Local family event guide – Friday 22nd – Thursday 28th June 2018
Tags: Children's activities Dublin, Family friendly activities, This weekend in Dublin, Weekend fun in Dublin, Whats on Dublin
There are many fun activities happening over the next week for you to enjoy.
Please check that they are still running before setting out, as sometimes even the best events have to be postponed.
Stoneybatter Festival
A 3-day neighborhood & street festival in the heart of Dublin 7. Combining the best of music, food, culture, family, community and entertainment. Click here and see the full schedule for the weekend.
When Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th. Launches at 7.30pm on Friday
Where Stoneybatter, Dublin 7
How much? The festival & street fair are free to everyone! There are however a few paid events & concerts charging door cover.
Ages suitable for everyone!

Flavours of Fingal
Where Newbridge House and Farm
How much? Free entry, parking €20, but look online to get a discount.
Ages suitable for Everyone!

Celebrating Birds in the City: Drop-in activities
We unveil a lush new planted façade and entrance garden, transforming The Ark into a new green space to attract bird life, insects and flowers – with the design informed by the ideas and artworks created by local children.
As part of our activities for Dublin City Council’s Cruinniú na nÓg, we are inviting you and your family to come and explore the building, encouraging you to get creative, dig in, and get your hands dirty during numerous drop-in activities. The building will be a hive of activity aimed to inspire children (and their grown-ups) to examine the variety of plant and animal life in the city.
Activities will run from 10.30-1.30pm and include:
- Flower pot planting
- Protein balls for birds
- Make your own bird
- Build a bird feeder
- Make a bug motel
Throughout the day, from 10.30- 4pm, the building will also host an interactive gallery space with a display of artwork and designs produced by local children during workshop sessions with city greening experts Green Edge. These designs and ideas have been used by Green Edge to inform and inspire the design of The Arks entrance garden. This unique child led approach enables local children to create a lasting impact on their public cultural space in Temple Bar, creating a space that encourages birds and other wildlife into one of the busiest corners of the city.
Where The Ark, 11a Eustace Street, Temple Bar
How much? Free, no booking required
Ages suitable for the whole family
Archaeologists can discover a lot about how people lived in the past by studying bones. Take part in this special workshop which will look at how bones are preserved in different environments and figure out which bones belong to a Bronze Age burial, a bog body and a Viking skeleton.
Where National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street (Archaeology)
How much? Free, no booking required. Located in Learning Resource Room, First Floor. Not wheelchair accessible.
Ages suitable for children 10+

Barnardos Family Fun Day
Enjoy Toddle races, colouring and crafts, soft play zone, face painting, story telling and a giant Toddle sandbox. And make sure to bring teddy along too – and get a check-up at our teddy bears Hospital, go to our teddy bears picnic and meet our special guest Bearemy from Build-A-Bear!
Where Airfield Estate, Dundrum
How much? Ticket prices vary – click here to book. Under 2’s go free
Ages suitable for Anyone with small kids! Mums, dads, grandparents, aunts and uncles – bring your little ones along for a wonderful day out

Sunday Sketching – Gestures and Expressions
During these free sketching workshops for families, we invite you to explore and respond together to our collection and temporary exhibitions through discussion and drawing. Bring your own sketchbook or avail of the drawing materials provided.
Where Dublin City Gallery, The Hugh Lane
How much? Free, no booking is required. Number may be limited
Ages suitable for children 6+ and their adults

Drop-in family workshop, Harry Clarke’s Stained Glass
Join Edel Campbell for a hands-on workshop that will take inspiration from the stained glass works of Harry Clarke in our collection.
At our weekly drop-in workshop, children and their parents/guardians/carers are encouraged to work together on creative projects. Drop-in and stay for as long (or as little!) as you wish.
These workshops are suitable for children of all ages, and take place in the Maples and Calder Creative Space in our Atrium.
Where National Gallery of Ireland, Maples and Calder Creative Space
How much? Free
Ages suitable for Family friendly

Family-friendly tour
Join us for a special tour designed for children and their guardians, parents and carers.
Our aim is to make the artworks fun and engaging for kids, and to welcome families and visitors of all ages and encourage them to feel comfortable in the Gallery.
Where National Gallery of Ireland, Merrion Square West, Dublin 2. Merrion Square information desk
How much? Free
Ages suitable for everyone
Pre book the events below for future family fun.
Summer programme for children
Join the National Library of Ireland this summer for a series of children’s workshops – creating stories, imagining coats of arms and designing book covers ‘as Gaeilge’ are just some of the creative fun afternoons that we have planned. Children’s author Debbie Thomas makes a welcome return with a new workshop entitled: ‘Invent your own country’, and we explore the magic mystery in maps and create catchy captions.

Autism-friendly workshop
Join us for a free autism-friendly workshop for children, inspired by the work of Irish artist Harry Clarke. The workshop is suitable for children of primary school age and will take place in a low-lit space that displays Harry Clarke’s beautiful stained-glass artworks.
Parents, guardians and carers are encouraged to work with children on this creative project which will explore colour, shape and texture through drawing and craft activities.
Places are limited, so advance booking is essential. Ticket holders will be sent the Gallery’s social guide, in advance, to assist with preparation for the visit.
Please note: Booking required for children; parents, guardians and carers who wish to accompany their children do not need to reserve a space.
This workshop will also take place on:
Monday, 9 July 2pm–3pm
Monday, 16 July 2pm–3pm
Where National Gallery of Ireland, Merrion Square West, Dublin 2. This workshop will take place in Room 20 on level 1 of the Dargan Wing of the Gallery.
How much? Free, must be pre-booked – 01 661 5133 or email info@ngi.ie
Ages suitable for children of primary school age

Children’s Event – Pond Dipping
Explore the weird and wonderful diversity of insects and minibeasts living in and around the pond at the National Botanic Gardens. Perfect your technique with guidance from the experts and learn how to identify the amazing creatures you have captured. Once you have discovered the hidden pond life you will never look at ponds the same way again!
Organised with the Irish Wildlife Trust.
Where Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin
How much? Free, booking essential. For free events, bookings can be made at: 01 804 0319 or botanicgardens@opw.ie
Ages suitable for children age 8 and upwards.

Humpty Dumpty’s Big EggVenture
For the first time ever, the classic nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty is brought to the stage in this wonderful
all singing and dancing interactive production.
Humpty is on a big adventure to climb the highest wall in the Kingdom but he needs your help. Singalong,
solve puzzles, and meet lots of famous characters including The Three Little Pigs, Little Bo Peep and the
animals on Old MacDonald’s Farm!
With amazing costumes, dazzling stage sets and a host of colourful characters.
Where dlr Mill Theatre, Dundrum Town Centre, Dundrum, Dublin 16
How much? €12/ €40 family four €45 family of five
Ages suitable for up to 7 years of age

Summer Camp for 6-10 year olds
From imaginary landscapes to sculpting a mountain we will be exploring the wonderful world of nature in this summer camp for 6-10 year olds with artists Jane Fogarty, Ashleigh Downey, Kathryn Maguire and Marie Farrington.
Where Dublin City Gallery, The Hugh Lane
How much? €44 To book your place, please register via Eventbrite, here.
Ages suitable for 6-10 year olds

Early Years Summer Camp for 1-3 year olds
During this four day summer camp for 1-3 year olds with artists Ashleigh Downey and Jane Fogarty we will be exploring sights and sounds and be immersed in a sensory world of simple shapes, colours and textures.
Where The Hugh Lane, Dublin City Gallery
How much? €44, To book your place, please register via Eventbrite, here.
Ages suitable for 1-3 year olds
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