5 cool things to do with the kids before school starts back next week
The end of summer is nigh, and as we all prepare for back-to-school time, it's easy to forget that there are still a few days of freedom left that we shouldn't waste.
While our days are fast filling up with trips to the uniform shop or Easons, it's important to squeeze in a little more family-time – a last hooray, as they say, before routines and dark evenings.
So this weekend, why not check out the following events – they're fun, family-friendly and most of them are free.
1. Dublin Fun Fest
Dublin Fun Fest promises to be an invigorating event from start to finish with lots of fun activities for visitors of all ages.
Taking place in Smithfield Square on Sunday, 27th August, the festival will invite young sports enthusiasts to test their skills in the kiddies’ decathlon, challenge their friends and family on the balance buddy and bean bag toss or take part in a Zumba class.
There will also be a number of tasty food offerings from crêpes to Brazilian BBQs, as well as a variety of inflatable games on offer including basketball shoot-out, sumo wrestling inflatable ring, bouncy boxing ring, soccer penalty shoot out and giant Jenga.
Dublin Fun Fest opens from 12 to 5pm.
For more information, visit www.dublinfunfest.ie.
2. IFI Family Festival
Round off your family summer with some of the IFI’s great festival films! In their animal-packed programme, there will be talking cats, teaching frogs, racing buffaloes and loyal dogs.
Taking place on August 25th, 26th and 27th, the film adventures come from around the world, so there will be some special guests to help with subtitles if you need them, and a chance for all to read and swap stories too!
Individual tickets for all films cost €5, including the opening night event.
A family ticket (feature films and shorts programmes) is €15.00 for 2 adults and 2 children, or 1 adult and 3 children.
Workshops cost €15 – €20 each.
From more information, visit www.ifi.ie.
3. Ukulele Hooley 26th, 27th
The Ukulele Hooley will feature workshops and an open-topped bus full of ukulele players (for an afternoon of ukulele playing, busking and touring the beautiful coastline and harbours around Dún Laoghaire).
There will also be a Ukulele Hooley Open Mic Night on the Saturday, where you get to bring your own uke. This is the opportunity for you or your ukulele group to play in front of a receptive and supportive audience and perform those songs you’ve been working on so hard!
Sunday will see The Big Ukulele Hooley Concert In The People’s Park taking place – an eight-hour-long free concert featuring some of the ukulele world’s most talented artists and groups.
The concert will go on all through the day and into the evening so bring your family and friends and have a great day out while relaxing to the magical sound of the ukulele.
For more information, visit www.ukulelehooley.com/
4. Last of the Summer Fling
Taking place in Killruddery on Sunday, 27th August from 11.00am to 4.00pm, here families can say goodbye to the summer with a day of traditional games, including egg and spoon races, sack racing, wheelbarrow races, welly-throwing competitions and much more.
Ticket prices:
Adult – €7.50
Children under 12 – €2.00
Children under 4 – free.
(All children must be accompanied by an adult)
For more information, visit www.killruddery.com
5. Galway Heritage Week
Each year, during the last week of August, many national and hundreds of local community organisations participate by organising events throughout the country. Many of the events that take place during the week are free and the programme highlights the abundance of great work that is carried out in all communities in Ireland to preserve and promote our natural, built and cultural heritage.
Galway’s rich heritage is set to be celebrated in a range of events across the city and county as part of National Heritage Week. Over 100 different events are planned from Ballinasloe to Inishbofin and will take in everything from genealogy workshops to talks on the history of the Connemara pony.
For more information, visit www.thisisgalway.ie