Family Zone
Families are a very important part of our festival community, so much so that we have a dedicated family area for parents and children to enjoy together.
The emphasis each year is firmly on participation and creativity. Kids get the opportunity to partake in a diverse range of activities and workshops. Whether it be drumming, dancing, foraging, circus skills, or lego bricks, there is something to ignite the imaginations of all who are lucky enough to attend.
Free Family Zone Activities
We are delighted to present Boyles own DAS Academy at this year’s festival. Bringing a wealth of experience gained in choreographing stage shows all around the world, Thomas and his team will run dance workshops throughout the weekend. This will culminate in a mini performance towards the end of the day.
Laughter and surprises are guaranteed with Professor Plunger, the non-verbal comedy clown with a flair for the ridiculous! Watch as he proudly showcases his greatest invention: his amazing hair! This inventive and original show features quirky dancing, plungers, and a bell-playing finale that will leave you grinning. With a cheeky charm and a very large head of hair, Professor Plunger speaks the universal language of comedy and music, making it fun for all ages. Don’t miss this interactive, high-energy performance that’s sure to bring a smile to your face!
Fiona from Sun Dew Crafts will display her knitted creations that celebrate the natural world while also providing future generations with the opportunity to try their hand at creating a little piece for themselves.
One of the highlights of last year’s family area, the bemusement games will return again this year. Brought to you by Fuinnseog Woodland Crafts, the bemusement games are a collection of truly unique and mesmerizing games made exclusively from wood from Irish trees. Come and try your hand at draughts, snakes and ladders, pinball, marble mazes, marble runs, ring toss and many others.
The multi-talented folks from “Little Top Stars” will provide drop-in workshops where festival goers can try various activities including juggling, spinning plates, diabolo, bucket stilts, hula hoops and the ever-popular giant soap bubbles wands.
https://littletopstars.ie
Get ready for a lively, colorful puppet show with Little Gem Puppets! Join Missus O Keeffe as she embarks on a fun-filled adventure to find the legendary Salmon of Knowledge—but there’s a twist: she doesn’t know how to fish! Who knows what surprises are in store as she meets new friends along the way. After the show, stick around for a creative paper puppet-making workshop! Design your own puppet or bring the festival characters to life. A magical experience for all ages to explore the world of puppetry!
John and his troupe from Our Voice FM will once again provide the soundtrack for the day’s activities. A firm favourite at last years festival, be sure to stop by and say hello as they love nothing more than to engage with those passing by the tent.
Baby Boppers will ensure that even the youngest attendees at Night and Day will have their musical tastes catered for. They’ll run music, movement and sensory activities for young children. The little ones can skip, hop, jump and twirl to the music with props such as scarfs, shakers, pom pom, ribbons, and parachute.
Nutritional therapist Emma Cooney will lead a walk around the forest where she will help people identify and collect some medicinal herbs. There will also be the opportunity to prepare and drink herbal teas using what has been gathered.
Kids love face painting. They love the way it transforms them into something new, something they love or a way they feel about themselves deep inside. It allows self-expression, triggers their imaginations, boosts self-esteem and engages their own creativity.
Adults equally love it, whether enjoying a festival-style eye design with lots of glitter, reliving their own childhood with the superhero design they always yearned for, or simply having the craic with the kids. Fierce Fun Faces will return to meet all your face painting needs this June.
Tuesday and her team from Willowbrook will guide festival goers in creating various festival accessories including masks, flags, and instruments. They will also lead a festival parade at the end of each day’s activities that will take in some of the countless magical locations around the festival site. See the link below for what they get up at their own place just outside Ballaghaderreen.
Ros Clay pottery will provide people with the opportunity to design and paint blank pottery pieces. A fun activity for all ages. Very mindful and therapeutic.
Young ones can stretch out their minds, bodies and imaginations with a fun hybrid of mindfulness, yoga & relaxation. Sessions may vary depending on participants but expect yoga games, dances, visualisation stories and confidence boosting affirmation play. Manage mayhem, mindfully with Manomaya
Step back in time and discover the forgotten craft of rope-making! Join us at the Vintage Rope Walk, where you can learn the traditional art of crafting ropes from hemp. Create your very own colourful skipping rope to take home for just €2, covering the cost of materials. Alongside the rope-making, we’re bringing a selection of homemade, upcycled family games, including long skipping ropes made from vibrant woolen waste material. Perfect for all ages to enjoy together in the family area—come play and connect with the past while making new memories!
Get hands-on and help local wildlife! Join us to build bird and bat boxes using recycled materials, guided by Barry Tapster, Climate Action Officer for Roscommon County Council. Kids (aged 8+) will safely use tools to create their very own wildlife homes, while learning about sustainability and conservation. Once built, we’ll aim to attach them to trees around the park, giving back to nature! A fun, eco-friendly activity for the whole
family!
Discover the magic of child-led, open-ended play with Maia Purposeful Play! Join us for interactive play sessions where kids can explore, imagine, and create in their own unique ways. From sensory activities to imaginative adventures, these playful experiences spark curiosity, creativity, and social skills. Perfect for fostering holistic development and ensuring every moment is filled with joy, wonder, and learning. Bring your little ones and let them embark on a fun-filled journey of exploration!
Unleash creativity with the Imagination Playground! This exciting, child-directed play space features premium blue foam blocks in various shapes—squares, chutes, balls, and connectors—designed for endless fun and imaginative building. Perfect for kids aged 3-10, the Imagination Playground offers hours of free play, sparking creativity and problem-solving in a vibrant, interactive environment. Brought to you by Bricí Spraoi, a bilingual company based in Galway, this play zone is a must-visit for families at the festival!
Immerse yourself in nature-inspired art with Sarah Lundy at the Night and Day Festival! Explore the textures of the natural world through hands-on activities like charcoal rubbings, clay pressings, and taxidermy displays of native animals. These creative experiences allow participants of all ages to connect with nature while expressing their creativity.
Lundy, a visual and sound artist with a deep connection to the natural world, brings her unique artistic vision to the festival. With a background in Fine Art, Arts Policy, and a growing passion for horticulture, her workshops encourage exploration of both the natural and artistic environments.
Join us for an engaging and educational session where you can create your own nature-inspired artworks and gain a deeper appreciation for the world around us!
TOP TIPS FOR FAMILIES
- You are welcome to bring pushchairs and buggies but please be aware an all-terrain one is recommended.
- Loud music can be harmful to the ears so make sure your children have proper ear protection if you plan on visiting any of our stages throughout the Festival.
- Take a photo of your child every day in case you are separated. You can then show a safety volunteer what your child looks like and what they’re wearing that day.
- Show your kids what stewards look like in their hi-vis and tell them to present themselves to the nearest one if they get lost.
- You will be provided with a paper wristband for your child onto which you must write your mobile number. Our volunteers will use this to contact you in case of separation.
- Wearing battery powered fairy lights is a great idea to help not to lose little ones at night time (and it looks great!)
- Be prepared for all weather eventualities! It’s the west of Ireland so we can have blazing sunshine and torrential rain all in the same day! Make sure to pack those little wellies and waterproofs as well as sun cream and floppy hats.