Currachs and pigs go a-racing while teddy bears picnic

A CURRACH race, a pig race, a performance by a Cuban diva and a teddy bears' picnic all form part of the eclectic mix of this weekend's festivals and events.

Wet weather or otherwise, outdoor summer festivals continue across the country.

The Tory Island currach cup race tomorrow evening will be one of the highlights of north Donegal's Earagail Arts Festival, which takes place in a number of towns over the weekend.

In Co Mayo, a highlight of the weekend's events will be the the Ballina Salmon Festival in Co Mayo. A fireworks display over the River Moy and a carnival parade with samba drums are expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors. Organisers of the teddy bears picnic on Sunday are asking children to dress in their national costumes.

Following last night's attempt to break the world record for the number of Smurfs gathered in one place, the Mucko Mania Festival in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, continues to paint the town blue. Tonight it holds a "Stars in your Eyes" competition and tomorrow's family fun day includes a pig race and tug-of-war.

The Rose Festival at St Anne's Park in Raheny, Dublin, may offer solace for weather-frustrated gardeners. Winning rose bushes will be on display along with free talks from gardening experts Gerry Daly (today 3pm) and Helen Dillon (tomorrow 3pm).

Oxegen may be over for this year but there are plenty of concerts on offer this weekend.

The Analog music festival in Dublin Docklands will tonight see Chicago band Tortoise headline the main stage at Grand Canal Square with their fusion of styles from jazz to electronica. Taraf de Haïdouks, a traditional Gypsy 12- piece from Romania, will play a free ticketed concert in the square tomorrow at 4.30pm.

The Galway Arts Festival is in full swing this weekend as Cuban diva and star of The Buena Vista Social Club, Omara Portuondo, plays the Big Top in Galway tomorrow night.

Dublin's Gospel Choir will perform at the bandstand in Bray tomorrow evening as part of the Wicklow town's annual summerfest, followed by a fireworks display at about 11pm.

Sharon Shannon and Mundy will play a free open-air concert in New Ross, Co Wexford, at 7.30pm tonight as part of the JFK Dunbrody Festival.

Dublin city offers comedians, documentaries and readings. By way of an escape to Spain, Fiesta de Palabras features writers reading Spanish-themed works (tomorrow 3pm, Cassidys of Westmoreland Street).

Karl Spain and Anne Gildea are among the comedians performing in a fundraising concert for Dublin Youth Theatre at Crawdaddy tomorrow at 8pm.

Two Irish-related documentaries will be screened at lunchtime tomorrow. One explores the sinking of the Lusitania off the Cork coast (Hugh Lane Gallery), the other examines the lives of asylum seekers at the Mosney Holiday Centre (Irish Film Institute).

Dublin is expected to experience some traffic disruption this weekend. The cleaning of the Spire on O'Connell Street will reduce the thoroughfare to one lane today and possibly tomorrow.