Run, walk, cycle, take a bus - but don't drive - to weekend's 'Open Streets' event

Get ready to walk, cycle or use public transport to visit Cork city centre on Saturday - but, whatever you do, try not to use your car to travel to the first of the Summer's 'Open Streets' events on Lapps Quay where activities and music for all the family will await you. 

Saturday's event, being held just across the river from City Hall, kicks off a series of seven similar days which will be held across the city during the Summer months. 

Hosting the festivities during the Summer are Cork City Council in association with several partner organisations, including Cork Business Association, Cork Environmental Forum, the Transport and Mobility Forum, Cork Cycling Group, Bus Éireann, Irish Rail, Cork Volunteers Centre and An Garda Síochána.

Saturday's Open Streets events, which take place between 2-6pm, are being held in association with Meitheal Mara, Ocean to City and Let's Play Cork. 

On Saturday, June 21, it will be time for the Shandon Festival while the Aninal Operetta takes place in the city centre on Sunday, June 22.  

The highlight of this event, which is being held in association with Cork Midsummer Festival, is a parade or, if you want to be precise, a nonchalant movement of a herd of seven giraffes around the city centre.  Fear not as there will be some supervision, however, as this herd will be led by an operatic diva and some ringmasters.

Foody frolics are on the menu for the weekend of August 16-17, when Cork on a Fork in association with the City Council and Let's Play Cork is hosting a series of pop up food related events. 

After that, on Saturday, August 23, it's the turn of the North Main Street Carnival to be followed on Sunday, August 24 by the Blackpool Festival which is a meet your neighbours day being organised by the Blackpool Community Centre, Cork Community Artlink, HSE Community Work Department and the Community Gardaí. 

One of Cork's most beloved thoroughfares, Douglas Street, hosts an Autumnfest on September 7 while Friday, September 19, sees the city's culture of play being celebrated.