Dublin local family event guide. Friday 13th – Thursday 19th September 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.
Autumn Leaves Workshop for 4-6 Year Olds
When Saturday 14th September, 2-3pm
Where Dublin City Gallery, The Hugh Lane
How much? Fee €7 per child, booking through eventbrite.ie required here.
Ages suitable for? 4-6 year olds and their adults
Explore the shape and colour of Autumn Leaves in this workshop for 4-6 year olds with artist Emma O’Toole.
Parents must stay with their children for this age group.
Kingly Attire
When Saturday 14th drop in between 1.30 – 3.30
Where National Museum of Ireland,Kildare Street (Archaeology)
How much? Free, no booking required
Ages suitable for? children 8+
Drop-in to the Kildare Room and explore the archaeology of Ireland during the time of the Celts. Learn about the mysterious bog bodies who lived during the Iron Age and discover what they may have worn for special occasions, then make your own leather armlet to take home
The Busker Fleadh
When Sunday 15th September starts at 12 noon
Where Smithfield Square
How much? Free to watch although if you appreciate what you see you will need cash to pop in the buskers hats
Ages suitable for? Family friendly
A variety of busking acts from around the country will perform in Smithfield Square on Sunday 15th September as part of the Busker Fleadh! This free family event will showcase the best of independent music and performance in an electrifying atmosphere.
The line up of performers will cover a range of genres, ages and cultural backgrounds, allowing visitors to experience the diverse music offered in Ireland.
Aside from the musical talents, spectators will wander the cobbles of Smithfield and enjoy choirs and street performers and cultural backgrounds and witness returning acts such as the inspiring High Hopes Choir, Ireland’s first choir for homeless people, as well as new emerging artists.
President Michael D. Higgins will officially open the inaugural Phoenix Park Biodiversity Festival and Honey Show on Saturday the 14th of September at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre.
The festival which takes place across the weekend of the 14th and 15th of September is being held by the Office of Public Works (OPW) to celebrate the Park’s rich biodiversity and natural heritage and to drive awareness of the relationship between biodiversity and natural resources.
The festival is free to attend with an extensive programme including bat walks and pollinator talks, foraging tours and honeybee lessons, as well as music, art and activities to keep everyone entertained.
Smithfield & Stoneybatter Food Festival
When Friday 13th – Sunday 15th September
Where Smithfield Square and Stoneybatter, Dublin 7
How much? Free
Ages suitable for? Family friendly
Tantalise your taste buds at the Smithfield & Stoneybatter Food Festival, taking place in food outlets throughout Smithfield and Stoneybatter.
Food eateries, shops and bars will have free tastings, festival menus and discounted prices which will add to the carnival atmosphere surrounding Smithfield.
The highlight of the weekend will be the Smithfield & Stoneybatter Food Festival Market on Sunday 15th from 11.30-5pm, when this gastronomy fare takes to the outdoors on Smithfield Square in tandem with the Busker Fleadh, an independent music festival.
Each event will be housed in the business’ own premises, allowing attendees to walk from pub to restaurant to café, building a festive atmosphere over the three days. Over the course of the weekend there will be festival menus, discounts in selected outlets, afternoon tea in the Richmond, weekend Brunch & Charity Swap Shop and so much more.
This historic part of Dublin has long had a close association with the food and drink industry from the Cattle Markets of Stoneybatter through to the Fruit and Vegetable Markets of Smithfield up to the world class Jameson Distillery and burgeoning local eateries and bars.
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 workshops for 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.
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!
Early Years Workshops for 1-3 Year Olds
Thursday 19th September, 11am-Noon
During this class for 1-3 year olds with artist Ashleigh Downey we will be exploring sights and sounds and be immersed in a sensory world of simple shapes, colours and textures. Fee €7, booking through eventbrite.ie required here.
Pre book the events below for future family fun
Culture Night
When The evening of September 20th
Where Across Ireland
How much? Free – some events need to be prebooked
Ages suitable for? All ages, due to it being in the evening, we hope you will find some suitable events to enjoy early on with your family
Here is the link to find the family friendly events happening in Dublin.
Culture Night 2019 – Wrap up in culture, as venues and public spaces across the island of Ireland open their doors to host a programme of free late-night entertainment, as part of an all-island celebration of arts, heritage and culture.
On Culture Night, arts and cultural organisations and venues of all shapes and sizes, including the National Cultural Institutions, extend their opening hours to allow for increased access to the public. Special and unique events and workshops are specifically programmed at participating locations and everything is available free of charge. The celebration has grown from a relatively small scale cultural event staged only in Dublin in 2006 to the significant national cultural event it now is, with some 400,000 people visiting museums, galleries, historic houses, artists’ studios and cultural centres across the island. The initiative has captured both the public imagination and the enthusiasm of artists and cultural organisations.
For one night only the island of Ireland become your FREE cultural playground, explore YOUR surroundings! (Some Culture Night events require booking).
When Saturday 21st September at 3pm
Where St Anne’s Park, The Stables
How much? Free – book tickets here
Ages suitable for? The whole family (movie is G rated, family suitable)
We are delighted to be of the all new redstablesfestival.ie. A festival connecting food, nature and sustainability through a series of talks, demos and tours, and a celebration of local food and producers in the surroundings of St Anne’s Park. We are in the middle of an environmental breakdown and need to act accordingly. these screenings and this festival are about spreading that awareness.
The first of our two FREE screenings is The Lorax at 3pm ( The second is Thank You For The Rain at 6pm ). We will be on the grass beside the carpark at the Red Stables for these daytime screenings, all welcome!
In the walled city of Thneed-Ville, where everything is artificial and even the air is a commodity, a boy named Ted hopes to win the heart of his dream girl, Audrey. When he learns of her wish to see a real tree, Ted seeks out the Once-ler, a ruined old businessman outside of town in a stark wasteland. Upon hearing of how the hermit gave into his greed for profits and devastated the land over the protests of the Lorax, Ted is inspired to undo the disaster. However, the greedy Mayor of Thneed-Ville, Aloysius O’Hare, has made his fortune exploiting the environmental collapse and is determined to stop the boy from undermining his business.
Bring blankets, seats, cushions and warm things, there will be food available from The Olive Room and The Saturday Market.
Family Concert: Pirates, Parrots, And Pieces Of Eight
When Saturday 21st September at 11.30 and 1pm **LIMITED TICKETS REMAIN**
Where National Concert Hall
How much? €12 discounts available
Ages suitable for? Designed for 4-12 year olds and their families, all are welcome!
Arrr! Come ye land lubbers and scurvy dogs! Gather the family for an interactive concert with the Echo Band, featuring favourite sea songs and shanties with a jazzy twist!
Join us fer tales o’ adventure, hidden booty and buccaneers. Hoist the Jolly Roger, set course for the high seas, and watch out or we’ll all end up in Davy Jones’ locker.
Lots o’ participation promised to keep all our younger audience members involved and entertained.
BigKidLittleKid
When Friday 27th September at 10.15 and 12.15. Sat 28th and Sun 29th 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.
Bring Along A Baby
When Sunday 28th September **LIMITED TICKETS REMAIN**
Where National Concert Hall
How much? Adults are €13 and babies go free
Ages suitable for? Babies, wobblers and their adults
Bring Along a Baby is an informal, relaxed, accessible chamber music recital of the highest standard, aimed primarily at parents, while babies or very young children sleep, feed and play.
There is no pressure to keep still or quiet, leaving parents free to sit back and enjoy the music. In fact, we encourage the babies to interact naturally with the music, and we have play mats and soft toys to this end.
Of course, the babies benefit from the music as well, so it’s a win-win.
Kidspace x Fearless Moves Floor Fillers Brunch
We’re hosting a Fearless Moves Floor Fillers session and brunch at kidspaceindoorplay in Rathcoole on Sun 29th Sept at 10am.
It’s perfect for Mums and Dads who want to get a sweat on while the kids are having active fun in the play frames!
The ticket price also includes entry for 2 kids (worth €17)
Enjoy brunch afterwards with options for kids and parents! All the ticket deets are here: https://bit.ly/2K5Yt9W
Fearless Moves is a fitness event series that features a deadly music theme, a whopper instructor and most importantly, delish food after the workout session.
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.
Stick by Me
When
When Tue 1 & Wed 2 Oct at 3pm and Wed 2nd, Thur 3rd at 10.15 and 12.15pm. There is a 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.
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.
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.
