Dare I say it? It's starting to feel a lot like...
There has been very little, if any, rain over the last week, and with sun forecast for the Bank Holiday weekend, it's a perfect time for some sizzling fun family days out.
There are loads of local festivals taking place over the long weekend as well as some family friendly places to visit. Below are some ideas from all around the country.
Have fun, but don't forget the sunscreen!
Open daily for the summer
A visit to Newgrange Farm is the perfect family day out with a large open paddock providing plenty of space to roam free and explore, as well as fun activities including sand pit, go karts, straw maze and much more.
Open daily
The Blue Imagination Playground returns to Fota Wildlife Park this Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 12 - 4 pm each day when you want to take a break from watching the animals lounging around in the sun!
Open daily for the summer
Head over to Skypark and soak up the warm sun while trying to find the way out of Ireland's Ancient East Maze or have an aerial adventure with cargo nets, skateboards, giant log swings, monkey bars, and ziplines.
World of Soil | Airfield Estate
Open Daily, except Mon/Tue in June
Explore the fascinating world beneath your feet in a new interactive exhibit at Airfield Estate.
Discover the importance of soil on a journey through the different layers, its formation, its uses in agriculture and how it is affected by human activity and climate change with hands-on activities and engaging displays.
As it's included in your admission, you now have another great reason to visit Airfield Estate.
Open daily for the summer
A fun family day out down the farm with games area, pet farm and a spectacular new outdoor playground...with a large indoor play area just in case!
Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival
May 26th - June 4th, 2023
This fantastic festival near the beautiful Causeway Coast is a week long celebration of local culture that brings together a rich mix of activities and events both on the sea and on land.
May 28th - June 4th, 2023
A fantastic start of summer event in beautiful Balbriggan featuring many fun family activitis incuding the popular Duck Derby and spectacular fire-work display.
May 31st - June 10th, 2023
Ireland’s oldest Literary and Arts Festival returns this weekend where writers, artists and poets congregate in the beautiful heritage town of Listowel, in County Kerry with literary panel discussions, moderated talks, poetry readings, interviews, cultural tours, walks and concludes with Cruinniú na nÓg - Little Squirrels Workshop on Saturday, 10th, a creative well-being workshop for children aged 4-10 years old with Katie O’Donoghue.
31st May - June 3rd, 2023, Cavan/Monaghan; 6th-7th, 2023, Carlow; 8th-9th, 2023, Cork; 20th, 2023, Dublin
The SongTales sa Spéir tour continues to unleash the magic of music to over 10,000 children in 15 different counties in May & June from a fully equipped mobile stage. Ceol Connected’s tour of SongTales sa Spéir is funded by the Arts Council of Ireland and supported by local Music Generation partnerships. The SongTales sa Spéir tour follows the successful launch of Ceol Connected’s new SongTales box, Ireland’s only music and creativity box designed to nurture children’s imagination and development.
The SongTales box draws on over 10 years’ experience of developing workshops, albums, touring productions and festivals for children. In total, 22 artists including musicians, visual artists, puppeteers, illustrators and theatre-makers have helped create the music album, videos, stories, illustrations and arts activities that can be found in each box.
June 1st - June 5th, 2023
At the centrepiece of Bord Bia Bloom 2023, is the feature small, medium, and large show gardens that give you some ideas around the latest trends including a focus this year on spaces for children and young people. That and the delicious local food and interactive entertainment for visitors of all ages make this the perfect start to summer for all the family.
Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival
June 1st - 4th, 2023
The 19th annual Rory Gallagher International Festival take place in Ballyshannon, County Donegal over the June Bank Holiday weekend. Music fans from all over the world will descend on the town to enjoy thirty acts on fifteen Stages over four days including Michael Schenker, Eric Gales Band, Laurence Jones Band and many more.
June 1st - 5th, 2023
Carrick Carnival is an action-packed five day festival in Carrick on Shannon, Co. Leitrim with an eclectic mix of amazing street entertainment, live music, street parades, fireworks, dance shows, air displays, traditional amusements and incredible evening events such the ever popular taste of Carrick.
June 2nd - June 3rd, 2023
Revealing Grangegorman is a jam packed two day celebration and fun for all ages taking place in Grangegorman that will feature an open campus, with free educational and historic talks and tours to demonstrate the cultural heritage of Grangegorman on Friday with a family fun day on Saturday from 12pm-4pm featuring Grangegorman Alien Mystery, outdoor cinema, food and drinks, carnival rides and more.
June 2nd - June 5th, 2023
The Vintage Carousel Company will be in Dún na Sí Heritage Park this weekend where you can enjoy Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Vintage Ferris Wheel, Chair-O-Planes plus many more!
Cowboys and Heroes Country Music & Americana Festival
June 2nd - June 5th, 2023
Cowboys and Heroes returns to Drumcoura City Ranch this weekend for four days of country music, folk, western horse shows, barrel racing and food and entertainment for the whole family with performances by Derek Ryan, The Whistlin’ Donkeys, Mike Denver, The Tumbling Paddies, Johnny Brady, All Folk'd Up and Robert Mizzell and a fun family day on Bank Holiday Monday featuring toy tractor run, children's line dancing and disco, magic show, live music and more.
KFest: Killorglin Arts Festival
June 2th - 5th, 2023
Each June bank holiday weekend the town of Killorglin Co. Kerry is transformed into a major hub of culture and creativity, with over 60 events taking place including workshops, music events, craft markets and lots of family events including Fairy Trail and Guido Fanzini's Impossible Circus.
June 2nd - 11th, 2023
Cork Harbour Festival returns with Ireland’s largest celebration of maritime culture, heritage and family fun activities across ten fun-filled days with over 80 events in 12 beautiful locations across Cork City and County.
The flagship event Ocean to City - An Rás Mór, Ireland’s most ambitious rowing and paddling race will add colour and spectacle for all to enjoy on Saturday 3rd of June but other events include sailing, SUPing, kayaking, walks, talks, cycle tours, fun and free outdoor games, a floating classroom and many more family friendly events
June 2nd - 3th, 2023
The Ballymoney Show is a popular two-day event that attracts thousands of people to Northern Ireland and the famous North Shore coast.
In addition to the hundred plus trade stands, there will be over 1,000 animals being judged on the Saturday, including horses and ponies, cattle, sheep and goats. There is also a Dog & Pet Show on the Friday evening, floral and cookery demonstrations and cookery competitions in the Food Village, face painting, puppet shows, children’s fancy dress, Bonny Baby competitions bouncy castles as well as lots of musical entertainment to enjoy.
June 2nd - 4th, 2023
A weekend of events in the seaside town of Youghal where Melville’s Moby Dick Novel was committed to film over 60 years ago including street music and Ceilí, storytelling, treasure hunts, open air markets and the monster teddy bears picnic in Greenpark at 3pm on Sunday 4th.
June 2nd - June 4th, 2023
This year's edition of The Cat Laughs Comedy Festival will be a little different with some brilliant standups from England, Scotland and Wales who’ve never played in Ireland or Kilkenny before - as well as some of your favourite Irish comedians. Spoilt for choice, you are!
June 2th - 5th, 2023
Highlighting their village history and heritage with a fun, interactive & family friendly festival this weekend featuring Heritage Runs, Heritage Talks, Funfair, Food & Craft Fair, Fancy Dress, Free Childrens Workshops, a Reenactment Viking Village, Archery Range, displays in Basket Making, Beekeeping, Weaving, Pottery, Medieval Cooking, Viking Weaponry and more.
June 2nd - June 3rd, 2023
Forbidden Fruit returns this weekend as the first festival of the summer marking their 10th anniversary on the grounds of the Irish Museum Of Modern Art at the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham featuring performances from Central Cee, Annie Mac, Eric Prydz and many more.
June 4th, 2023
Since the inaugural event in 1983 when there were 9,000 entries, it has grown into the largest all-women’s event of its kind in the world with over 1.1 million runners to date helping to raise over €230 million for charities throughout Ireland. Get out and cheer the runners and walkers on Bank Holiday Sunday from 2pm.
North West Clare Agricultural Show
June 4th, 2023
The annual North West Clare Agricultural Show returns to Ennistymon on Sunday 4th packed full of a range of animal classes, home produce,arts and crafts as well as bale rolling, bonny baby, dog show and lots more.
Innishannon Steam & Vintage Rally
June 4th - 5th, 2023
The 26th Innishannon Steam Rally will take place on June Bank Holiday weekend in Innishannon Village, Cork. It will continue Innishannon's over fifty-year association with the steam and vintage rally and include Steam Engines, Cars, Tractors, Fire Engines, Vintage Farm Machinery, Rural Crafts & lots of family entertainment.
First published on RTE.ie/Lifestyle
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