Clon gears up for ‘acts of kindness’ festival

They’ll have ‘Kindness Zones’, bubble-blowing crowds and flash-mobs dancing to Thriller — not to mention free massages and cinema trips for lucky passers-by.

Feverish preparations are under way for the first ever Random Acts of Kindness festival to be held in Clonakilty later this month.

And, say the organisers, this will be exactly what it says on the tin.

“The emphasis of the festival is on kindness from one person to another.

“It doesn’t matter how small the act of kindness is — it’s about spreading positivity and goodwill,” said Ger O’Donovan, vice-president of the local Macra na Feirme.

To this end, several Kindness Zones will be located around the town throughout the three-day festival which begins on Friday, Jul 20 and whose motto is “Cut the Misery, Spread the Positivity.”

People who walk through the Kindness Zones will get little gifts — cinema tickets, free massage, and yoghurts, as well as slips of paper bearing thought-provoking messages and compliments.

“Acts of kindness will be recorded throughout the festival and there will be a free raffle for anyone who registers to report doing a good deed or who promises to carry out an Act of Kindness.

“I think people are ready for something like this. After the recent flood there was a huge showing of kindness and goodwill and the town got cleaned up very quickly. People even came from Skibbereen and Bandon to help and there was a huge outpouring of goodwill,” said Mr O’Donovan.

“Between the flood and the recession and the bad weather, people are in need of a lift. We just want to shift everyone’s focus away from the bad things that have happened.”

The festival, which kicks off at teatime on the Friday with a crowd blowing bubbles, will also feature music by the B Positives, story-telling, fancy dress and face-painting, good deeds by individuals and local community groups, a swap shop and sports events for children.

* For more information see http://exa.mn/6z