Sunday Independent (Ireland)

Bloom: the ultimate family festival

Bloom features a dedicated Children’s Area and lots of other family-friendly features to entertain, educate and capture children’s imaginatio­ns.

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Food Dudes Kids Zone

A highlight for families who want to develop their knowledge of horticultu­re, food, science and literature, the new look Food Dudes Kids Zone will host an exciting mix of fun and games for all the family to enjoy!

Food Dudes

The Food Dudes are back at Bloom and this year they are encouragin­g visitors to ‘Eat Well, Be Well and Think Well’ over the Bloom weekend. Keep a watchful eye out for Charlie, Raz, Rocco and Tom as they spread the importance of eating fresh fruit & and vegetables. Take a picture alongside the characters at key Food Dudes selfie stations with healthy hints and tips around Bloom. Join them in a mystery performanc­e on the Kids Stage and learn how to eat your 7-a-day in the rainbow polytunnel.

Food Dudes Passport to Bloom

Use the Food Dudes Passport to travel around Bloom and make the most of your trip! Get as many stamps as possible at designated points, including the 7-a-day rainbow polytunnel, the SEED organic school garden, the Food Dudes Kids Zone, the Irish Craft Village and the Bloom Conservati­on Area. Once completed, enter our exclusive Bloom draw to win one of five family tickets to Playstival, in Airfield Estate, Dundrum, August 10th & 11th 2019. For 2019, the Food Dudes have teamed up with Blossom Ireland, whose work ensures that young people with intellectu­al disabiliti­es are as prepared as possible for adult life. Throughout Bloom, Blossom will have some of their young volunteers on site, helping to coordinate the Bloom Passport stamps, as well as manage the plant crèche. Be sure to say hello to them!

Margaret’s Fun on the Farm

Children will get the chance to have hands-on fun playing with realistic farm toys at Margaret’s Fun on the Farm at Bloom this year. From loading up trailers, trying out diggers, scooping up sand with tractors in the sand pit, to manoeuvrin­g around a life-like model farm display, there’s a whole range of Bruder, Rolly and SIKU farm toys for children of all ages to enjoy. There will be other exciting family and kids activities taking place and we invite you join in and ‘Cluck’ and ‘Bock’ to your hearts content over the weekend!

Children’s Books Ireland (CBI)

A family favourite at Bloom, Children’s Books Ireland will host their ever popular CBI Book Clinic in the Food Dudes Kids Zone, encouragin­g creativity and artwork over the weekend and allowing visitors to decorate their tent with colourful book cover bunting. This year they will run a ‘Win a Library’ competitio­n, giving visitors a chance to win a beautiful set of horticultu­re, environmen­t and sustainabi­lity themed books. With new coats and scrubs, their Book Doctors look forward to meeting even more children at Bloom 2019.

New to Bloom, Playstival will bring the very best of play, discovery and imaginatio­n to Bloom 2019. For the first time, part of the Kids Zone will be transforme­d into a magical ‘Play Universe’ for children to immerse themselves in, using their imaginatio­ns to create ideas, roles and characters, and most importantl­y have lots of fun! At the Playstival Kids Market, children can explore

market stalls, learn about the farm to fork experience, and budding chefs will be able to cook up a storm for families and friends.

Clap Handies

Clap Handies offer babies, wobblers and toddlers (0-3ƒ years) a wonderful chance to play, socialise and develop new skills. Their engaging music and social play classes and activities offer a variety of fun experience­s tailored to the needs of each group. Stop by, have fun and be creative with your kids!

Physics Busking

Physics Busking is a national initiative to promote the awareness and engagement of the Irish public with science, technology, engineerin­g and mathematic­s (STEM). Physic Buskers are a diverse group of science teachers and entreprene­urial researcher­s with a passion for science. Their “busking performanc­es” involve interactiv­e experiment­s and demonstrat­ions selected for maximum engagement, excitement and education. See if they can ignite a spark in you over the Bloom weekend.

Scientific Sue

Have you ever wondered why soap foams or why bath bombs fizz when they come into contact with water? Find out the answer to these questions and more by visiting Sue in her Bath Time Science Laboratory. Volunteers will be required to help Sue find the answers, prepare scientific concoction­s such as foam breathing monsters, bath bombs, cola-volcanoes, ghost bubbles and more… The Kids’ Stage - Barretstow­n This year, we have teamed up with Barretstow­n Children’s Charity to showcase the importance of Therapeuti­c Recreation in the everyday lives of children and families living with serious illness. The significan­ce of play cannot be overstated and we hope that visitors to Bloom gain a deeper understand­ing of the invaluable work done by all of Barretstow­n’s staff and volunteers in helping children to ‘Press Play’. Be amazed, sing, dance, discover and laugh out loud at the Kids’ Stage!

Cool Food School

The Cool Food School teaches children about the joys of healthy cooking and eating. Since 2018, Deirdre Doyle has been encouragin­g children to eat more fruit and veggies in pre-schools, primary schools and libraries around Dublin and Wicklow. She has prepared a fun and interactiv­e ‘healthy habit’ workshop especially for Bloom 2019 where visitors to the Kids Zone will get the chance to take part in blind tasting, rainbow making and storytelli­ng. Catch the workshop on the Kids’ Stage over the Bloom weekend!

Fairy Magic from Keelings

This year Keelings has teamed up with Murphy + Sheanon, landscape architectu­re and horticultu­ral practice, to design the ‘Keelings Sensory Symphony’ tunnel, an inspiring experience of fun and exploratio­n through taste, smell, touch, sound and sight. Acknowledg­ing the importance of bees, butterflie­s and other insect population­s in the growth of quality berries, the tunnel will include ‘Friends from the Farm’, together with plants, patterns and colour palettes, creating the optimal growing environmen­t.

A magical addition this year includes the Keelings ISPCC Fairy Tree.

Each donation, will gift a ribbon on the Keelings magical Fairy Tree, inspiring every child’s positive intention! Keelings’ experts will be on hand with a daily schedule of growing workshops.

Families will also be invited to create nectar rich seed bombs to throw or sow in their own garden. Keelings Strawberri­es will be available to sample, and to purchase all weekend at Bloom.

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 ??  ?? There are plenty of activities to keep young minds occupied
There are plenty of activities to keep young minds occupied
 ??  ?? Family fun at Bloom
Family fun at Bloom
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 ??  ?? Discoverin­g and sharing ideas at Bloom
Discoverin­g and sharing ideas at Bloom
 ??  ?? Yummy! Watch out for homegrown strawberri­es
Yummy! Watch out for homegrown strawberri­es
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Showtime! Fun for all the family
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