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.
Full timetable is available here.
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.
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.
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.
Herbalist Carrie O Reilly 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!
Get creative and take to the skies! In the family area, Go Fly Your Kite workshop details will be running a hands-on build-and-fly your kite workshop. Kids (and adults!) can design, colour, build and then launch their very own kite – blending art, science and pure fun into one high-flying experience. Perfect for curious minds and little hands, this activity gets everyone outdoors and making something awesome they can take home and fly themselves.
RoboThink Robitics workshops are short, hands-on sessions where kids build their own robots while learning core STEM concepts.
The workshops use RoboThink’s own modular robotics kits (motors, gears, sensors), meaning even beginners can jump in quickly without prior experience.
Overall, the focus is on learning by doing—developing skills like problem-solving, creativity, and critical thinking while actually building and experimenting with working robots.
My Brat Bhríde is a relaxed, hands-on workshop inspired by the tradition of St. Brigid’s healing cloak, where participants create their own scarf or shawl using simple stitching and reused materials. There’s no skill required—the focus is on connection, creativity, and heritage, with an emphasis on sustainability, as you bring your own garment or fabric to upcycle. It’s an informal, drop-in community experience where people can join at any time during the festival to make, share stories, and take part in a meaningful Irish tradition.
Get ready for a magical burst of fun with Genie Mackers! Expect interactive magic shows, high-energy party games and a lively bubble disco that keeps kids laughing, dancing and fully entertained. With engaging entertainers and non-stop activities, it’s a colourful, feel-good experience packed with bubbles, surprises and unforgettable moments for all ages.
A mandala-making workshop using natural materials invites participants to create temporary, circular designs from items gathered in the surrounding woodland, such as leaves, stones, sticks, and flowers. There’s no skill required—the focus is on slowing down, being creative, and connecting with nature, as people arrange patterns and shapes in a mindful, hands-on way. It’s an informal, drop-in activity where participants can join at any time, explore the landscape, and take part in a calming, shared outdoor experience.
A harp playing workshop offers a relaxed, hands-on introduction to this traditional Irish instrument, where participants can try simple techniques and explore its distinctive sound. No experience is needed—the focus is on enjoying the music, learning through doing, and connecting with Irish culture in an easygoing way. It’s an informal, drop-in session where people can join at any time, have a go, and experience the harp in a welcoming, social setting.
