Tracey will front River Festival

Television personality Tracey Piggot is to be MC for the day at Kilcullen's inaugural River Festival, the date of which has been changed to 29 August.

Preparations for the event, which is being enthusiastically backed by Kilcullen's business community, are now steaming ahead.

A tented market for local businesses, food producers and craftspeople to display and sell their products will be a centerpiece for the festival, which will also feature a number of events and activities based on and around the River Liffey.

The organisers have asked local pubs and sports organisations to provide tug-o-war teams for the competition which will be held across the river, for instance.

There will also be Gladiator-type water polo jousting, an inter-pub raft race, and a display of army vehicles.

The defence forces are also setting up the locations for the various on-river events, in cooperation with Kilcullen's Canoe and Outdoor Adventure Club.

A children's supervised play area will be available to keep the children safely entertained.

Arrangements have been made to close off Kilcullen centre to traffic for the day, in the interests of safety for all.

Kilcullen Lions are also running their annual Duck Race and Battle of the Bands in conjunction with the festival.

"The day will be fantastic fun," says organising committee member Geri Dineen. "But its success will rely very much on local participation."

In addition to the direct participation in the games and contests of the day, the organisers need face painters, clowns, musicians, general volunteers, and people prepared to help with the post-event cleaning up.

There's an email address, kilcullenriverfestival@gmail.com, for anyone who wants to get in touch with the organisers. Facebook.com/KilcullenRiverFestival2010 is the place to keep up with what's in play between now and the day.