What Is the Belvedere Garden Festival?
The official event page described the 2026 Belvedere Garden Festival as a one-day outdoor Food, Plant & Country Fair at Belvedere House Gardens & Park. It ran from 10am to 5pm on 19 July with a listed €15 admission price.
The published programme combined plant and garden stalls, four scheduled talks, food and craft vendors, family activities and music. The details below are retained as a historical record and a guide to the format, not as confirmation that the same programme will return.
What's On at the Festival
Browse rare and unusual varieties from specialist growers. A plant crèche lets you leave purchases safe while you explore the rest of the estate.
Horticulture professionals and gardening experts give demonstrations and talks throughout the day. Great if you want practical advice alongside the browsing.
A selection of food vendors on the grounds — no need to bring your own lunch. The on-site Lakeside Café is also open.
Live music throughout the day adds atmosphere without drowning out the festival's relaxed, garden-show feel.
Artisan producers, local crafts and independent makers alongside the plant stalls — this is a proper marketplace, not just a garden show.
The estate's four playgrounds remain open during the festival. The grounds themselves — woodland walks, the Jealous Wall, Lough Ennell shore — give children plenty to explore.
Published 2026 Talks Schedule
The official event record listed four timed talks. This schedule is retained to document what ran on 19 July; it is not a programme for a future festival.
- 12:00: Aine Vambeck of O'Meara's Garden Centre — “Houseplants for a Healthy Home”
- 1:00pm: Emma Noonan of Mullingar Gathers — food, community and sustainability
- 2:00pm: Crann — tree species at Belvedere, followed by a guided woodland walk
- 3:00pm: Sarah of Slow Field Flowers — arranging garden flowers for the table
Getting There
Belvedere House is located on the R392 about 5 km south of Mullingar town centre, on the shores of Lough Ennell. The full address is Belvedere, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, N91 EF80.
By Car
From Dublin (90 km): Take the N4/M4 motorway west toward Mullingar. Exit at the Mullingar junction and follow the R392 south toward Kilbeggan. Belvedere is signposted on the right. Free car parking is available on-site — expect it to be busy on festival day, so arrive before noon if you want a good spot.
From Galway / Athlone
Take the N6 east toward Athlone, then the N52 north to Kilbeggan and the R392 north to Belvedere. About 90 minutes from Galway city.
By Bus or Rail
The nearest rail station is Mullingar (Dublin–Sligo line, about 1hr from Connolly). Bus Éireann and Expressway serve Mullingar from Dublin and Athlone. From Mullingar town centre to Belvedere is a 10-minute taxi or a 45-minute walk — plan for a taxi.
What to Bring
- Cash or card — most stalls accept card but some artisan vendors prefer cash
- Reusable bags or boxes for plants — the crèche handles the fragile stuff, but boxes help for the journey home
- Layers — a July day in Westmeath is beautiful until it isn't; keep a light jacket in the bag
- Sunscreen if the forecast is good — the estate's main lawn is open ground
- Comfortable shoes — the estate paths are well-kept gravel and grass, not cobblestone, but still walking terrain
What the €15 Event Ticket Covered
The official record lists admission at €15 for the one-day event. That was a special-event price, not the estate's current general admission: the official visitor page now lists €9 for adults, €6 for students and seniors, and free child admission.
The festival programme included access to the garden and plant fair, scheduled talks, the vendor marketplace and the wider outdoor setting. Anyone planning a future visit should use the current visitor guide and the operator's live event calendar instead of treating this archived price as reusable.
Where to Stay Near Belvedere House
If a future event is announced, Mullingar provides the nearest accommodation base. Confirm the event date first, then compare live availability rather than relying on the expired 18–20 July 2026 dates.
Mullingar Park Hotel
⭐⭐⭐⭐4-star hotel in Mullingar town centre, about 8 minutes' drive from Belvedere. Pool, gym, and full restaurant. Popular for weekend breaks — book early for mid-July.
Check Availability →Greville Arms Hotel
⭐⭐⭐Classic Irish town hotel on Mullingar's main street. Comfortable, central, and good value. Walking distance from the train station if you're arriving by rail.
Check Availability →B&Bs Near Belvedere
Local StaySeveral B&Bs operate within a few kilometres of the estate. Quieter than the town hotels, often better value, and some have views toward Lough Ennell.
Search Mullingar B&Bs →Accommodation links above are affiliate links. We earn a small commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
FAQs
While You're Here — Explore the Estate
The Jealous Wall, the Victorian Walled Garden, and the Lough Ennell woodland trail are all worth your time alongside the festival.
The Jealous Wall → Visitor Info →