“The biggest street party in Ireland” The ExaminerThe annual Spraoi Festival in Waterford is a gem in Ireland s calendar of summer events, offering audiences a dazzling and diverse array of free entertainment over the August bank holiday. For three days the quays, squares and streets of Waterford are transformed into vibrant outdoor stages. This free Mediterranean carnival-style event features performances by top class acts in world music and international street theatre along with an exotic array of performers from throughout the world, offering audiences an atmosphere that is unique among Irish festivals.  This year Spraoi will be offering a stunning line-up, from the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain to Icarus s bronzed Australian Adonises, and from the Hot Potato Jazz Syncopators to the Daredevil Chickens. The 2007 festival will also see the Irish premiere of Storm Bringer, performed by one of Britain s leading street spectacle companies, Avanti Display. The piece is inspired by Shakespeare s The Tempest and audiences can expect the company s trademark love of water to bring life to the storm. True to its heritage as a festival offering a truly unique celebration of original street theatre, Spraoi will be offering its audiences a total of no less than nineteen street theatre companies. Thirteen will be presenting Irish premieres, and five new works by international companies.  The Spraoi Parade, the company’s own production, will be held, according to honorable tradition, held on Sunday evening and form the climax of the festival. This year the parade is entitled Yee-Haw!!! a tribute to the Western. Using imagery from the Wild West the show will feature over 200 performers and an array of floats and special effects, and as ever will be followed by a dazzling fireworks display over the River Suir, a fitting climax to a great outdoor spectacle!  Set against the backdrop of Waterford s dazzling coastline and rolling hills, the Festival attracts in the region of 180,000 people to Waterford City, with the parade alone having an audience of 60,000. The event is constantly praised for its safety and friendlessness, and is consistently received with great enthusiasm, with 92% of last year s audience saying they will return. SPRAOI 2007 runs AUGUST 3-5, All events at the festival are free, with daily activities generally running from mid-afternoon to midnight. Additional information may be found at www.spraoi.com. (by Stephanie Dickenson from The Celtic Connection, July 07 “Travel Here…Travel There” column)