Christmas Activities for Kids

There are lots of free and low cost activities to keep your little ones amused over the festive season. Here’s a snippet of what’s going on around the city:

COLLINS BARRACKS MUSEUM has a great programme of free events for kids and families again this year. For the whole month of December you can take the 12 days of Christmas Trail. On Thursday 20th December from 11.30-12.30 ‘Babies on Board’ will help you discover how Christmas is celebrated all over the world, plus you can make a decoration for your tree to take home. www.museum.ie or call 01-6777444

At the NATIONAL MUSEUM in Kildare Street you can also enjoy lots of free Christmas events, why not drop in on Sunday 16th December to create some decorations and help decorate the Museum Christmas tree. There are a number of events on which cover Vikings, medieval banquets and Viking warfare. Check out their website www.museum.ie or call 01-6777444 The DEAD ZOO or the Natural History Museum to give its full title has a huge amount of events on this December and all free. If you want to discover how polar animals survive the extreme cold, or how animals actually hibernate, or maybe you just want to take part in their Winter activity trail – there are lots to do and all free. www.museum.ie or call 01-6777444 The NATIONAL ART GALLERY are hosting ‘Sleigh Bells Ring’ art workshop on Sunday 8th December at 3pm. It is free but limited to forty children on a first come first served basis so arrive in good time. www.nationalgallery.ie or call 01-6615133
FARMLEIGH has an amazing programme of Christmas events. It all starts on Saturday 1st December and runs every weekend until Sunday 23rd. There are puppet shows and storytelling on three times each day, rides on Santa’s horse and carriage, carol singing from a number of organisations from Alliance Francaise to Ballinteer Male Voice choir. There is also a Christmas food market from 10am to 5pm. www.farmleigh.ie or 01-8155900. THE DUBLIN DOCKLANDS CHRISTMAS FAIR in the IFSC starts on 8th December and runs until 23rd. It is free to attend but you need to pay for rides. Come along for some Christmas cheer, carol singing and live bands each day. Santa arrives on Saturday at 12pm and asks that all the boys and girls bring a gift for the giving tree. www.ddda.ie/index.jsp?p=109&n=341&i=402 Of course a trip into Henry Street or Grafton Street to see the lights and grab a hot chocolate are just as exciting for young kids.
By Joan Mitchell