Brought to you by Cadbury Dairy Milk Buttons.
OK, we’re gonna officially announce that summer is finally HERE!
We know Irish weather is notoriously unreliable, but don’t let that stop you from having a ball with the family this weekend. If you’re clever you can sneak in a bit of cultural education disguised as entertainment; kind of like hiding veggies in your kid’s dinner. Welcome to your incredible shared moments of joy – in association with Cadbury Dairy Milk Buttons.
1) The Ark Cultural Centre, Temple Bar, Dublin: May 14 – June 25
Kids aged 2 to 12 can explore everything from theatre, music and literature to painting, film, dance and more. Book in for a Dabbledoo workshop, an exciting new way to make music with animation. Try Shakespeare’s Music Mix with authentic period instruments for a cheeky journey through the bard’s lifetime, complete with pirates, treasure maps and villains. Tickets start at €11/€8 for members.
2) Super Milk Wild Air Run (Dublin, Cork, Kilkenny, Galway, Belfast, Derry): June 3 – August 19
This slightly bonkers 5k event is a novel approach to a run! Featuring Ireland’s very first inflatable obstacle course, the Wild Air Run tours the country with race dates in multiple locations. Geared towards kids of 7 and older, the 10 obstacles on the course combine agility and creativity to satisfy those with a competitive streak. After a go on Europe’s longest slide, relax in the Chill Zone with seating, refreshments and music. Run registration online costs €32.50 for adults; €18.50 for children or a family pass for €80. Spectators are free. 
3) Baltimore Pirate Festival, Cork: June 16 – June 18
An attack by Algerian pirates in 1631 on the West Cork town of Baltimore provides a great excuse for a party in 2017. Pirates of all nationalities did naughty things along the coast of Roaring Water Bay, so a Pirate Festival seems appropriate. This weekend offers attractions for all ages, from a visit to the thirteenth century fully restored O’Driscoll Castle to the pirate dress competition, pirate boat trips, a family treasure hunt, and pirate bouncy castles and games.
4) BikeFest Family Cycling Festival, Cabinteely Park, Dublin: June 10 – June 18
Bikefest is a brand new event to promote National Bike Week. Treasure trails await on routes through the park, with a chance to win €1,200 worth of bike shop vouchers. Bike tune-ups; Bling Ur Bike decorations and street entertainers jazz up the event; there’s food on offer and a cycle stunt show by Savage Skills will showcase the stunts of Guinness Record-winning riders. The event is free for all the family, so get on yer bike! 
5) Cork Midsummer Festival: June 18 – June 25
The banks of the Lee play host to Cork’s biggest annual multi-disciplinary arts festival, with loads of national and international theatre and music events. The atmosphere is always fantastic, with family favourite the Picnic in the Park; live music and entertainment popping up all over the city. Dynamic dance group Prodijig will be stomping up a storm at the Opera House, one of many events on the fun-filled programme.
Colouring; puzzles; recipes, and more: our HerFamily Shared Moments Of Joy PDF will keep your littles ones entertained for hours. You can find it here.
And if you have a child aged six years or older, make sure to enter our amazing Cadbury Dairy Milk Buttons competition to be in with a chance of winning a spot on our adventure day out at the Lough Allen Centre on June 22. Activities on the day include the likes of archery, rafting, and paddle-boarding. That’s not all: all participants will be awarded a goodie bag and certificate. All you have to do is fill out the form below:
