Tots to Teens: Celebration of science in Cork's Fitzgerald Park

The Cork Carnival of Science features live science shows, hands-on workshops, pop-up science performers, interactive games and activities, and so much more.

Aida Pinto getting ready for Cork Carnival of Science, back at Fitzgerald Park on the 8th and 9th of June 2024. Pic: Clare Keogh

Tue, 04 Jun, 2024 - 02:00

Sharon Ní Chonchúir

This weekend, Cork’s Fitzgerald’s Park will be transformed into a playground for curious children and fun-loving families.

On June 8 and 9, it will host the Cork Carnival of Science, featuring live science shows, hands-on workshops, pop-up science performers, interactive games and activities, and so much more.

Some 22 live science shows will take place each day. The line-up includes The Crazy Weather Show with Scientific Sue, who will explain just how extreme weather can be and how climate change is likely to change it; the Circus Science Show with technological tricks and silly scientific students; and Airforce with Dr Stephen Davitt and Phil Smyth from RTÉ’s Home School Hub, which promises to be an interactive show that gets the whole audience involved in experimenting with science.

Workshops will introduce children and their families to computer coding, how to make batteries, and how to get up close and personal with the tiny creatures that inhabit our rivers and seas with the help of a microscope.

There will even be an opportunity to make flashing LED badges to bring home.

Other attractions to look out for are The Animal Roadshow with its lizards, snakes, spiders, owls, and frogs; Lego building with Learn It Ireland; a giant inflatable planetarium from the Blackrock Castle Observatory; a 40-foot walkthrough inflatable model of the human digestive system; and the science-based sporting activities of the Active Zone.

The Cork Carnival of Science is free to attend.

Soft as a baby

Given a baby’s sensitive skin, it’s no wonder many parents want to dress them in soft clothing.

Irish brand Millie and Me offers just that with its selection of romper suits, hats and bandana bibs in 100% organic cotton.

The rompers are particularly popular. They come in 30 styles and sizes ranging from newborn to 18 months.

Fully machine washable, they are available from littleones.ie, €20.

What is the shy town?

Senan is too big to take naps, but try telling that to his parents, who still send him upstairs to nap at 3.20pm every day.

Bored in his bedroom, Senan uses his binoculars to spy on what’s happening outside his window. One day, he spots a curious town on a nearby hill.

He calls it Shy Town because it disappears as soon as he manages to focus his binoculars on it.

Senan, his next-door neighbour and his grandmother set off to search for this elusive place.

Together, they discover that it’s called Perfection and full of people constantly striving to make things perfect.

This is the story of Chasing the Shy Town by Dublin-based children’s author Erika McGann.

With illustrations by Toni Galmé, it’s written for kids aged six and older and is particularly suited to those who struggle with anxiety and pressure to be perfect.

It will be published on June 6 and is available for pre-order from littleisland.ie for €9.99.

Lasta Festival for kids

Young people are at the heart of the Lasta Festival. Its programme is designed by young curators to be performed for children and young people.

The line-up is eclectic, taking place from June 7 to June 9 in Siamsa Tíre, the National Folk Theatre of Ireland in Tralee. It includes a sing-along screening of The Greatest Showman, wood-turning demonstrations, music workshops, céilí dancing, a pop-up choir, a night of bothántaíocht, where members of the audience will be welcome to perform on stage, and a sock puppet workshop for children aged five years and up.

Puppet maker Alex Hindmarsh will host this sock puppet workshop from 3pm to 4.30pm on Sunday.