Dublin local family event guide. Friday 27th September – Thursday 3rd October 2019
Tags: Children's activities Dublin, Event Guide Dublin, This weekend in Dublin, Weekend fun in Dublin, Whats on Dublin
Take a look at the family friendly events happening in and around Dublin 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.
BigKidLittleKid
When Friday 27th September at 10.15 and 12.15. Sat 28th at 2pm and 4pm.
Where The ARK, Temple Bar
How much? €12.50 per person
Ages suitable for? 3-6 year olds and their grown ups
BigKidLittleKid is a quirky, playful, energetic and engaging look at being on your own and being with someone else; and how size can really matter.
BigKidLittleKid promises to delight and enchant its audiences with its unique and wordless take on the complicated world of sibling rivalry.
Created by Anna Newell, described by The Guardian as “a hero of children’s theatre” and by the Irish Times as an “early years theatre pioneer” with music by David Goodall, with whom Anna has created shows for early years audiences that have been seen on 5 continents and off-Broadway.
Dubray Storyfest
When Saturday 28th September from 11am-4pm
Where Airfield Estate
How much? €35 for a family ticket (under 4’s are free) click here.
Ages suitable for? The whole family
The Dubray StoryFest family book festival will take place at Airfield Estate on Saturday 28th September: a unique, fun-filled, creative festival for children aged 0 – 12 and their families. Rain or shine, if you like stories, it’s the place to be!
This will be a day of interactive author and illustrator events, storytelling and story-writing, doodling, drawing, art and craft, face-painting, dressing up, events as Gaeilge and, for children with ASD or special needs in a relaxed zone. StoryFest will run from 11am to 5pm, with simultaneous events for different ages and interests taking place in sites across Airfield’s urban farm and gardens.
Under a Microscope!
When Saturday 28 September, 2-3pm
Where Dublin City Gallery, The Hugh Lane
How much? Fee €7, booking through eventbrite.ie is required here.
Ages suitable for? 7-9 year olds
Be inspired by Mark Francis’s painting Recoil and imagine that you are under a microscope to create your own contemporary art in this art workshop for 7-9 years with artist Kathryn Maguire.
From bodhrans to Ukuleles Temple Bar will be Celebrating 2 days of music.
Times: 12-3.00pm
Dates: Saturday 21st and Saturday 28th September
Location: Crampton Court, Temple Bar, Dublin 2 (outdoors)
Entry: FREE
2 weekends of live traditional song, dance and music by Irish and international groups from Lativa, Poland, Estonia, Ukraine and Ireland.
Irish groups include Craobh Sean Treacy Music Group and Ukulele Tuesday
Each group will be dressed in national costume,
Come along and join in the fun.
Inspectorium: Shark Search
When 28th September, drop in between 11am and 1pm
Where National Museum of Ireland, Merrion Street (Natural History)
How much? Free, no booking, drop in
Ages suitable for? Families
How many shark species live in Irish waters? Drop into the Wonder Cabinet at the Discovery Zone to learn about these marine predators, complete the shark search and inspect some of the museum handling collection up close. No booking required but there may be short waiting time. Wheelchair accessible.
Bosco and Sleeping Beauty
When Sunday 29th Sept, 12pm and 2pm
Where dlr Mill theatre, Dundrum
How much? €12 (under 2’s free but you must book them a seat)
Ages suitable for? All ages
Bosco is Bosco, not a boy, not a girl, just a Bosco: a cheeky, lovely, funny, slightly-cracked, irrepressible, eternal five-year-old who lives in a box and who loves nothing more than to just be Bosco and meet all the boys and girls.
After starring on Irish TV for three decades, you’ll see why Bosco remains a firm favourite for each new generation.
Enjoy the enchanted story of Sleeping Beauty where an evil Fairy-Night filled with jealousy try’s to harm Beauty but luckily she has very good fairy friends. With its brilliant array of Characters, lots of fun and excitement through this completely interactive live experience with the absolute magic of Puppet Theatre
Duration 75 mins no interval
Under 2s require a seat, these are FOC but you must select a seat when booking.
Family-friendly tour
When Sunday’s 12.30-1.15pm
Where National Gallery of Ireland, Merrion Square West, Dublin 2
How much? Free
Ages suitable for? All families welcome
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.
All welcome; no booking necessary.
Summer Kids’ Drop-by Activities
When Sunday’s,
Workshops begin at 11.00am, 11.30am, 3.00pm & 3.30pm and last about 20-30min
Where National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin
How much? Free
Ages suitable for? children 4+ and their adult
Kids, join us for fun activities in the dedicated Children’s Erasmus Education Garden! Each week we will have a different activity to help you to become an expert gardener. Sow your own vegetable and flower seeds, make seed bombs, design bug hotels or re-use everyday things to create your own piece of eco-art. Check out our Facebook page to find out the week’s activity in advance!
Sunday Sketching
When Sunday from 3-4pm
Where Dublin City Gallery, The Hugh Lane
How much? Free, no booking required, although places may be limited.
Ages suitable for? Children 6+ and their families
During these free sketching workshopsfor families we invite you to explore and respond to our collection and temporary exhibitions through discussion and drawing.
Bring your own sketchbook or avail of the materials provided.
Stick by Me
When
Tue 1 & Wed 2 Oct @ 3pm
Wed 2 & Thu 3 Oct @ 10.15am & 12.15pm
Relaxed Performance Wed 2 Oct @ 12.15pm
Where The Ark, Temple Bar
How much? €12.50
Ages suitable for? 3-6 year olds and their adults
It’s a stick. It’s just a stick.’
But for one, all alone, this stick has something special. And soon the two are the best of friends. They run, play, hide and rest…and stick together when things get tough.
Beautifully crafted, making treasure from everyday objects, Stick by Me is a joyful show about friendship and play, and the importance of treasuring little things.Paragraph
Created by the duo behind critically acclaimed White – Andy Manley and Ian Cameron – Stick by Me builds on their vast experience of creating performances for very young children.
Treemendous Tree Tales
When Thursday 3rd October from 3-4pm
Where National Botanic Gardens Glasnevin
How much? Free
Ages suitable for? Everyone
In celebration of National Tree Day, we will be exploring stories of many majestic and intriguing old trees in the National Botanic Gardens just as the spectacular autumn foliage appears.
Pre book the events below for future family fun
Harvest celebration
When Saturday 5th October at 2.30pm
Where Dalkey Library
How much? No mention of any cost
Ages suitable for? Everyone welcome
We’ll be hosting an afternoon of Thanksgiving and Harvest music to celebrate a successful season of growing our own fruit and vegetables in the Maeve Binchy Garden. Admire the end of our vegetable harvest and children can decorate an autumn wreath to bring home. Music will be provided by Music Generation dlr!
When Sat 26th Oct at 4pm and 7pm
Where dlr Mill Theatre, Dundrum Town Centre, Dundrum, Dublin 16
How much? €8 – tickets can be booked here
Ages suitable for? 4-12 year olds and their adults
Being a vampire sucks, but being Dracula’s younger brother is
driving Jackula batty.
Join Jackula on a spooktacular quest to to step out of his older brother’s shadow and become the world’s first fun vampire. Laugh as Jackula makes his pet ghost dance. Gasp as Jackula balances five glasses of water on his face. Smile as children help him perform spellbinding tricks. An inspirational Halloween magic show about staying true to yourself. The show is performed by Jeff Keough who has entertained at The White House, Lenister House, and his daughter’s Senior Infant Class.
Jackula has been recommended by the Irish Times. The Irish Independent said Jackula is “Family fun guaranteed.” Book now as Jackula regularly sells out. This show is for children aged 4-12. Show time: 80 minutes
Spooky Science!
When Sat 26th – Mon 28th Oct: 11am & 2pm,
Tues 29th – Thu 31st Oct: 11am
Where Cool Planet Experience, Powerscourt Estate, Co Wicklow
How much? €20 per child
Ages suitable for? 6-12 year olds
Join us as spooky science festivities take over Cool Planet Experience this October mid-term. Kids will release their mad scientist by stepping into our spooktacular lab experience, where oozing, bubbling potions, glowing slime and fang-tastic explosions are sure to delight.
Explore the spookier side of chemistry to discover how a 1°C change can unleash mind-boggling chain reactions.
Dust off the cobwebs, unleash curiosity and start investigating.
Samhain
Samhain, everybody’s favourite phantasmal forest of fright will materialise before your very eyes in Marlay Park on Sunday October 27th 2019. The annual spookfest is back in all its gory glory with the sounds, shadows and creatures of the night that only appear in Marlay Park once a year on the haunted forest walk.
Dress your worst, in your most freakily frightening costume and join us this for this unique fright in the forest. But remember, once you enter the haunted forest walk there is no controlling the spectral spirits so do not get too close.
We want to see you in your Halloween costumes but remember Samhain is an outdoor event so warm clothing is recommended. The walk is approx. 1.7km long on a path suitable for buggies and wheelchairs. The 3.30pm walk at Samhain will be tailored to suit people with special needs. This means that music and sound effects will be quieter, special effects and lighting will be softer and we will limit the number of visitors in comparison to other entry times in order to reduce queuing times in so far as is practicable.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The Haunted Forest Walk will be open between 3.30pm and 8.30pm and Entry is FREE but by WRISTBAND ONLY. Entry times to queue for the Haunted Forest Walk are printed on your wristband. Times are: 3.30pm, 4pm, 4.30pm, 5pm, 5.30pm, 6pm, 6.30pm, 7pm, 7.30pm and 8pm. There will be no fireworks display at the event.
WRISTBAND COLLECTION
There is no online booking or purchase system for Wristbands to go to Samhain. Wristbands can only be obtained by collection in person at the Cricket Pitch in Marlay Park on Saturday October 19th and Sunday October 20th from 2pm each day.
- Wristbands will be available while stocks last or until 4pm on a strictly first come
first served basis, limited to six per family. - You can collect wristbands for the 3.30pm walk only, which will be tailored to suit people with special needs, by using the signposted fast track collection lane.
- Parking for wristband collection is in the College Road Car Park of Marlay Park only.
- Please do not park on Grange Road, in local estates or roads surrounding Marlay Park.
We hope that you have a great week.
ClapHandies run regular baby massage courses suitable for babies 6 weeks – 9 months. As well as benefits for your baby, it’s a really great way to make some new friends at the same stage of parenting as you are.
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?
If you are looking to organise a party for your little one maybe we can help?
We offer classic parties for pre-schoolers, then once your little one is at school we offer themed parties that children seem to LOVE!
Take a look at RealParties for more details.
Do you have an event you would like us to promote?
Please email marie@claphandies.com giving as much notice as possible and if suitable we will try our best to add it to our weekly event guide.
