Primary Times Autumn/Winter Listings

Take a look at our Days Out this autumn – packed with family events, seasonal fun, and local activities to enjoy together. Check venue websites for the latest timings, and don’t forget to follow us for more local highlights and family news this season. 

Parent and Child Cooking Workshops 

Venue: Airfield Estate 

Website: https://www.airfield.ie/ 

Discover the joy of cooking alongside your child at Airfield's delightful Parent & Child Cooking Workshops! 10am – 12:30pm monthly on a Saturday. 

 

Kids' Drop by Activities

Venue: Botanic Garden

Website: www.botanicgardens.ie

Fun activities in the dedicated Children’s Erasmus Education Garden! Each week there will be a different activity to help you to become an expert gardener. Sow your own vegetable and flower seeds, play some nature games, make seed bombs, design bug hotels or re-use everyday things to create your own piece of eco-art. Suitable from ages 4 and up. All children must bring their own grown-up! 

 

Free Wednesday

Venue: OPW Heritage Sites

Website: www.heritageireland.ie

On the first Wednesday of every month, a variety of heritage sites managed by the OPW throw their doors open to the public. Take the family out for FREE to historic sites such as Casino Marino, Farmleigh House and Estate and Rathfarnam Castle.  

 

Viking Ireland: Family Tours

Venue: National Museum of Archaeology

Website: www.museum.ie

See a replica fishing boat, examine the beautiful oval brooches worn by Scandinavian women, and discover ice skates made of bone! Discover what life was like in Viking Dublin, and see the wider impact that the Vikings had on Ireland. This tour is for families, but all ages are welcome to join!  Not wheelchair accessible.  Places allocated on a first come first served basis. Meet in the Reception, on the ground floor. Families with children 7+.

 

Sunday Family Drop-in Workshop

Venue: National Gallery of Ireland

Website: www.nationalgallery.ie

Explore your creative side in the Gallery’s iconic Shaw Room at this drop-in family workshop. Artist Eve Parnell will lead this workshop, inspired by the Gallery's collection. Free, no booking required. Families with children of all ages welcome. All materials provided. Languages spoken: Irish and English.

 

Public Tour - Family Tours

Venue: National Gallery of Ireland

Website: www.nationalgallery.ie

Join us for a special tour designed for children and their guardians, parents and carers. We welcome families and visitors of all ages and aim to make the artworks fun and engaging for kids. Meet your tour guide in the Courtyard, near the Merrion Square entrance. All public tours are fully accessible to people who are hard of hearing and use a tour guide system with T-loop capabilities.

 

Parent and Baby Tours

Venue: Hugh Lane Gallery 

Website: www.hughlane.ie 

Tours cover different aspects of the Hugh Lane Gallery collection displays and exhibitions. Prams and buggies are welcome. Followed by tea/coffee and further conversation. Fee: €5.

 

Sunday Sketching

Venue: Hugh Lane Gallery 

Website: www.hughlane.ie 

Free family-friendly sketching workshops. Suited for ages 6-12. Parents stay with their children and are welcome to participate.

 

September Sounds at the Stud

Start: 03-09-2025 | End: 24-09-2025

Venue: The Irish National Stud & Gardens 

Website: www.irishnationalstud.ie 

Looking for a great day out in Co. Kildare? The Irish National Stud & Gardens are delighted to host September Sounds at the Stud. Throughout the month of September, every Sunday, join them for several unique musical experiences, perfect for the whole family. 

 

Punch Lion Kids Comedy

Start: 07-09-2025

Venue: Farmleigh Estate

Website: www.farmleigh.ie 

Stand-up comedy shows, workshops, amusing storytelling, silly circus performers, DJ and games on the green. A fantastic line up of well-known comedians and The Fanzini Brothers, who will present their Impossible Circus. 

 

Car Boot Art Fair

Start: 14-09-2025

Venue: Russborough House and Gardens   

Website: www.russborough.ie

Join us on September 14th at Russborough for a unique and vibrant fundraising event – the Car Boot Art Fair! Russborough’s Car Boot Art Fair is back, up-close and personal - with many of Ireland's leading artists on hand for a chat, great value artworks for sale, even the chance to commission an on-the-spot 30-minute portrait. With full price tickets just €10 and children going free, this is a cost-of-living crisis beating event for art collectors. 

 

Harvest Fest

Start: 13-09-2025 | End: 14-09-2025

Venue: Airfield Estate 

Website: https://www.airfield.ie/ 

Looking for a memorable family day out this September? Join us at Airfield for our annual Harvest Festival – a celebration of all things farming, food, and fun!

 

Richmond Barracks Harvest Fair 

Start: 13-09-2025 | End: 14-09-2025

Venue: Richmond Barracks 

Website: www.richmondbarracks.ie

As we welcome Autumn, this Fair celebrates the abundance of the Harvest, growth and nature with a cornucopia of seasonal related foods and stalls showcasing crafts by local businesses.
With these fairs, we aim to: Promote culture and creativity, entrepreneurship, and the programme of Culture Connects at Richmond Barracks. Showcase and provide commercial opportunities for creative and quality small businesses, craftspeople, makers, and social enterprises.

Richmond Barracks is a building of historical importance located in Inchicore. It is home to a library, garden, cafe and Culture Connects 

 

Culture Night

Start: 19-09-2025

Website: www.Culturenight.ie

Culture Night / Oíche Chultúir is brought to you by the Arts Council; it is a national moment, celebrating culture, creativity and the arts and seeks to actively promote the belief that this rich and varied culture is alive, treasured and nurtured in people’s lives, today and every day. It is delivered nationwide in cities, towns, villages and rural locations as well as online and through our media partners.

 

Bumbleance Shocking Shirts Day

Start: 21-09-2025

Venue: Nationwide

Website: www.Bumbulance.com 

We are asking schools, offices, and communities to join together and wear your most Shocking Shirt to help those who need it most!This is a fun and easy way in which you can raise funds for BUMBLEance. In the office, turn a casual Friday into a Shocking Shirt Day for BUMBLEance instead! Why wear a Shocking Shirt at your school as an alternative for non-uniform day? On the 27th, hang out with your friends, your community group, family – whoever!

 

September Equinox

Start: 22-09-2025

Venue: Nationwide

This marks the end of Summer and the official beginning of Autumn. The Sun will shine directly on the equator and there will be nearly equal amounts of day and night throughout the world. 

 

BeActive Campus Open Week

Start: 23-09-2025 | End: 30-09-2025

Venue: Sports Ireland Campus Blanchardstown  

Website: www. sportirelandcampus.ie

Beactive Campus Open Week features a series of free 'Come and Try' classes and events with something suitable for all ages and skill levels.  Why not sign up for skills clinics with Olympians, or try scuba diving or surfing in the National Aquatic Centre or tumbling in the National Gymnastics Centre, or archery and fencing.  

 

Dublin Festival of History

Start: 27-09-2025 | End: 13-09-2025

Venue: Dublin

Website: https://dublinfestivalofhistory.ie/ 

The Dublin Festival of History is an annual free festival, brought to you by Dublin City Council, and organised by Dublin City Libraries, in partnership with the Dublin City Council Culture Company. 150+ free events. Both online and offline event options available.

 

Design an Anime Character with Amy Louise O'Callaghan

Start: 27-09-2025

Venue: Riverbank Arts Centre

In this introductory workshop, participants will learn how to draw a basic Anime-style face, which can be used to develop their own character or to create a unique self-portrait. 
Through developing backstories for their characters, participants will explore their own story-creating abilities and will feel prompted to think about these decisions when engaging with their favourite manga and graphic novels.

 

Family Walk & Talk Tours

Start: 27-09-2025

Venue: Driaocht Blanchardstown 

Website: www. draiocht.ie 

Explore Eleanor McCaughey’s mixed media exhibition in a relaxed way with us. Enjoy hearing what your children might think of the gallery exhibition and about the different textures and colours - and maybe we can have a peek backstage too, at the stage and the dressing rooms! Spaces are limited.

 

Spirits of Meath Halloween Festival

Start: 03-10-2025 | End: 06-11-2025

Venue: Meath

Website: www.spiritisofmeath.ie 

The time of year has come around again where we are getting ready to welcome visitors from all over Ireland to the home of Halloween! Expect lots of fun by day, plenty of scares by night and of course great special offers from our accommodation providers so you can enjoy all the festival has to offer.
Check out spiritisofmeath.ie for more information on events that are happening in Meath during the spooky season. 

 

Space Week

Start: 04-10-2025 | End: 10-10-2025

Venue: Nationwide 

Website: www.spaceweek.ie

Students, families, community groups and members of the public will come together with the space community, professional astrophysicists, the broader educational community, artists, hobby astronomers and space scientists to use the powers of creativity, critical thinking, science, technology, engineering and maths to focus on the wonders and realities of the Universe around us. 

 

Space Week: Space Workshop for Kids

Start: 04-10-2025

Venue: Rediscovery Centre

Website: www.rediscoverycentre.ie

A Space Explorers workshop that’s truly out of this world. Kids will dive into the mysteries of the universe as they journey through planets, moons, and the origins of our solar system. This hands-on adventure is packed with cosmic creativity — from investigating meteor impacts and solar eclipses to building rockets and designing space rovers. It’s the perfect mission to spark curiosity, fuel imaginations, and inspire the next generation of space explorers.
Suitable for kids aged 6–12. Get ready for lift off!
The Rediscovery Centre, Ballymun, Dublin 9
+353 18933801

 

Simon Home Run

Start: 04-10-2025

Venue: Phoenix Park

Website: www.dubsimon.ie 

The annual Simon Home Run is a fun and challenging 5-mile run through Dublin's beautiful Phoenix Park. Everybody is welcome, from serious runners, to the not-so-serious, walkers, dog-walkers, family groups, corporate groups, community groups - come together as a community to challenge yourself and show support for those living through the nightmare of homelessness!

 

Pregnancy and Baby Fair

Start: 04-10-2025 | End: 05-10-2025

Venue: RDS

Website: www.pregnancyandbabyfair.com

The Pregnancy & Baby Fair is Ireland’s biggest, best, and only exhibition covering all things pregnancy & baby related.
They have gathered the world’s biggest baby brands under one roof as well as Ireland’s leading retailers and product specialists. In addition, they have Ireland’s top pregnancy & baby professionals ready to give you the best and latest advice and address any concerns or questions you might have about this exciting yet daunting time of life. 

 

Dublin Brick Con

Start: 11-10-2025 | End: 12-10-2025

Venue: National Basketball Arena

Website: www.eventbrite.ie 

Dublin Brick Con is the biggest showcase of LEGO ever seen in the country… The event features some of Ireland's largest & best custom models with over 1 million bricks of fun activities, workshops, competitions, special guests and more! Get your chance to meet Ireland's most well-known LEGO masters, builders & enthusiasts. 

 

Maths Week

Start: 11-10-2025 | End: 19-10-2025

Venue: Nationwide 

Website: www.mathsweek.ie 

Maths Week Ireland is an all-island initiative promoting positive attitudes towards maths and highlighting the importance of maths in our lives since 2006. This annual festival is a collaborative partnership of organisations including all the universities, institutes of technology, professional bodies, visitor centres and more. In 2025, Maths Week Ireland is celebrating its 20th edition!
Maths Week has grown to attract participation from as many as 400,000 people annually across the island of Ireland. It has evolved into a partnership of more than 50 organisations, all united with the shared vision of making maths accessible to people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. 

 

Tricky Trail

Start: 11-10-2025 | End: 31-10-2025

Venue: Emerald Park

Website: www.Emeraldpark.ie

Enjoy a frightfully fun family day out and get ready to experience some spooky storytelling, eccentric experiments, magical performances and more. There may even be a few frights in store…

 

Pooka Spooka

Start: 11-10-2025 | End: 31-10-2025

Venue: Causey Farm

Website: https://www.causey.ie/halloween/ 

Enjoy a fun filled day at the farm with Halloween games & crafts, the scarecrow corn maze, the mirror maze, hayrides, limb throwing, broomstick rides and storytelling. Suitable for children between the ages 2 - 12. €14 per ticket. Children under 2 go free. 

 

Red Line Book Festival

Start: 13-10-2025 | End: 19-10-2025

Venue: South Dublin

Website: www.Redlinefestival.ie 

The Red Line Festival brought to you by South Dublin Libraries and Arts and provides a programme of events and workshops aimed to attract people of all ages and interests. (comedy, sport, music, theatre etc).

 

Together with TADA  Workshops

Start: 18-10-2025

Venue: Riverbank Arts Centre

Website: www.riverbank.ie 

Join us for a playful, hands-on workshop for children and their adults. Led by Kids’ Own associate artist Brenda Kearney, participants will dive into some of the exhibition’s themes such as play, people, place and pondering, to spark their imaginations, share stories and make art together. Suitable for children aged 6–12 years and their grown-ups.

 

Papa's Pumpkin Patch

Start: 18-10-2025 | End: 19-10-2025

Venue: Oldtown, Co. Dublin 

A fun packed pumpkin picking experience in North Co. Dublin with picking your own pumpkin, farm animals, arts & crafts, face painting and refreshments. With pumpkins all different shapes and sizes you are sure to find the perfect one for your home. €40 per car. 

 

Halloween Fun! Pumpkin Fairy House and Spooky Dinosaur Carvings 

Start: 18-10-2025 | End: 26-10-2025

Venue: Festina Lente

Join Us for a Magical Halloween Pumpkin Workshop!
This autumn, Festina Lente invites children aged 4 to 11 to a whimsical and spooky hands-on experience: our Pumpkin Fairy House & Spooky Dinosaur Carving Workshop!
Let your child's imagination run wild as they dive into the timeless tradition of pumpkin carving—with a magical twist! Whether they're crafting a cozy fairy home or a fearsome dino masterpiece, this workshop promises creativity, fun, and a touch of Halloween enchantment.

 

Bat Walk Series

Start: 21-10-2025 | End: 14-11-2025

Venue: Airfield Estate 

Website: https://www.airfield.ie/ 

Designed for families with children aged 8 and above, this event promises an evening of wonder and exploration perfect for families and nature enthusiasts!

 

Clocks Go Back

Start: 26-10-2025

 

Halloween Spooktacular

Start: 28-10-2025 | End: 31-10-2025

Venue: Irish National Stud 

Website: www.irishnationalstud.ie/halloween  

A family-friendly event will be packed with Halloween fun, specially designed for younger visitors. With games, activities, and plenty of spooky surprises, this event is not to be missed!

 

Halloween Dance & Scare Midterm Workshops 

Start: 29-10-2025 | End: 01-11-2025

Venue: Driaocht Blanchardstown 

Website: www.draiocht.ie 

Is a Monster always Scary? Do monsters even have friends? Are they more scared of you than you are of them?  Find out from Draíocht’s Dance Artist in Residence Matt Szczerek. 
Tickets €5 Per Child. Booking through Box Office: 01-885 2622

 

Halloween Felted Finger Puppet Fun! with Tamzen Lundy

Start: 30-10-2025

Venue: Riverbank Arts Centre

Website: www.riverbank.ie 

This hands-on session will guide little crafters through the magical process of making their very own finger puppet mice — perfect for Halloween play and storytelling. All materials are provided, and no experience is needed.
Come get creative, get a little messy, and take home your own little mousey friend!
For ages 7-12 years

 

Trick or Treat for Sick Children

Start: 31-10-2025

Website: www.childrenshealth.ie/trick-or-treat

Trick or Treat is celebrating a monstrous 25 years in 2025. Our wonderful supporters have been donating to help sick children by doing something they love – dressing up and having a spooktacular party. Join in the Little Monster Mash and host a Halloween party. Whether in your crèche or school, your home, or even in your workplace, you can raise funds for the sick children in Children’s Health Ireland hospitals and urgent care centres at Crumlin, Temple Street, Tallaght and Connolly. Wherever you host it, you can have some frightful fun that will change the lives of sick children.
Register Now at www.childrenshealth.ie/trick-or-treat to take part and they will get your pack out to you for a terror-ific Halloween celebration! 
Contact the Trick or Treat team on 01 709 1700. 

 

The Speks

Start: 16-11-2025

Venue: Mermaid Art Centre

Website: https://www.mermaidartscentre.ie/

The Speks present a lively show of nursery rhymes and sing-along songs set to acoustic Irish music which will have adults and kids jumping in their seats! Their handclapping, toe-tapping, hearty-laughing show is all about life on Glasses Island – a magical island off the coast of Co. Clare where everybody wears glasses! This will be a great, fun event for kids aged 2 to 92!

 

Science Week 

Start: 09-11-2025 | End: 16-11-2025

Website: www.sfi.ie 

Celebrating science in our everyday lives. Science Week includes a wide variety of events involving industry, colleges, schools, libraries, teachers, researchers and students throughout Ireland. Science Week has a number of regional festivals offering a range of opportunities for the public to engage with STEM in across Ireland.

 

World Children's Day

Start: 20-11-2025

Venue: Worldwide

Website: www.unicef.org 

World Children’s Day is UNICEF’s annual day of action for children, by children.

 

Polar Bear & Penguin by Paul Curley & John Currivan

Start: 05-12-2025 | End: 06-12-2025

Venue: Mermaid Art Centre

Website: https://www.mermaidartscentre.ie/

Following a sell out run in The Ark in 2022 and performances at Sydney Opera House, The Egg, Bath, Ottawa Children's Festival and Spoleto Festival USA Polar Bear & Penguin is coming back to the Mermaid for a limited run this December. A charming play for young audiences written and performed by John Currivan & Paul Curley, Polar Bear & Penguin tells the tale of an unlikely encounter between a Polar Bear and a Penguin.
This is the story of polar opposite characters meeting for the first time, getting to know one another and learning how to survive in a world that is melting beneath their feet...paws...flippers.

 

Causey Christmas Experience  

Start: 23-11-2025 | End: 23-12-2025

Venue: Causey Farm

Website: www.causey.ie

All the sheds have different Christmas-themed events and everyone moves from place to place to sample each new experience. Causey Farm comes alive with a festive atmosphere –with all the traditional charm and magic you’d expect. 

 

Wicklow Christmas Market

Venue: Leitrim Place Wicklow

Website: www.wicklowchristmasmarket.com

Returning with the popular Eco Ice Skating Rink and NEW Santa Express Book Now! The Market is FREE to the public, with over 50 twinkling chalets offering food, activities and entertainment for the whole family. 

 

Wild Lights

Venue: Dublin Zoo

 

Santa's House Express

Start: 22-11-2025 | End: 23-12-2025

Venue: Palmerstown House Estate 

Website: www.Santashouseexpress.ie 

Meet Santa's Merry Elves in their departure lounge, Sing along with the reindeer, Meet a mischievous special guest in the Ice Cave, Magical Train Ride to Santa’s Manor, Stories and festive treats with Mrs. Claus, Personal family meet and chats with Santa, A brand new cuddly, collectable sustainable gift for each child, All new immersive digital experiences and a Family Funfair. 

 

Taylor's Santa Experience 

Start: 25-11-2025 | End: 24-12-2025

Venue: Three Rock Hotel

Website: www.taylorssantaexperience.ie 

Taylors Christmas Santa Experience has taken the traditional Santa Grotto Experience & brought a whole new meaning to this festive activity. With a high energy show, a full theatrical production, Santa, Ms. Claus, dancing Elves, magical wonderland walk way, Santa Meet & Greet, photo opportunity, presents – we guarantee this will get everyone in the mood for the Christmas season! 

 

Farmleigh Christmas Market

Venue: Farmleigh Estate 

Website: www.farmleigh.ie 

Join in on the festivities every Saturday & Sunday of December for the Christmas Market at Farmleigh. There will be a great selection of hand-crafted products all made in Ireland along with a wide variety of food and treats for all the family, even for your pet dog. Come along to join the festive fun!