Extend your midsummer night's dream in Cork from June 19 - 23rd - the Cork Midsummer Festival 2014 is here!

The highlight of the Rebel County's cultural calender, the Cork Midsummer Festival will present an eclectic programme of events this year. With music, visual art, theatre and family activites on the cards, there'll be plenty to keep you entertained over the glorious midsummer period.

The Festival aims to promote the terrific arts events happening all across the city in June. One of the high points is Der Vampyr, directed by award-winning duo Michael Barker-Caven and John O'Brien. For this special production, the Everyman Theatre will be transformed into a witches' coven of blood curdling intrigue for Midsummer. The show opens on June 21st with an extra special late performance on the night.

Elizabeth Fort will host two thrilling new circus performances with Inferno from PassePartout Circus setting the Fort alight with a spectacular fire show and Fortissimo, where the talents and skills of fourteen performers from Cork Circus Factory will be put on display.

For a truly unique theatrical experience, there's Playing the Maids presented by an international team of artists - the Llanarth Group (Wales), Gaitkrash (Ireland), and Theatre P’Yut (Korea) that will be staged in the Granary Theatre. There'll also be music, in iconic venues Cyprus Avenue and The Pavilion and the ever-popular Picnic in the Park returns with entertainment for all the family.

At the launch, Chair of Cork Midsummer Festival Jane Anne Rothwell said, "It has been a very challenging year and the Festival would simply not have survived without the enormous support of so many people. These include our key funders Cork City Council, The Arts Council and Fáilte Ireland; our wonderful colleagues in the Cork arts community and indeed the arts community nationally; and the backing of local businesses and audiences in Cork. This year the Festival will be about celebrating that support, putting the focus firmly on the wonderful arts organisations and artists in Cork."

There is something extraordinary for all tastes at the Cork Midsummer Festival - see www.corkmidsummer.com for more.