Johnstown Castle Garden Fair Is the Summer Day Out Your Family Deserves
If you’ve been trying to figure out what to do with the kids this summer that doesn’t involve a screen, a queue or your sanity slowly unravelling, we may have found your answer. The Johnstown Castle Garden Fair is returning to Johnstown Castle Estate, Museum and Gardens in County Wexford on Sunday 12th July, and it looks like a genuinely lovely day out for the whole family.
The fair runs from 10am to 4pm and brings together 19 specialist nurseries from across Ireland, alongside craft exhibitors, food vendors, live music and gardening talks. Whether you’re a plant obsessive with a shed full of secateurs or someone who simply wants to wander somewhere beautiful with a coffee in hand, there’s something here for you.
Plants, People and Plenty to See
The nursery line-up this year is seriously impressive. Kilmurray Nursery from Wexford will be attending fresh from scooping a gold medal at Bloom 2026, and they’ll be joined by names like Camolin Potting Shed, Rare Plants Ireland, Two Sisters Perennials, Boyne Garden Centre and Nursery, Fota House and Gardens, Irish Fuchsia Nursery and many more — plus Johnstown Castle’s own nursery. Whether you’re after rare perennials, native Irish plants or good old cottage garden classics, you’ll find something worth bringing home.
Alongside the nurseries, a selection of craft and garden lifestyle exhibitors will be on hand, including botanical artist Lynn Stringer, Tara Hill Honey and Mara Botanics. It’s the kind of browsing that actually feels enjoyable rather than chaotic — no trolleys, no fluorescent lighting, just gorgeous things laid out in one of Ireland’s finest heritage settings.
Throughout the day, a speakers’ tent will host talks and demonstrations from the Wexford Flower and Garden Club, Vick Ind of Individual Plant Nursery, Colin Jones of Salter Bridge Estate and Trinity College Biodiversity Officer Collie Ennis. So if you fancy learning something new while the kids tear around outside, that’s very much on the cards.
A Full Family Day Out
The real beauty of this event is that it works even if plants aren’t your thing. The grounds at Johnstown Castle are spectacular — think woodland walks, lake trails, wildlife spotting and the kind of wide open space that genuinely tires children out in the best possible way. There’s a playground on site, so little ones are well catered for, and you’re welcome to bring a picnic and settle in for the afternoon.
Johnstown Castle set against lush grounds and a calm pond.
Guided tours of Johnstown Castle itself will also be available on the day, alongside the exhibitions at the Irish Agricultural Museum — a genuinely fascinating place that has a way of pulling even reluctant visitors in. It’s one of those heritage sites that manages to feel accessible without dumbing anything down.
Food is sorted too. Eoghan’s Eats and The Clovelly will be serving up on the day alongside the estate café, and live music from The Peacock’s Feathers will provide the kind of relaxed soundtrack that makes the whole afternoon feel a bit special.
Tickets and How to Get There
Johnstown Castle is located just ten minutes from Wexford Town, so it’s an easy drive whether you’re heading from within the county or making a longer trip of it. Admission is free for Irish Heritage Trust members. Tickets for non-members will be available online in advance and on the day at the gate.
Johnstown Castle Gardens in full summer bloom.
The Garden Fair is supported by All in One Event Hire, Think Print and Pettitt’s SuperValu. The estate has been cared for by the Irish Heritage Trust, an independent non-profit organisation, since 2019.
For tickets and further information, visit www.johnstowncastle.ie.