Family-friendly festivals for May and June, kicking off THIS weekend

Fabulous break-away from the normal routine with the smurfs in tow? Ah ya. Heading to a trusted venue be it a club, social occasion or public event and finding it caters for each and every one of your needs? Score. For jazz sounds to electro-beats just cancel those tickets to Havana ‘cos we got it right here baby. 

Canalophonic

When May 8 – 9th this weekend.
Where Portobello and Rathmines, Dublin South City.
Why For the bands, the kids area, the comedy and the boutique market. The Hot Sprockets, Gavin Glass and Holy Shakers, Sinéad White, The 20-piece Stomptown Brass band and more are performing. Supported by Dublin C.C including gigs on a barge and in 22 other areas in an around those two boroughs it set to be way cool. Venues include Café Moda, Two Fifty Square, Lock 6, Mother Reilly’s, The Blackbird Pub, Slatterys, The Bernard Shaw, and more.

Pay FREE
Stay In your own house if you are a local (the cheekiness) or the nearby Travelodge at Stephens Green is spot on.
More info here 

Uisneach Fire Festival

When May 9th 2 – 11.30pm
Where Co Wesmeath (between Athlone and Mullingar)
Why Uisneach is Ireland’s most recorded, ancient Bealtaine festival. The fire festival is a melange of great music, face-painting, balloon modelling, yoga, and a massive fire celebration. The festival focuses on maintaining the Leave No Trace  principals during the course of the events. Kids can experience a meditation or drama workshop, and there’s a traditional Irish games area too. Bands include Moxie, Mary Coughlan, and the Máirtín O’Connor Band.
Food Artisan local food galore
Pay Under 12’s FREE. Adults, €25 each
Stay B&B’s nearby
More here

Wicklow Arts Festival

When May 22 – 24th.
Where Co Wicklow.
Why: ‘Just a Guy’ will be there with his amazing street performing stunts. The workshops for kids are literally epic: A comic illustration workshop; street art and physical theatre performance by LulLu’s World; a food market complete with chocolate fountain; and a children’s theatre puppetry performance that incorporates trapeze and acrobatics? Listen, we know – brilliant. Tamborine and Roses music from Italy and Wild Dance Showcase who are simply class will be taking to the festival stage to entertain your socks off.

Pay: FREE peeps.
Stay: Hotel option B&B option.
More here

Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival

When June 12 – 14th.
Where Octagon, Westport Town, Mayo
Why The House Devils, The Henry Girls, The Down and Out Bluegrass Band, Lena Ullman, Rayna Gellert, Demolition String Band, Flats and Sharps. And Mayo is unreal. Tick the bucket list and climb Croagh Patrick just up the road and visit the infinite Blue Flags en route. The Erris walking track is a famous and spectacular part of The Great Western Way and worth a cycle. Prepare a picnic, rent bikes – you are winning. [I know you love me].

Pay €15 each.
Stay Hotel option B&B option.
More here.

Dublin Kite Festival

When Sunday June 14th.
Where North Bull Island Clontarf.
Why The outdoors. With Kites. And free organised entertainment? There is no need to elaborate. I will though. You may enjoy lunch-box, tie-die and pasta kite-making workshops with tiny people and the ‘Smallest Kite in the World’ kite-making demonstration. Kite enthusiasts will be showing off their stunt skills and competing for awards namely ‘Most Aerodynamic’, ‘Most Beautiful’ and ‘Funniest’ category is sure to woo you into a dizzy happy place. The boogie and land-kiting workshop by professional riders sound amazing, and a must-see on the day. Boom.

Pay FREE peeps.
Stay Hotel option B&B option.
More here

Body and Soul

When June 19 – 21st.
Where Ballinlough Castle, Co Westmeath.
Why Late-night funky disco beats into the wee hours in the middle of the woods, new and alternative music and performance art in a non-traditional setting. Leftfield, Super Furry Animals, Nightmares on Wax, Lamb, Shit Robot and other greats. But if you want to make it strictly family-friendly, you’ll be hanging at at the Soul Kids area, which has been running for over two years now – it’s jam-packed with entertaining coolness for the smurfs in the family camping area. And imagine the quirkiness of a moonlight Masquerade Ball on the Saturday night where both the babes and you can dress-up?  Anything goes, so bring feathers, glitter, face-paint and fantastically-printed tights and you’ll fit right in. Yes. Great.

Pay Best Value: €139 for 3-day pp camping ticket.
Stay Hotel option B&B option.
More here and check out our recent piece on the festival here 

Groove Festival 

When July 5 – 6th.
Where Kilruddery, Co Wicklow.
Why Delorentos, Little Hours, The Riptide Movement, Kila and so many more but, our personal favourites Spring Break will be in attendance so you may dance and shake what your momma gave you with the kiddies. There is endless fun in the Enchanted Garden for children to play safely with a superb lineup of activities from 2.30pm – 9pm on both days. The kids receive wristbands from supervisors who are present all the time while they are aqua sphering, climbing walls and getting their faces painted. Totally jealous I am not a kid.
Pay €49.50 plus booking fee.
Stay B&B Options.
More here

Bloom Festival

When May 28 – June 1st.
Where Phoenix Park.
Why 25 captiviating gardens oozing colour, and chic DIY ideas for your own humble abode. Live entertainment at the picnic area in the Craft Village will be a hoot, and an exhibition of Ireland’s top floral artists will blow you away. There is also a Food Village, yes ‘village’, and a Budding Bloomers activity area to keep your little children happy all day long. Bookmark it peeps.
Pay €20.25 and kids go FREE.
Stay Staycity apartments are great for families or the Aisling Hotel closeby is nice.
More here 

Have fun and tell us what you thought were the best bits or send your family snaps: [email protected].