EASTER EVENTS NATIONWIDE TO Cracking GET US HOPPING OUT THE DOORS
Ear we go for the two-week school break
SCHOOL’S out for Easter.
The two-week spring break is a great time to get out, with the days longer and – hopefully – warmer.
There are lots of Easter-themed family events happening across the country.
Here are some of the highlights, ahead of Easter Sunday on March 31...
DUBLIN
Magic Easter Spring Trail at Luggwoods, Dublin mountains.
Luggwoods is Ireland’s top destination for seasonal themed events. The natural forest outside Saggart becomes a spring delight for Easter at Luggwoods.
Kids can meet the Luggwoods Fairy Tales characters, crack clues and code the Easter puzzle. They’ll even get to meet the Easter Bunny. Tickets are €19.50 for children, €14.50 for adults.
Dublin Zoo, Phoenix Park
Dublin Zoo promises an Easter Eggstravanganza this year. On Saturday, March 31, and Easter Sunday from 11am to 4pm, there will be a DJ, dancing, a family farm, resident Easter Bunny, entertainment and hidden eggs.
There are lots of baby animals too. Open daily from 9.30am to 6pm. Family day passes from €57.
Easter Fun at Arnotts, Dublin
One of the country’s best known department stores is hosting a line up of Easter activities to entertain kids on the holidays.
From magical performances to creative crafts and interactive play, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at Arnotts. The “Holibops” programme has daily activities filled with fun entertainment, including Marvin Magic shows, Easter colouring stations, Jelly Cats, Squishmellows and a Lego Easter play table. Runs March 28 and 29. The fun continues on April 6 for their board Games Day, featuring Monopoly, Connect 4, and Knock Out.
Dun Laoghaire Fun Run, Dublin
Lace up your runners and get down to the West Pier in Dun Laoghaire for Childline’s inaugural family fun run. The course is just 3km and is suitable for everyone.
Sign up and donate on idonate.ie/ event/childlinefamilyfunrun.
KILKENNY
Wonka in Jurassic at Jurassic Newpark
The family-friendly Newpark Hotel, mixes two childhood favourites this
Easter with Wonka at Jurassic, which runs until March 31.
Jurassic Newpark – which features 17 life-sized moving dinosaurs – will become a Williy Wonka-inspired playground, with activities including decorating chocolate eggs, an Easter egg hunt, a fairy trail and a visit to the petting farm to see Easter bunnies and spring lambs.
Entry is free for hotel guests, but day visitors must prebook tickets at jurassicnewpark.com
CORK Easter Bunny Jail Trail
If the kids are acting up, toss them into a jail cell – and instruct them to find the eggs hidden there. At Cork City Gaol, the Easter Bunny Trail returns from March 30 to April 5. Children will be given a map and asked to find the hidden bunnies. Open 10.30am to 6pm. Family tickets are €30. Kids from €6.
LEGO Bricktionary club
Join Lego enthusiasts each Saturday to get lost in the LEGO bricks. In the city in t library, as well as the branch in Blackpool pai and Hollyhill. All materials are nes provided and budding builders can itsg work alone or in groups to create new structures. The city centre group meets Ea at 12pm, with the others kicking off at pin 2pm. H Leahy’s Open Farm, Midleton bet
Welly throwing, egg and spoon racing me and a visit from the Easter bunny, who bur will drop off eggs. Prices start from €5 late for members and €20.50 for non members. For bookings go to www. Se leahysopenfarm.ie. Clo
GALWAY S Easter Egg Hunt, Brigit’s Garden llam
Enjoy a great family day out with art Brigit’s Garden’s popular Easter Egg act Hunt on Easter Sunday and Monday Rab from 12 to 4pm. Follow the egg clues Tic around the trail, solve the Easterthemed adu puzzle. The Easter Bunny makes her way around the garden to greet all. Make some Easter decorations
the arts and crafts arena, or get faceinted. Every child gets a free chocolate st and chocolate eggs. www.briggarden.ie. Tickets from €14.
LIMERICK ster Bunny visits Jetland Shopng Centre, Ennis Road
Hop along to the shopping centre tween March 22 and 30, where kids can eet the Easter bunny in his magical rrow, where he will give them a chocoe egg. Tickets start at €5.
WEXFORD ecret Valley Wildlife Park, onroche
Set on 14 acres, it has donkeys, ponies, mas, alpacas and lemurs. Kids can do s, crafts, adventure hunts and outdoor tivities. Enjoy Breakfast with Ruari bbit, Bertie Badger and Sally Valley. ckets €12.95 for kids and €13.95 for ults.
KERRY amsa Tire, The National eatre of Ireland, Tralee
Folk
Children’s workshops include dancing, singing, drama and games. Each child will also learn how to create their own Easterthemed puppet. Runs March 27 to 29, from 10am-1.30pm. Tickets: €25 per child per day.
CLARE Vandeleur Walled Garden
The gardens will play host to an Easter trail, egg and spoon races,
competitions and a visit from the ‘bunny of the hour.’ The stone walls, water features and immersive maze will make it feel like a trip to Wonderland. From €5.
DONEGAL
Express, Oakfield Park,
Easter Raphoe
Hop aboard the Easter Express and explore the grounds of Oakfield Park, the privately owned estate and railway. Start your adventure with a train journey through the magical forest, disembarking at the home of the Queen of Hearts to receive instructions. Family days run from March 29 to April 1 and also feature a Bunny Hop disco, games and more. Tickets for a compartment from €62.45 on Oakfield Park.
LOUTH Skypark, Carlingford
A must for adventure-seekers, Skypark in Carlingford is the largest adventure park. This Easter, it offers the Amazing Easter Egg Hunt runs on Easter Sunday and Monday 10am to 1pm with special activities and Easter characters. It costs €10 per child or is included in a €20 kids activity pass. Book online at www. skypark.ie.
MAYO Westport House Easter Trail
Westport House is one of the west’s best known attractions – a 400-acre estate of gardens, terraces and woodlands, where you can camp, stay in the hotel or have fun in the adventure park. Bring the family along on Easter Sunday for their Easter Trail and race around the grounds to find clues and prizes, with chocolate eggs up for grabs.
MEATH Newgrange Farm, Slane
An Easter eggstravaganza promises lots of easter fun and games. Hook A Duck, bunny throw, lollipop game and a colouring competition, and all children will receive a small gift. Tickets from €9.
Fairyhouse Racecourse
The Gold Cup Family Day takes place on Easter Sunday, where children go free. Highlights include Ladies Day, Labucca Easter Bonnet making, puppet shows and the Easter bunny. Adults €20.
CARLOW
Ultraflex Rathwood Easter train, Tullow
Board the train at Rathwood Garden where children can watch a pantomime show, featuring Fiona the Fairy and Thomas Toffee rescuing Hop The Bunny from the nasty Sirius Chocolayte. Then go egg-hunting in the Maze of Ireland. From March 23 and April 1. Tickets start at €9.95.