Local family event guide – Friday 27th July- Thursday 2nd August 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.
Malahide Has It
A feast of entertainment is on the agenda at this year’s Malahide Has It Festival.
There will be a Funfair on the beach, BBQ on the Green, face painting, balloon twisting, kids treasure hunt, kids storytelling, historical walk, puppet shows, tai chi, plus food stalls around the village with fun and games, demonstrations, competitions and live entertainment for the whole family to enjoy.
Where Malahide Green
How much? Free to attend although food and games will cost extra
Ages suitable for everyone
Bray Air Display
Ireland’s biggest and most popular aerobatics display, the award-winning Bray Air Display.The 13th annual aerobatics display promises to be one of the best yet with a return visit by the Red Arrows who will grace Co. Wicklow skies with feats of aviation perfection on the Sunday of the weekend-long event.
While Bray Air Display will kick-off at 3.30pm on Saturday and 2 pm on the Sunday organisers are advising spectators to arrive early for a stress-free journey to Bray.
There will be plenty of entertainment before the aviation spectacular gets underway with a host of on-the-ground family fun including a fun fair, live music and a food and craft market, from 12noon each day.
This year’s event features more than 40 aircraft from high-powered jets to more sedate vintage aircraft. The display also involves demonstrations from some of the country’s most critical services – The Irish Air Corps, Coastguard Search and Rescue and, new to the event this year, An Garda Síochána helicopter.
Where Bray Seafront
How much? Free
Ages suitable for the whole family
Atmosphere 2018
Atmosphere, our seaside event themed around Balloons, Kites and Flight will take place on Newtownsmith, Dún Laoghaire.
One of the star attractions on the day will be the Kite Zone featuring stunt kites, large static kites and tournaments hosted by Francois and the Pure Magic team. During the event, master kite flyers will demonstrate their skills and creations. Expert Kiters will give workshops on kite aerodynamics and design. There will be kite flying competitions and a chance to make your own kite in the “make and do” area hosted by the experts in kiting. Don’t forget to bring your own kite, so you can enjoy the full experience, as we will have a limited supply available at the event.
Not to be outdone the Balloon Zone will feature the Balloon Dome along with all new Inflatables including the Assault Run, Giant Slide and Climbing Wall. Professional balloon modellers will show off their skills creating models of Planes, Animals, Cartoon Characters and lots more. You will have the chance to take home their very own balloon model.
The Flight Zone will feature a Planetarium where you will be transported into the Atmosphere to space and beyond using Fulldome 360° 3D Digital Projection.
If you’ve no head for heights, Atmosphere will keep you entertained and relaxed in the Chill Zone featuring
Volleyball skills, beach games, strolling characters and beach loungers.
Please walk or cycle or as Newtownsmith in Dún Laoghaire is well served by public transport use Dart or Dublin Bus services to get to the event.
Where Newtownsmith in Dún Laoghaire
How much? Free
Ages suitable for the whole family
The Dead Zoo Tour
Join Educator, Sarah Sarsfield, for an introductory tour of the galleries and catch highlights from the 10,000 specimens on display at the Dead Zoo. Learn about the animal with the largest antlers in the world and hear the infamous story of how we got our polar bear.
Where National Museum of Ireland, Merrion Street (Natural History)
How much? Free, No booking required, places limited and allocated on a first-come basis 15 minutes before tour starts. Not wheelchair accessible.
Ages suitable for children 8+
Meet the Flint- Stones!
Did you know that you can use flint stone not only to catch, but also to cook your dinner?! Drop into the Kildare Room to find out why flint was so important to people living in Stone Age Ireland. Meet archaeologist Dave O’Reilly to handle amazing replica stone tools and weapons to learn more about all the ways that people living in Ireland thousands of years ago used stone to their advantage.
Where National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street (Archaeology)
How much? Free, No booking required. Located in the Kildare Room, Ground Floor. Wheelchair accessible.
Ages suitable for everyone welcome
Drop-in family workshop Big Top Grand Design
Join Kate Dick for a free art-making workshop inspired by the exhibition Circus250: Art of the Show.
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, Merrion Square West, Dublin 2
How much? Free
Ages suitable for the whole family
Weston’s Family Fun Weekend
Weston Airport will host their annual Family Fun Weekend with some aircraft from the Foynes & Bray air show on static display. Come and enjoy amusements, fun fair rides, a kids zone, food court, market village & much more.
Where Dublin Weston AirportN4 Backwestonpark, Lucan
How much? €11.14, tickets for the Friday event (2pm-7pm) will be available at the gate. Under 12’s go free.
Ages suitable for the whole family
Family Fun Day with Pony Rides, Petting Zoo & Much More!
An afternoon full of activities for the whole family:
• Pony Rides,
• Farm Animals Petting Zoo
• Exotic Animals Show
• Giant Inflatables
• Jungle Movie on Big Screen
• Arts and Crafts Corner
• Big Cat face Painting & Photo booth
• Kids meal and buffet available in our café
Where Scientology Community Centre, Firehouse Road, D24
How much? Free entry, free parking. You can get tickets through this link
Ages suitable for everyone is welcome
Bark in the Park sponsored dog walk
Our Bark in the Park sponsored dog walk in the beautiful Phoenix Park will take place on Sunday 29th July and we’re calling on all our four-legged, waggy-tailed, furry friends…and their human familiy….to come along to support us. Come along and enjoy our fun family day out and help us to raise money to support our charitable veterinary services.
You’ll enjoy an afternoon of fun, laughs and plenty of barks and we’re super excited to be partnering with Positive Dog Training who will host family friendly dog classes and training demos as well as fun games for everyone to enjoy!
There’ll be music, games, raffles and very exciting dog competitions to find the Dogs with the Happiest Smile, Waggiest Tail, Shiniest Coat, Best Bark and Best Overall Dog. Is your dog up to the challenge? Our dog competition prizes and participant goody bags are generously sponsored by our Bark in the Park sponsors MAXI ZOO IRELAND.
The fantastic Audrey Dalton of Pawtrait Ireland will also be there, snapping photos of all the gorgeous doggies!
Don’t miss out, take part and help us raise awareness of our services and raise money to support our work.
Pets need our help so we need yours.
Where Phoenix Park, Aces Road Cycle Track, opposite the Papal Cross.
How much? Donations I believe
Ages suitable for everyone who has or loves dog’s
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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 meet at Merrion Square information desk
How much? Free, no booking required
Ages suitable for the whole family
Family Workshop: Medieval Life
Join family workshop facilitator Katherine McCormack for a fascinating, hands on workshop exploring life in a medieval cathedral
Where St Patricks Cathedral, Wood Quay Dublin 8
How much? free, book through this link here
Ages suitable for 6-12 year olds. Parents need to remain present for the duration of the workshop, but do not need to book a place for themselves.
Tuesday Kids Drop-by Activities
Kids, Join us for fun activities in the dedicated Children’s Garden! Sow seeds, make seed bombs, design bug hotels and re-use everyday items to create your own piece of eco art.
Where National Botanic Gardens of Dublin, Glasnevin
How much? Free
Ages suitable for All children and their adults
The Secret Life of Whales & Dolphins with IWDG
Drop into the Discovery Zone and find out about whales and dolphins with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group. See some whale baleen and skulls, and find out how these underwater mammals feed and communicate.
Where National Museum of Ireland, Merrion Street (Natural History)
How much? Free, No booking required but there may be short waiting time. Wheelchair accessible.
Ages suitable for all ages
Children’s Workshop: ‘Magic Mystery Maps’
Maps are everywhere: on our phones, in our cars, on walls, and adverts. But how much do we really know about them?
Explore our world through maps in this fun workshop, asking questions about how maps are made and how we understand them.
Where National Library of Ireland, 7-8 Kildare Street, Dublin 2
How much? Free
Ages suitable for 7+ booking not required
SUMMER FAMILY WORKSHOP – Mornings at the Museum
Have some creative family time during the summer school holidays. Children and grown- ups can enjoy visiting an exhibition and making artworks together.
Where IMMA, Royal Hospital, Military Road, Kilmainham, Dublin 8
How much? Free
Ages suitable for everyone
The Deep Ocean: Puppetry Workshop
The Ocean Deep puppetry art workshop with artist Frances Coghlan.
Thursday 2 August, 11am-Noon
Where Dublin City Gallery, The Hugh Lane
How much? €6 – pre book your space
Ages suitable for 3-6 year olds
Inspectorium: What’s for dinner?
Do chimpanzees only eat bananas? Peek inside the mouths of different animals and match their skulls to the different foods that they eat, during this drop-in activity!
Where National Museum of Ireland, Merrion Street (Natural History)
How much? Free, No booking required but there may be short waiting time. Wheelchair accessible.
Ages suitable for families
Pre book the events below for future family fun.
Back to Work after Baby
Starting to worry about going back to work after maternity leave? Or perhaps recently returned to work and feeling overwhelmed and a little lost? If so, this workshop is the perfect place to join like-minded Mamas for a supportive, practical and thought-provoking morning to help regain confidence and successfully navigate this massive transition.
This half-day workshop is tailored to the specific needs of each group and typically includes:
Space to reflect on the emotions of returning to work
Getting physically and psychologically ready for your first day back
Planning the practicalities – including tips and tricks to make your life easier
Managing the transition back into your career and re-establishing professional relationships
Balancing the role of parent with your ongoing career ambitions and aspirations
Looking after yourself through this change – remaining engaged, motivated and fulfilled
Managing your work-life blend and how to make it work for you and your team
An opportunity to network with like-minded Mamas on a similar journey
Participants will come away feeling refreshed, re-energised and equipped with tools to help them to launch back into their career.
So c’mon, come join us for a morning of positive vibes…come replenish and nurture your Strength Within…
***we are offering 1 free place on this workshop for a start-up or small company that could not otherwise financially support their employee’s attendance. Please contact claire@strengthwithin.ie for more details.
***we have a small number of subsidized tickets for people who are not sponsored by their employer and would like to attend.
Where The Greenway, 112-114 St Stephens Green
How much? Tickets available here
Ages suitable for mothers who are soon to be returning to work
One Day Circus Skills & Performance Workshops
Roll up, roll up this summer as we join forces with Street Theatre Ireland for a mini festival of circus skills and performance for children!
2018 marks 250 years since the modern circus was born. To celebrate this we have dynamic day-long workshops for children aged 9-12 to learn from circus artists and enjoy a fun, action packed programme including juggling, balancing, hula hooping, wire walking skills and circus make up.
Suitable for children of all levels of experience – including complete beginners – the artists will guide participants through the basics of the skills in four focused sessions, before everyone gets the opportunity to share what they’ve learnt with the rest of the group at the end of the day.
Each skill is taught with step by step, easy to follow instructions which build confidence, improve coordination and reward effort with achievement. Above all else, it will be an exciting day for any budding circus star!
- Juggling – Children will learn the basics of juggling with scarves and balls before trying to juggle with a partner. Keep your eye on the ball for this one!
- Hula Hoop & Devil Stick Class – Hula hooping fun and introduction to devil stick manipulation. Try these two tricky skills and impress your friends.
- Balance Class – Try your hand at balancing feathers and sticks, walking on hand held stilts, teetering on the rola-bola and braving the tight wire.
- Circus Make-Up – Create your own clown identity as you work in pairs to do each other’s make-up ready for the show!
Where The Ark, Temple Bar
How much? €32/€29* (Members & Concessions) per child
Ages suitable for 9-15 year olds
Secret Garden Saturdays: Botanical Drawing
Above the hustle and bustle of Temple Bar is its best-kept secret…The Ark’s top floor workshop & garden! Join artist Jane Groves for a series of visual art workshops inspired by what you can see and hear out there.
To start the series off, these workshops for ages 5-7 will create beautiful paintings using nature’s toolbox. In this workshop you will experience the surprising tools and materials you might find in your garden and use them to make your own natural artworks. Investigate the potential of sticks, stones and feathers to make marks and explore vibrant watercolours and dusty charcoal.
Where The Ark, 11a Eustace Street
How much? €11.50/€8.50* per child. (20% off for Members)
Ages suitable for 5-7 year olds. If you are aged between8-12 years, you can book to enjoy on Sat 28 July & 18 & 25 Aug at 2pm.
Children’s Workshop: Budding Botanists
Ever wanted to start your very own dried plant collection? Get great tips and discover how you can become a plant collector! Join our guides on an expedition through the Botanic Gardens, identifying and collecting suitable plants for pressing before constructing your very own flower press. If you like, you can also create some beautiful botanical designs with our pre-dried plants.
Where National Botanic Gardens of Dublin, Glasnevin
How much? Free, although you must book Call (01) 804 0319 / 857 0909 or email botanicgardens@opw.ie.
Ages suitable for 6 and up
Playstival with the Happy Pear
A 2-day NEW summer festival for children and their parents. Playstival celebrates play, imagination, and fun with a range of hands-on, fun and imaginative games and themed play universes.
Play is an integral and important part of children’s lives and the focus of Playstival is to ‘go back to basics’ and experience a more innocent approach to games and play – no fancy technology or screens to be found! Playstival is both interactive and active, kids don’t just sit and watch, they play.
Playstival showcases eight themed ‘play universes’ for children to immerse themselves in, use their imaginations to create ideas, roles and characters, and most importantly have lots of fun. From a construction site for kids to the wild wild west, the wonderfully themed play universes offer an unforgettable day of pure fun for families set in the heart of Dublin.
Furthermore, delicious and nourishing Happy Pear food will be on offer throughout the weekend – from healthy wraps and salads, to hot dishes, as well as Happy Pear smoothies, hand-roasted coffees, and a selection of healthier cakes and treats.
WhereAirfield Estate, Overend Avenue, Dundrum, Dublin 14
Ages suitable for The whole family
Musical Picnic with the Summer String Quartet
Join us for a family picnic lunchtime concert where we bring the outdoors indoors with some great music and other fun activities.
Where The National Concert Hall – Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2
How much? Adults €12, Child: €10, Family Ticket (family of 4): €37, Young Maestros: €8 Picnics €5 per person
Ages suitable for the whole family
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.
Musical Picnic with the ECO Band: Familiar Tunes with a Jazz Twist
Where The National Concert Hall – Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2
How much? How much? Adults €12, Child: €10, Family Ticket (family of 4): €37, Young Maestros: €8 Picnics €5 per person
Ages suitable for the whole family
We hope that you have a great week.
ClapHandies PlayLabs happen around the Dublin area during term time
If you have a baby, wobbler or toddler, why don’t you book and join one of our PlayLabs?
ClapHandies also run baby massage courses and First Aid courses
If you are looking to organise a party, we offer PlayParty for 1-2-year-olds.
For 3, 4 & 5-year-olds we offer Classic Parties and children 6+ there are 4 great themed parties that school children seem to LOVE!
Take a look at RealPartyKids .
If you have an event you would like us to promote, please email marie@claphandies.com or message us through our Facebook page.
