availability.
EXTENDING YOUR STAY
Should you wish to extend your stay and see more of Kerry, there is plenty to be found from the world famous Ring of Kerry to Muckross House Park in Killarney, once visited by Queen Victoria. For a full list of activities and places to visit in Kerry, take a look at the Kerry pages on the Discover Ireland website and the Failte Ireland website. Also, please see our Local Links page which contains links to many local areas of interest and to local tourism websites.
