Things to do with kids in Cork this Christmas
A view of the Ferris Wheel that has been installed on the Grand Parade as part of Corkmas. Picture; David Creedon
Wonderlights has returned to Fota House again this Christmas, with over a million lights and sculptures, illuminating a 1km sensory trail on the grounds. We were delighted to be invited along to check out this year’s event. For anyone who hasn’t been, attendees follow a pathway through a series of light and sound installations, with the journey culminating at an Alpine Village with an array of food and beverage offerings.
This isn’t your typical walk amongst Christmas lights, but a genuinely sensory experience. My favourite installation, ‘Pond Symphony’, has a somewhat ethereal feel and has seen the pond at Fota House transformed with glowing lily pads and music. Our youngest was mesmerised by a light show projected on to Fota House itself featuring woodland animals.
The ‘Cathedral Tunnel’ and ‘Artic Forrest’ were favourites for my older children.
The pathway is easy to follow and we made our way through the lights experience in under an hour. There are plenty of photo ops and while our children are not at the age where they wanted a lot of pictures, for families looking to capture more, definitely give yourself more time to complete the trail.
Last year, we comfortably followed the route with a buggy and observed others doing the same this year.
There was a nice mix of food and drinks in the Alpine Village - it was cool and misty the night we attended, so the hot chocolates were welcome. It definitely gets cold, so wrap up.
- Tickets start from €15 per person. See www.wonderlights.ie.
The weeks leading up to Christmas can be a hectic time for families and taking a break from the hustle and bustle of the season by stepping into nature, can provide a welcome reprieve. There is no shortage of great family walks in Cork, but one of our favourites at this time of year has to be Farran Wood.
The forest offers a number of trails - many accessible with buggies. A highlight of any visit there has to be seeing the park’s resident herd of red and fallow deer. Who knows – maybe some of these deer might even provide a bit of help to Santa himself at Christmas!
The playground at Farran Woods is well equipped and always busy. We like to bring a flask of hot chocolate and a few treats to enjoy at one of the many picnic tables dotted around the park after our walk, although, there is often a coffee van on site too, and the toilets are accessible when the park is open.
- There is a €5 card charge on entering the car park. See coillte.ie
Santa will be making appearances at a number of locations in Cork over the weeks ahead, with a selection of free and paid for visits.
Children can visit Santa at Mahon Point during selected hours over the coming weeks (free event) and the big man is due to make his annual drive-through appearance in Carrigaline on December 12 with help from emergency services.
We were invited to see Santa at Santa’s Magical Market – The Big Freeze at the Marina Market in recent weeks. Attendees are encouraged to leave the world behind and step through the magical cave portal at the market into Santa’s world. Before meeting him, families meet the elves at Santa’s Post Office, where children can post their letters to Santa. Our youngest enjoyed the lovely custom-made projection animation.
At Santa’s Village, a Scandinavian inspired snow village of wooden chalets, families can enjoy candyfloss (an optional extra) and make a donation at the Enable Ireland Giving Tree if they wish. What is perhaps unique at Santa’s Magical Market is that the visit is also dog-friendly - giving families the chance to include their pets in the holiday tradition. There are a few nice photo ops including at Santa’s sleigh and with the reindeer. Attendees can buy family pictures with Santa himself.
Santa’s Magical Market – The Big Freeze runs until December 23. The experience is fully accessible, dog-friendly, and offers designated sensory-friendly hours every Sunday from 11am-12pm.
- See: clr.ie/137761 or follow @santasmagicalmarket on social media for ticket information.
We’re in the throes of panto season and there’s no shortage of fantastic performances in Cork. In the city, is running at Cork Opera House while is at The Everyman, and both have received glowing reviews.
We went to the Opera House panto last weekend and I have to say it offered the ultimate escapism – circa two hours of laughing so hard I had tears running down my face. Add in music, plenty of pop culture and the mortifed parents getting on their feet to dance to Soda Pop, and you have a recipe for a great evening.
For anyone attending either the Opera House panto, or indeed the Everyman show, the market at Emmet Place is worth a visit.
- Tickets for the panto at Cork Opera House are priced at €25 | €39.50 | €42.50 with a Family Pass from €145. See www.corkoperahouse.ie
- Tickets for the panto at the Everyman are priced at €25 |€30| €38.50| with a Family Pass €140. See everymancork.com.
Corkmas is in full swing in Cork – the iconic Ferris Wheel has returned to Grand Parade and Christmas markets are open at Emmet Place. From this weekend, families can enjoy activities at two additional festive hubs: the newly reopened Bishop Lucey Park and the newly developed Counting House Plaza on South Main Street.
At Bishop Lucey Park, families can expect a mix of festive games, creative workshops and Christmassy performances from noon to 6pm this Saturday and Sunday. Each day begins with free Christmas-themed games, including magnet mazes, candy-cane limbo and reindeer ring toss. A host of roaming circus performers - from stilt walkers to jugglers and playful hula- hoop artists - bring added sparkle throughout the early afternoon. Cork Community Art Link will host Christmas Sparkle workshops. The park will also host a kids’ disco tomorrow.
The newly opened Counting House Plaza will become Cork’s newest festive stage, presenting an exciting mix of musical performances, choral celebrations, dance displays and community showcases across this weekend. The Saturday programme opens with the historic Barrack Street Band, followed by the Kabin Crew, Cork’s own drumming collective Boola Boom, and an evening performance from Grooveline. On Sunday, Sing-Along Social will lead the crowd through favourite Christmas pop classics before young musicians from Mahon Community Concert Band and Barrack Street Youth Band unite in a special Music Generation collaboration.
Voices of Cork, the Trish McCarthy School of Dance, Choral ConFusion, the Munster String Quartet and operatic soloist Emma Nash all take to the stage throughout the evening. The event concludes with Voices of Peace, an intercultural children’s and youth choir from the Cork Academy of Music and CreativeIrl, who will offer a performance of Ukrainian Christmas songs.
- See corkmas.ie
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