Art in Action at Farmleigh

The arts and crafts festival, Art in Action will take place over this May bank holiday weekend in Farmleigh House and grounds in the Phoenix Park. The three day event hosts 100 working artists who demonstrate their work and skills to the public while also holding a number of art classes for both adults and children to participate.

The not-for-profit event annually opens its doors to 30,000 visitors, and admission is free to the public. Art in Action will host a programme of liberal arts such as drama, dance, music and storytelling. The founder of Art in Action, Micheal Ryan believes that this unique event is “A truly inspiring and uplifting day out, in the company of the best, for all the family”. So if that takes your fancy, check it out  - it runs May 3rd, 4th and 5th from 10am – 5pm.

Star Wars Invasion

Star Wars fans should like Invasion, which is a celebration of everything Star Wars and it is taking place in the RDS this May Bank Holiday weekend. 

Face-painters, Q&A sessions with actors and special guests, Force Training for the kids, traders selling collectables and memorabilia, life sized replica props and sets from the original and new Star Wars trilogies and costumed characters should entertain little (and big!) fanatics.

Dublin Prawn Festival

This weekend the Dublin Prawn Festival is taking place in Howth. Programme includes cooking demos, festival menus, street entertainment, a fun fair, music , fireworks. 

More info at http://dublinbayprawnfestival.ie/ 

PhizzFest 2014

The 5th annual Phizzfest - a community arts festival in the village of Phibsborough - is taking place this year. It was established to develop an annual celebration of artistic life around Phibsborough, to highlight the rich diversity of culture within its community and to provide a showcase for local talent.

There are several family friendly events that might be of interest, including a visit to a fire station (now booked out though), an outdoor yoga circus workshop for children ages 3- 10, canoe polo, a community fun day, a duck race and go karting (I posted something about the go karting a while ago).

Potted Potter

The Harry Potter parody "Potted Potter" is in Dublin for a week, as part of a sell-out world tour. The Best Entertainment & Family Show Olivier Award Nominee Potted Potter takes on the challenge of condensing all seven Harry Potter books (and a real-life game of Quidditch) into seventy minutes.

According to the website, this show is perfect for ages six to Dumbledore (who is very old indeed).

Runs from 14 April 2014 - 20 April 2014.

Maybe something for your Harry Potter fans?

 

Little Museum of Dublin

The Little Museum of Dublin on St Stephen’s Green tells the story of Dublin in the 20th Century. The museum was launched in 2011 with a public appeal for historic objects - today there are over 5,000 artefacts in the collection.

We have not been yet but I just saw on the museum's website that Children and families are welcome and all children under 3 go free. Children over 3 pay the student concession rate of €4. Keep an eye out on its Twitter and Facebook pages for other free-in times for kids, which it runs throughout the year.

There is a special online family admission rate of €8 at the moment (usually €13) and it covers 2 adults and up to three children.

If you are visiting with children, it has worksheets available at the museum for children of all ages and the website says the museum has tour guides in the museum at all times who can give children some special attention. There are some interactive artefacts in the museum which kids can handle - just ask a tour guide to point them out to you. You can also take a picture of your child in the old Dublin school desk, or make a speech from JFK’s lectern.

Enchanted Fairy Walk

Following on from the success of the "Fairy Wood" in Corkagh Park, new fairies have moved into Tymon Park, (Castletymon Road). 

The "Enchanted Fairy Walk" will be officially opened at 11am - 1pm on Tuesday 15th April. 

Updated 16th April

We went along yesterday to check this out and parked in the car park off Wellington Road (albeit a bit late) but there were no signs or information of any sort about the fairy walk which was disappointing.  I checked online again today but the event has been taken off the website so maybe it was cancelled.  I have emailed them so will let you know what the story is.....

Updated 21st April

Yes, it did go ahead I was told, but that was all I got.  
I looked up the Fairy Door Company website and they have an online map of the walk.  Looks like it is on the other side of the park to the one we were at - so it is accessed via the Castletymon Road car park.  

Experience Japan Festival Day

Dublin’s Japanese community and students groups from UCD and DCU will be celebrating a Hanami (Cherry Blossom) Festival at Farmleigh House & Estate in the Phoenix Park tomorrow Sunday 13th April and the public is invited to go along and enjoy the many events that are planned.

Hanami is an annual event in Japan where friends come together for outdoor parties to welcome spring and celebrate nature. (This event is supported by Dublin City Council, the Office of Public Works and the Embassy of Japan in Ireland.) 

Activities include:
• Taiko drum performances
• Martial Arts demonstrations
• Music performances with a fusion of Japanese and Irish performances
• Origami and kite making craft workshops for children
• Yo-Yo fishing and other fun activities for children
• Cosplay fashions framed with traditional Kimono displays
• Japanese art workshop
• Soran Bushi dancing
• Japanese food stalls
• Seminars on Japanese Food, Animation and Japanese Art

Airfield Awakens

Airfield is a charitable 38 acre working farm, gardens, café and heritage experience in Dundrum. It offer visitors an opportunity to learn about food, farming and the natural world or just enjoy the lovely new Overends cafe. 

It has just gone through a massive re-refurbishment and it is being fully re-launched this weekend in Airfield Awakens, which I know is great news for many of you!

Puppet, music and acrobatic performances; film; meet the animals; house tours; collect eggs; kitchen garden tour; storytelling; art workshops; walks; and gardening events should keep you entertained.

Dodder Day

Dodder Day 2014 is this Saturday 12th April. So if you fancy helping clean up the riverbank, have a look at the poster below.

See video here

Latest dlr Biodiversity Events

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council is running another series of free "Exploring Nature" biodiversity events from March-June 2014. 

Kids and families are welcome to attend. Events include animal tracking, wild play, campfire music, an Easter egg hunt, wild bunch, nature walk, birdwatching, bat walk, rock pooling for families, seashore walk, shelter building and pond dipping. Events and are on in various locations such as parks and beaches.








Image source: http://www.dlrevents.ie/bio114.html

Inter/Generation Architectural Themed Events

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is running a fab looking event called Inter/Generation from the 12th-26th April. 

It is an arts programme of free architectural-themed events for all ages and asks people of all ages to think more about architecture’s role in forming and changing our built environment. The programme includes workshops, talks and films to a garden that’s specially designed to awaken all the senses. One event cater for kids as young as 10 months! I have put all of the kid oriented ones on my April Events Post.

The Grainstore, dlr’s Youth Arts Facility in Cabinteely Park will be a hub of activity. In Killiney Hill Park you can take a look at vistas new and old through Viewfinder and if you are more of a couch potato, you can help recreate the architecture of Dún Laoghaire in Minecrafted from the comfort of your own home. A team of architects, artists and local people have been busy since last November working on the programme so check it out. It really looks good.

Family Dragster Workshops

The first of two family DIY dragster workshops will take place in Phibsborough as part of its annual Phizzfest. 

The Phizzfest Pit Stop Team invites adults (18yrs+) and their children (8-12yrs) to scavenge, sketch, build, and battle.

The first workshop (Saturday April 12th) will cover go-kart design and construction methods, race rules, competition rules, and extent of assistance available from the Pit Stop Team. Workshop 2 (Saturday April 26th) will assist teams to construct their go-kart with the assistance of the Phizzfest Pit Stop Team of tradesmen. Both workshops take place in Panama Scout Hall to the rear of Phibsborough Library at 10am. There is a Follow up Race event on Community Day. Go-Kart Race Day – A time trial race around Mount Bernard Park will take place on Sunday 4th May at 2.30 pm

Teams must comprise of one adult (18+) and up to three children (8-12). Adults must attend with children at all times. Teams will be required to provide all materials, tools, protective clothing and equipment.

See www.phizzfest.ie for full details.

Easter Programme at Farmleigh

Farmleigh is running its popular annual Easter programme over the Easter weekend (Sat 19th and Sun 20th April).

Kids might like the puppet shows, storytelling, art workshops and the Easter Egg Hunt, Quiz and Challenge. The workshops, puppet shows and storytelling are free but spaces are limited. Tickets will be allocated on a first come first served basis on the day. There are usually big crowds at this so be prepared and go early to nab a place in the queue.

Lots on at IMMA this weekend

IMMA has lots on this weekend for kids and families.

Saturday 5 April

Learn how to DJ, (for children 7+)
12 noon – 2.00pm , The Project Spaces
Try out your skills as a DJ with DJ Simon Conway of Forza Italo and Wave Forza. Learn the fundamentals of DJing with vinyl records and try out a few DJ tricks on the decks.

Create your own Sound Art
12 noon – 4.00pm, The Project Spaces
Join artist Karl Burke to explore listening and to work together to create your own sound installation.

Make a large-scale Installation
12 noon – 4.00pm, IMMA Courtyard
Contribute to a large scale installation Making the Connection by artist Julian Wild in IMMA’s courtyard.

Sound Workshop, (for 13-18 year olds)
1.30–3.30pm, Studio and The Project Spaces
Meet artist Karl Burke to create your own sound compositions and meet DJ Simon Conway to learn the fundamentals of DJing and to learn a few DJ tricks!

Sunday 6 April

Light Rhythms family workshop
2.00–4.00pm, The Project Spaces
Join the family workshop Explorer to explore the Light Rhythms exhibition.

Mad Hatters Tea Party

The Mad Hatters Tea Party returns to Deerpark, Mount Merrion from 1pm to 5pm on Easter Sunday, April 20th. 

Back for its eighth year in a row, The Mad Hatters Tea Party celebrates the cute, the curious and downright unusual. A girl called Alice, a large White Rabbit, a Mad Hatter and other characters invite you not be late for the tea cup ride, giant chess, croquet and the “Hatwalk” fashion show for your maddest hats.  

Follow the clues on the Easter trail and win an Easter treat for your Tea Party on a picnic bench. The “Easter Make and Do” team will be there to help guests make their own Mad Hat.

We've been before and it is great fun...busy too.

Image source: http://www.dlrevents.ie/hatters14.html

BMX racing

Just found out this week about Dublin City BMX's HQ in Cherry Orchard - an indoor BMX racing track, which is currently trying to encourage younger riders to go along, check it out and get involved. Kids as young as three are going along to speed around on their balance bikes.  Kids are now down there 5 nights a week I am told and they are loving it. So if you are interested in finding out more, check out http://dcbmx.ie/

By the way, a new outdoor BMX racing track in St Catherines Park in Lucan is currently being constructed.


Photo Source: http://dcbmx.ie/pictures-2/

Ten14 Concert

World-famous Irish trad music legends Moya Brennan (Clannad) and Cormac De Barra (Harper) will be performing a lovely looking music show that they have created especially for children and families.

Commemorating 1000 years since the Battle of Clontarf, Ten14 uses music and lyrics to evoke the adventures of our first High King, Brian Boru, and his love of the harp.

Ten14 will be touring across Ireland following it's premiere at The Ark, Dublin.

Dublin gigs include:-

Sat 19th & Mon 21st April @ 2pm, The Ark, Temple Bar

Wed 23rd April @ 3pm, Draíocht, Blanchardstown

Sat 26th April @ 3pm, The Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray

Image Source: http://ark.ie/events/view/ten14