Waterford celebrates a big birthday this weekend

Waterford city will be buzzing this weekend as it takes a step back in time to celebrate its 1,100th birthday with a comprehensive programme of cultural activities, especially for young people.

The WiKID festival will focus on children and interactive children’s events, while showcasing the heritage and culture of Ireland’s oldest city. Events include a sleepover at the architectural award-winning Medieval Museum, where participants will slumber while surrounded by ancient artefacts, and a Viking excavation where children can experience what it is like to be an archaeologist. There will also be a Viking school where they can learn to make and handle weaponry. There will also be fun for the rest of the family with archery for families and an authentic Medieval Fair.

The event, organised by Waterford City Council, will be launched by President Michael D Higgins on Friday.

“WiKID offers a fantastic birthday festival to mark Waterford1100 but, within this, something that could become an independent festival,” said Eamonn McEneaney, director of Waterford Museum of Treasures and an organiser of WiKID.

One of the highlights of the weekend will be the Vadrarfjordr Viking Village and Viking School where people can meet and watch ‘Vikings’ at work and participate in an authentic recreation of Viking life. A special Viking School will allow children to handle (under supervision) authentic weapons and to design their own wooden shields.

Viking history will further come to life at the Medieval Fair with its authentic sights, sounds and smells, and where Viking traders will demonstrate and sell their crafts. One of the most eagerly anticipated events is The Big Dig — a simulated and controlled archaeological dig where children aged from five to 12 years can work alongside real archaeologists. The Big Dig will take place in association with the School of Archaeology in UCD.

Have a Go Archery! offers safe target shooting for all the family with Hungarian horse bows.

Waterford is renowned for its street theatre and visitors can wander back in time with WiKID Streets, which will feature medieval-themed entertainment for families. There will be interactive theatre with Tumble Circus, which promises to turn the circus tradition upside down, with disobedient clowns, suffering acrobats and confused jugglers.

There will also be circus fun in the city’s Central Library, with The Tallest Smallest Circus, where the audience have to stand in for the missing circus acts.

Younger culture vultures can participate in puppet-making workshops, as well as backstage tours of the city’s beautifully restored Theatre Royal, and interactive sessions with Little Red Kettle theatre company.

The ‘Cool Stuff’ programme includes a talk by 14-year-old Waterford native and gaming entrepreneur Jordan Casey.

Full programme and booking info available at www.waterford1100.com.