12 cool (and free!) things to do with the kids this Culture Night

Are you ready for Friday?

Culture Night is coming up this Friday, September 20th, and this year as previous years, the event offers tons to do for families. From Cork to Kilkenny, Galway, Dublin and Westmeath, there are events taking place up and down the country for Culture Night, many of these aimed at childre and young families. We have rounded up 12 workshops, shows and happenings across the country we think sounds like all sorts of fun, but if you want to find even more event, make sure to check the Culture Night website for more info on what is happening in your area:

Dublin

National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology See the Museum in a new light after dark and encounter glittering ancient gold, Egyptian mummies, Iron Age bog bodies, a Viking boat, swords, shields and much more! Challenge yourself to complete one of the free activity sheets which will be available to pick up in Main Museum Reception area. Suitable for all ages. Time: 5pm – 9pm GAA Museum, Croke Park What better way to enjoy the magic of Croke Park than by experiencing Ireland’s largest and most historic stadium under lights! Guided Tours of Croke Park will begin every 15 minutes from 5pm to 9pm on Friday 20th September. This is a free event but due to popularity, pre-registration is required online. Note: This event is free, but requires booking. Time: 5pm – 9pm Roald Dahl Themed Workshop, Mill Theatre Dundrum Have fun with a Roald Dahl Themed Drama Workshop! Ever wondered how books get from page to stage? Come and find out! Suitable for ages 6-10. Limited spaces so prebooking recommended. Dance Ireland Get dancing this Culture Night 2019! Dance Ireland is a professional dance organisation home to professional dance artists, companies, and evening dance classes for all. On this special occasion Dance Ireland open the doors to all to see their professional dance studios and enjoy all the dance workshops, performances and films taking place. 24 Foley St, Mountjoy, Dublin Start time: 4pm

Limerick

1. The Culture of Food  at HuntMuseum Experience the taste, smells and sights of The Culture of Food @HuntMuseum. Professional chefs will be ten cooking recipes submitted in our Cooking Culture Call-out to Limerick communities and you can take part in the Hunt Museum’s historical cooking objects tour, from sweetmeat dishes to wine sieves . This will be complimented by activities throughout the museum such as music, dancing, kids arts and crafts, coin stamping, loan boxes and the last chance to see Lavery and Osborne, which is FREE on Culture Night and to VanGoYourself. There will be food to eat from Nigeria, Syria, India, Philippines, Poland, Romania, France, Latvia and many other countries and posters with short stories from the person whose recipe it is. Accompanied by poems and stories about food mixed in with music and entertainment throughout the museum. Time: 5pm-10pm Children’s Speakers Corner, Limerick City Hall

Westmeath

Belvedere House Gardens and Park Enjoy free tours at Belvedere House, Gardens and Park on Friday 20th September to celebrate Culture Night: Belvedere by Day: 4-5.30pm – Free guided tour of Belvedere Parkland and Follies Belvedere by Night: 6-8pm – Free guided tour of Belvedere House and its hidden history.

Kilkenny

Sock puppet making: Theatre School Kilkenny/Thomastown Community Centre/ Bring your super-smelly, old, odd socks (the smellier the better) along to Thomastown Community Centre for Culture Night on the 20th September, 2019 and transform your stinky old sock into a thing of true beauty! After you turn your stinky sock into fantastic puppet, we will hear all about the character you have made and make up a story or two with these fabulous creations! Session 1: 5pm – 6:15pm and Session 2: 6:30pm – 7:45pm

Cork

Discover Fota Tour Step back in time at Fota House this Culture Night and meet the people who lived and worked at the property. Find out what made John Smith Barry ‘Magnificent’; meet Patty Butler, Fota’s last staff member; and find out why the Butler, Mr Russell, could never be mistaken for a gentleman. House Tours 4PM, 5PM and 6PM. To secure your place, please call 021 4815543 Time: 4pm – 7pm Graffiti Theatre Company Fighting Words Cork at Graffiti Theatre provides free tutoring and mentoring in creative writing to as many children and young people as we can reach. In this one-off workshop for 8-10 year olds, we will create a book, complete with original characters and illustrations during a two hour workshop. Delivered by our team of volunteer writing tutors, the workshop will take place at Graffiti Theatre in Blackpool. If the cranky editor, Mrs McConkey, can be persuaded, ash child will receive a free copy of the book they create together to take home. With a maximum of 25 participants, this two-hour writing workshop is a fun, inclusive and creative approach to story telling. Please note this workshop is strictly bookings only, and please arrive on time! Book via telephone 021 4397111 or email bookings@graffiti.ie Time: 5-6.30pm Location: Assumption Road, Blackpool For more events in your local area, please check the Culture Night website.