Things to do in June in Dublin and surrounding areas

I have put together a list of things to do with your family in June in Dublin and surrounding areas. I find sometimes when you are looking for things to do you totally forget what is on so this is a handy guide that you can keep coming back to. Some events are a little drive outside Dublin but I have linked all events so you can see where they are and what suits you best. Hope it gives you some ideas of things to do!

National Museum of Ireland

Saturday 1st June – Sunday 30th June 2019

We bring history to life for over a million visitors every year. At our three Dublin sites and one in Mayo, the National Museum of Ireland (NMI) holds the national collections of Archaeology, Decorative Arts, History, Ethnography, Folklife and Natural History in trust for the people of Ireland. Our mission is to put people – visitors, staff and partners – at the centre of all that we do, and engage with them in new and creative ways. And with over four million objects in our collections, we have a continual source of inspiration for our programmes.

Please click on the link below to discover all the events taking place across the four Museum sites.

https://www.museum.ie/Visit-Us/Events

Malahide Castle Fairy Trail

Open all year round

Malahide Castle

Malahide

Co. Dublin

With fun sculptures, fairy houses and lots of other hidden gems to find, little visitors are invited to use the interactive booklet to solve clues and answer questions on their way around the trail.

Tickets for the Fairy Trail can be booked online in advance or bought on the day in our Visitor Centre. If you buy online, don’t forget to pick up the booklets from the Visitor Centre before you start the Trail.

Important Notes for Grown-Ups

The Trail is open all year around from 9:30am. Last entry is at until 4:30pm in the summer season (April to October) and 3:00pm in winter (November to March).

Children under four go free!

The trail is around 1.8km long and takes approximately an 1hr 15 minutes to complete… Although time flies when having fun with fairies!

The trail is along an aggregate pathway. We recommend you stick to the path to avoid any accidents or injuries!

We would like our Fairy Trail to be an experience for all to enjoy for many years to come and so we kindly ask you to prevent any climbing on the fairy displays.

Malahide Castle and Gardens tickets include entry to the Fairy Trail on the West Lawn. Interactive trail booklets are available at the Admissions Desk and priced at €2 each. Tickets for the Fairy Trail only are also available.

Hungry fairy spotters take note: all Fairy Trail ticket holders can enjoy 25% off children’s meals at the Avoca café in the Visitor Centre!

Buy your tickets for the Fairy Trail now.

https://www.malahidecastleandgardens.ie/fairy-trail/

Explorium Ireland

Opening Hours:

Science & Sport: Mon – Fri 3pm – 6pm.

Sat + Sun 10am – 6pm.

Junior : Mon – Fri 9.30am – 5pm.

Sat + Sun 10am – 6pm.

Find us just off exit 13/14 on the M50 South or Northbound OPPOSITE LAMB DOYLES, Blackglen Road, Sandyford, Dublin D18 N1F2

A key philosophy at Explorium is to challenge both mind and body so we have also created sporting areas that will encourage our visitors to push their limits.

Find more information on their website below:

https://www.explorium.ie/?fbclid=IwAR1OyIu3fPH6H0zuH5F7qp2vNCVheH4j872xert1d8ZYDXYhy2h2JG7N-7s

Grandparents go free at Imaginosity each term-time Tuesday

Tuesday 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th June 2019

Imaginosity

Dublin Children’s Museum

Beacon South Quarter

Sandyford

Dublin 18

Don’t forget Grandparents go FREE each term time Tuesday at Imaginosity, Dublin Children’s Museum!

https://www.facebook.com/events/303347713843520/

Babies love Books – Tallaght Library

Every Thursday 10.00am – 11.00am

Tallaght Library

Tallaght

Dublin 24

Join us in the library every Thursday at 10.00am for our Babies Love Books sessions. Come along for this free hour of songs, stories and play! All welcome.

https://m.facebook.com/Tallaghtlibrary/photos/a.430553871702/10157057044211703/?type=3

Children Art Classes – Botanic Gardens

Saturday 8th June 11.00am – 12.30pm and 2.00pm – 4.00pm

Botanic Gardens

Glasnevin

Dublin 9

*10 Euro per child. Booking Essential Call 01 857 0909*

Budding Artists

Join our ‘budding’ artists, a creative workshop especially for younger children taking place once a month, under the attentive eye of artist Niamh Synnott. Children are encouraged to take a closer look at the natural world all around them to inspire fun art-making activities. Suitable for 4 to 7 year olds.

Time: 11.00am-12.30pm. Meet at the Education and Visitor Centre

Cost: €10. Booking Essential

Hardy Annuals

Why not join us for a guided discovery of the natural world where you can observe, engage, and be inspired by your surroundings. Participants in this art programme will be encouraged to use materials in fun and interesting ways while taking inspiration from the world of plants on show at Glasnevin. Suitable for 8 to 12 year olds.

Time: 2.00pm – 4.00pm. Meet at the Education and Visitor Centre

Cost: €10. Booking Essential

https://www.facebook.com/events/814105685599269/

ChildVision Annual Garden Party 2019

Saturday 8th June 12.00pm – 4.00pm

ChildVision

Grace Park Road

Drumcondra

Dublin 9

Join us for our annual thank you for our families, friends and wonderful donors.

There will be something for everyone in the family including Pony Rides, Bouncy Castles, Ice Cream, Strawberries and Cream. Learn to ‘Braille Your Name’, join in ‘Explore the Senses‘ Workshops, pop by the Garden Centre for bargain plant or two, visit Pets’ Corner and see if you can spot the Fairies in our Fairy Village.

It’s a fun, free day for young and old, blind and sighted!

All welcome…bring your friends. Admission is Free!

https://www.facebook.com/events/231915927684256/

Forest Families at Dublin Zoo

Saturday 8th June 10.00am – 12.00pm

Dublin Zoo

Phoenix Park

Dublin 8

‘Forest Families’ is a new programme which takes place in our wonderful mini-forest called the Wild Space in Dublin Zoo. It is a fun hands-on family learning experience where you will discover lots about nature. Each session is different, so it is a good idea to come to all four, but individual sessions can be booked too. You and your little ones can learn about trees, biodiversity, pollinators and birds.

Forest Families is open to families with children aged between 4 and 12. In each session you will have facilitation from an expert teacher, work from a bespoke family worksheet and have lots of follow up activities to do in your local park. In each session you will be given a set of resources to help you discover more in nature.

Tickets can be bought in a bundle of 4 sessions

or on an individual basis.

Bundle: http://bit.ly/ForestFamiliesBundle

Individual dates: http://bit.ly/ForestFamiliesIndividual

https://www.facebook.com/events/2280602975305024/

Young Chef 2019 – Airfield Estate

Sunday 9th June 10.00am – 12.30pm

Airfield Estate

Overhand Way

Dundrum

Dublin 14

Is your child a budding chef or do they love to help you out in the kitchen?

Our kids’ cookery classes might be right up their street! All classes are suitable for 8-12 year olds who love all things food! Each class is based on a seasonal theme and will begin by exploring what’s available in the garden and will then move on to prepare and cook a selection of themed recipes.

Classes will be led by our education team in a relaxed and fun environment which will allow the children to see the process of food from farm to fork and get hands-on, learning kitchen safety and correct utensil care.

There is a charge of €25 per workshop (€22 for Airfield Estate members) and the day will run from 10 am – 12.30 pm.

If you would like to book all 11 classes for a reduced rate of €250 and €220 for Airfield Estate members, then please phone 01 969 6666 (options 1)

https://www.facebook.com/airfieldestate/photos/gm.370494380372925/1891393417634983/?type=3&theater

Dublin Kite Festival

Sunday 11th June 11.00am – 5.00pm

Dollymount Strand

Dublin

Fun, fresh air and frolics abound! The annual Dublin Kite Festival is taking place on Sunday 9th June 2019 at North Bull Islandl, Clontarf. With free entertainment all day long, it is the perfect way to spend a summer Sunday with family and friends. International kite masters will be present including Andrew Beattie.

Demonstrating his prowess will be Kite Master Andrew Beattie. On stage will be Deric Ó h’Artagáin of Virgin Media TV and Francois Colussi of Pure Magic Watersports. Toots Malahide will be on-site to assist with transporting little ones. 98FM Thunders will be playing beach games and face painting. And….. the skies will be filled with colour. Lots & lots of kites. Limelight Communications will be running free kite making workshops all day.

Brought to you by Dublin City Council & Dublin City Council Events Section, Entertainment with Pure Magic Watersports. Gymboree Play & Music Ireland & 98FM

https://www.facebook.com/events/2371795262844327/

Tiny Tots Tuesday: SENSEable Tots – EPIC

Tuesday 11th June 10.30am – 12.00pm

EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum

Custom House Quay

Dublin D01 T6K4

EPIC is peppered with tales of messers and mischief-makers across the Irish diaspora!

Join their ranks in this messy play session with Karen from SENSEable Tots, who will be running another fun sensory workshop for your little ones.

Learn through sensory play and exploration at this session, and be sure to wear clothes suitable for mess and mayhem! There will be free tea and coffee provided by Bakehouse CHQ, as well as some lovely treats and a chance to sit back, relax and have a chat with other local families.

This event is suitable for children aged 6 months – 3.5 Years.

https://www.facebook.com/events/175202693378789/

Cruinniú na nÓg: Kids Curate & Code Workshop EPIC

Saturday 15th June 11.00am – 1.00pm

EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum

Custom House Quay

Dublin D01 T6K4

Love museums? Think you have what it takes to be the next big (or little) curator?

Join EPIC Museum and the Irish Family History Centre for Cruinniú na nÓg in this creative workshop, where you’ll design your very own mini-digital museum! Perfect for budding art, coding or culture enthusiasts, we’ll be using simple software such as Scratch and basic HTML/CSS to create your own interactive museum game and website.

Whether you’re mad about history, genealogy, natural history, sport, art or science, watch your museum come to life before your eyes!

The workshop will last for 2 hours (with a short break) and is suitable for children aged 8 – 14 years. 1x ticket required for each child attending and children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian at all times during the workshop. A ticket grants access to the workshop only, not to EPIC Museum or the Irish Family History Centre.

Special offer: Want to see EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum while you’re here? Kids get 20% off entry with this ticket!

https://www.facebook.com/events/599647897178716/

Baby rave The Ark

Sunday 16th June 11.30am – 12.45pm, 1.30pm – 2.45pm and

The Ark

11a Eustace Street

Dublin 2

Baby Rave! Like you’ve never seen it before! For children aged 0-4. Part of Right Here Right Now! A Festival of Children

The Ark is delighted to present Belfast’s Young at Art with their hugely popular Baby Rave! A unique dance and music event for you to boogie to the beat with your baby in a fun-filled and playful rave experience which will take place in Temple Bar’s Smock Alley Theatre.

Set in an ambient club environment, complete with beautiful visuals, soft materials and sensory toys. Dust off your dancing shoe and re-live your dancing days to some familiar uplifting tunes.

https://www.facebook.com/events/387551495303500/

Young Farmer Classes – Airfield Estate

Sunday 21st June 10.00am – 12.30pm

Airfield Estate

Overhand Way

Dundrum

Dublin 14

Perfect for animal lovers and outdoor explorers, we’re running a series of classes for young farmers aged 8-12.

Each class will focus on the farm animals at Airfield Estate. Our team will be working with the young farmers as they get hands-on with life on our farm, learning about our animals and how they’re cared for.

2019 classes will take place on;

Sunday 21st July

Sunday 22nd September

Cost: €20 per workshop (€18 for Airfield Estate members) and each day will run from 10 am – 12 pm.

If you would like to book in for all 4 workshops please call us directly on 01 969 6666 and save.

https://www.facebook.com/events/487539231768275/

The Harbour – Midsummer Arts Festival Naas

Saturday 22nd June 12.00pm – 6.00pm

The Harbour

Naas

Co. Kildare

Once again this year we will be continuing our water based activities with the hugely popular Zorbing and Kayaking and other water activities from Naas Adventure Sports. We will have a DJ playing all the hits and Jumping Jack performing his magic show a couple of time over the afternoon.

https://www.facebook.com/events/431788520919265/

Young Growers – Airfield Estate

Sunday 23rd June – 10.00am – 12.30pm

Airfield Estate

Overhand Way

Dundrum

Dublin 14

This NEW class is designed for enthusiastic gardeners aged 5-8!

7th April: In our first workshop, children will tour the gardens of Airfield to learn about what’s growing at this time of year. They will learn about gardening routines and gardening tools and make their own mini terrarium to take home.

23rd June: In this workshop, our budding gardeners will learn how to identify herbs and other plants by sight, taste and smell. They will learn the culinary and medicinal uses of flowers and herbs and will make their own herbal infusion.

7th July: Bees and insects play a really important role in making sure we have delicious fruits and vegetables to eat. In this workshop, we will go into the garden to observe the world of bees, and learn how they make honey and why it is so important for us to protect them. We will also plant a bee-friendly flower to take home and hunt for bugs in the woodlands.

1st September: Most of the food we eat comes from the soil, so every aspiring gardener needs to know about the earth beneath our feet. In this workshop, we will investigate all things soil including carrying out a soil experiment and painting with soil.

If you would like to book all 4 classes at a reduced rate of €95 (€85 for members) please phone us on 01 969 6666, select option 1.

https://www.facebook.com/airfieldestate/photos/gm.407862433126578/2021660434608280/?type=3&theater

Flavours of south Dublin – Rathfarnham Castle

Sunday 23rd June 11.00am – 6.00pm

Rathfarnham Castle

Rathfarnham

Dublin 16

The Flavours of South Dublin Food Festival is scheduled to take place in Rathfarnham Castle Park on Sunday 23 June from 11.00 am – 6.00 pm. This unique food festival will showcase the very best cuisine from the locality, and aims to highlight the diversity and vibrancy of the food culture in the county. This is the second year of the festival, it is free to attend and guarantees to be a great day out for the whole family.

https://www.facebook.com/events/481742822568480/

Kaleidoscope 2019 Music and Arts Festival

Friday 28th June 12.00pm – Sunday 30th June 11.30pm

Russborough House and Gardens

Blessington

Co. Wicklow

Join us for a three day and three night sleep-over at Ireland’s first family camping festival with a very special Early Bird offer for a family of four for only €105.75

(inc. booking fee, camping, valid up until 1st May 2019)

A tantalising festival world awaits family and friends, as Russborough House in Blessington swings open its gates for its first EVER festival on the 28th – 30th June. Kaleidoscope Festival will provide three days of high energy, full colour, multi–stage entertainment over 16 stages, designed to entice and enthrall all, from babes in arms to those eligible for a bus pass!

Born out of Electric Picnic, Kaleidoscope harnesses the magic of Picnic’s entertainment and family campsites, tailoring the overall festival experience to the desires of the festival-going family and bringing the essence of Electric Picnic to a brand-new venue. Kaleidoscope heralds a new era of programming for the sophisticated taste of modern parents, discerning kids and all-knowing teens!

Our extensive creative programme has been tailored to cater for each and every member of the modern Irish family. Kaleidoscope offers specific programs for ‘smallies’, for 4-8, 8-12 and 12-16 year olds, together with all the festival favourites for adults of all ages! Children and teen programmes will take place within Russborough’s walled garden and an utterly enchanting fairy fort located on the forest’s edge.

Every element of the programme has been carefully selected because it is thought provoking, interactive and inspirational, as well as hugely entertaining! We are delighted to welcome Fighting Words, Science Gallery and herpetological hobbiest Collie Ennis to the creative team – specialists and enthusiasts in their fields and world leading innovators in inspirational learning.

And that’s not all – parents with babes in arms can bust some moves in the Baby Disco. For the energetic at heart – a feast of urban and adventure sports, water sports, morning runs and other endorphin inducing activities. Sooth your mind and body with our wellness program which includes meditation, Tai Chi and yoga. Our woodland spa offers access to a selection of massage treatments, hot tubs and seaweed baths. The Scrumdiddlyumptious Festival of Food is a feast of fun for everyone! And all of this in addition to the arts festival favourites of theatre, spoken word, visual art, circus, cinema, comedy and music. Kaleidoscope is a veritable feast of full family participation!

It is no accident that Kaleidoscope’s gates open the very day schools finish for the summer, giving families the opportunity to move straight from the classroom to the campsite and start their summers off with a bang!

An expansive 200 acre estate located just 20km from Dublin in Co. Wicklow, just off the N81, Kaleidoscope is designed to make the entire festival experience as seamless as possible.

And with this in mind, for the first time EVER in Ireland, Kaleidoscope will also offer ‘Car Camping’, reducing the trek from the car to the campsite to mere feet! Extremely popular in the USA, ‘Car Camping’ simply means that you load up all of your gear for the festival in your car, pull into your campsite and set up your tent on a designated tent pitch beside your car, putting an end to the laborious tasks of carrying gear back and forwards to some remote location. And there will be the usual availability of Boutique camping and Pink Moon camping that we have long come to associate with Electric Picnic.

Join us at Kaleidoscope Festival on the 28th, 29th & 30th of June for an absolutely epic weekend of family fun – let’s make memories!

GET INVOLVED: Kaleidoscope Festival – JOIN THE CARNIVAL OF COLOUR!!

If you are a street performer, visual artist, performance artist, craft market operator, high quality food operator, sponsor or would like to volunteer, we want to hear from you! Please see our website for details of how to apply.

On sale: Tuesday 16th April from Ticketmaster.ie

THREE DAY CAMPING TICKETS : (The below prices include booking fee)

EARLY BIRD TICKETS

Weekend camping tickets for a family of four-2 adults & 2 children under 18years of age.

Valid until midnight 1st May 2019. Subject to availability.

Early Bird Family ticket €105.75

FULL PRICE

Adult camping €125.75

12-18 yrs camping €75.75

6-12 yrs €54.35

2-6 yrs €33.65

THREE DAY NON-CAMPING TICKETS

Full price

Adult Non-camping €106.50

12-18 yrs Non-camping €65.20

6-12 yrs Non-camping €48.70

2-6 yrs Non-camping €28.00

ONE DAY TICKETS

Friday, Saturday or Sunday

Full Price

Adult one day non-camping €54.35

12-18 yrs one day non-camping €38.70

6-12 yrs one day non-camping €27.50

2-6 yrs one day non-camping €17.50

Kaleidoscope Festival is delighted to offer a special discounted rate to those who have previously attended Electric Picnic

Loyalty Ticket Codes will be sent via email by Ticketmaster and are valid for use for a limited time only until Midnight on Sunday 12th May

www.kaleidoscopefestival.ie

Family Concert: Peter and the Wolf with Westland Wind Quintet –

Sunday 29th June 11.30am – 12.30pm and 1.00pm – 2.00pm

National Concert Hall

Earlsfort Tce

Dublin 2

Expect to be enthralled by the timeless story of Peter and his dealings with the crafty Wolf by Sergej Prokofiev with the Westland Wind Quintet. Delve into all-time classics for everyone to enjoy, and learn the story of the wind quintet through the music of Jacques Ibert.

Designed for ages 6-12, lots of participation is promised to keep the whole family entertained!

https://www.facebook.com/events/840150233022207

Funfest at Tayto Park

Saturday 29th – Sunday 30th June 10.00am – 9.30pm

Tayto Park

Kilbrew

Ashbourne

Co.Meath

On Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th June, a host of entertainers from the worlds of music, circus, family entertainment, dance and art will come together for the Tayto Park Funfest. Over two days, the exciting new family festival will be the venue for a variety of incredible entertainment.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1120399151495574/

Flavours of Fingal 2019 – Newbridge House and Farm

Saturday 29th – Sunday 30th June

New bridge House and Farm

Hearse Road

Donabate

Co. Dublin

The Flavours of Fingal County Show returns to Newbridge House and Farm this summer for a two-day extravaganza which combines the sights and sounds of an agricultural show with an unforgettable food and family fun experience.

The festival will host a mix of foodie, equestrian and farming attractions including food stalls boasting locally produced delicacies, craft and cooking demonstrations, sheepdog and geese displays, livestock shows, live music and entertainment.

All of this will take place against the gorgeous backdrop of Newbridge House and Farm which will be open for house tours and farm visits across the two days.

http://www.flavoursoffingal.ie/

Afternoon Tea – Airfield Estate

Sunday 30th June at 2.15pm

Airfield Estate

Overhand Way

Dundrum

Dublin 14

Celebrate a special occasion with a gorgeous afternoon tea at Airfield Estate.

Our 2019 dates are now available to book, taking place the last Sunday of each month from March – September.

Who doesn’t love afternoon tea..

Mother’s day falls on Sunday 31st March so why not treat mum to a treat this year with Afternoon Tea at Airfield Estate!

Prices starting from €35pp

http://www.airfield.ie/events-estate/afternoon-tea/

Clondalkin Big Day Out

Sunday 30th June 2.00pm – 6.00pm

Clondalkin

Dublin 22

InClondalkin Festival, A great Free day out for all family!

https://www.facebook.com/events/2313913312212147/

Forest Skills Kids Workshop- Airfield Estate

Sunday 30th June 1000am – 12.30pm

Airfield Estate

Overhand Way

Dundrum

Dublin 14

Forest skills workshops are designed to give children aged 8-12 confidence from hands-on learning in a natural environment.

You can choose to do one workshop or to take part in the series.

Use promo code FOREST10 and save 10% on tickets for the series of events coming up this year.

https://www.facebook.com/events/271582133561740

Irish National Stud

Open from February until November

Irish National Stud &Gardens

Tully

Co Kildare

The Irish National Stud is open 7 days a week from 9 am to 6 pm, last admission 5pm.

Nowhere better symbolizes all that is great about County Kildare, the beating heart of Ireland’s thoroughbred industry, than the IRISH NATIONAL STUD & GARDENS, a unique attraction of outstanding natural beauty that is home to some of the most magnificent horses and sumptuous gardens to be found anywhere in the world.

Open from February to November the Irish National Stud & Gardens offers something for everyone.

Daily Guided Tours of the Stud farm – this is a great time of year to visit with all the newborn foals.

World Famous Japanese Gardens – The significance of the Japanese Gardens is not only artistic and horticultural but also philosophical.

Wild Irish St Fiachra’s Garden – A tribute to an Irish saint, it is also a fitting tribute to

Ireland herself.

Horse Museum (Includes the skeleton of the legendary Arkle)

Living Legends (Beef or Salmon, Moscow Flyer, Kicking King and Hardy Eustace and Rite Of Passage are all in retirement at the stud)

School Tours – Choose from 3 different trails

Restaurant

Free Car Parking

Located Exit 13 on the M7 motorway, only 40 minutes from Dublin

Family Ticket is only €29.50 (includes 2 adults and 4 children)