Kids' Arts Festival Returns To Offaly With 'Extravaganza Of Creativity'

Tuesday, 11 October 2022 10:05

It was all smiles at the launch of this year's Hullaballo! festival.

Hullabaloo! Offaly's Children's Arts Festival is back with an extravaganza of creativity, art making and fun experiences.

Now, in its 16th year, Offaly’s dedicated arts festival for children under 12 will run throughout the school mid-term break, from Wednesday 2nd November to Saturday 5th November, in Birr, Clara, Edenderry and Tullamore.

Hullabaloo! is all about creativity with workshops and family performances to stimulate curiosity and originality bringing the best artist facilitators from all over Ireland. It's intended to stimulate curiosity, originality and confidence. Children have fun and experience a miscellany of high-quality creative experiences.

With a monster 83 events in this year's jam-packed programme, there is something for everyone from screen printing, juggling, character design,
writing, drama and paperfolding/origami to music, abstract art, drawing, hip-hop dance, finger puppets, and painting with wax.

Seven family events across a breadth of artforms from circus, film, music, theatre and puppetry are available to audiences.

A specially-curated programme of events has been put together for Tullamore audiences in advance of the much-anticipated opening of Esker Arts Centre. Tullamore events will take place at the Presbyterian Church, High Street and Tullamore Library.

As the festival launched this week, Arts Officer Sally O’ Leary commented;

“Offaly County Council Arts Office are delighted to be working in partnership once more with Birr Theatre and Arts Centre to deliver a programme of exciting live events in Birr, Clara and Edenderry with additional events programmed this year for Tullamore. Hullabaloo! has become a much anticipated annual event offering fun for all the family, and we are looking forward once again to this year’s events.”

This year Hullabaloo! has a family programme that is full of humour, entertainment and creativity with family shows designed to appeal to a broad
cross-section of interests and age-groups.

Speaking at the launch, Birr Theatre & Arts Centre Manager, Emma Nee Haslam added;

“We’re so excited to be back hosting live workshops and performances. Children have missed out over the past two years in the live experience and this year’s packed full programme offers something for all interests”.

Bookings can be made directly at hullabaloofestival.ie.

Hullabaloo! is coordinated by Offaly County Council Arts Office and Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, with Offaly’s Library Service and Clara Family Resource Centre. Supported by Offaly County Council and The Arts Council of Ireland.