Wainfest, Donegal’s annual arts and book festival for children, is back to doing what it does best! Providing quality, inspiring, and accessible events for young audiences in many venues across Donegal. This year’s programme is packed full of opportunities for children to come together to celebrate the arts, culture and creativity.
It all kicks off this Saturday 8th October and runs until the 16th. There’s still time for families and schools to get tickets to some fantastic events across the county.
This Saturday there’s a wonderful and diverse line-up of events taking place in Bundoran, Gaoth Dobhair, Letterkenny, Buncrana and Carndonagh which can still be booked. Donegal Junior String Orchestra will host a Wainfest Strings Special at the Glebe Gallery, Churchill at 12.30pm on Saturday which families are invited to come along and enjoy. For book lovers, Oakfield Park host their Harry Potter Experience and Eclipse Cinemas Lifford-Strabane and Bundoran are screening The Railway Children on Saturday 8th, 9th and again on Saturday 15th and 16th.
For schools and home schoolers, don’t miss out on the unique opportunity to see the combination of live music and illustration as local illustrator Kim Sharkey draws Whales live on stage at the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny to music on Friday 14th October. There’s also availability for online sessions with Konfident Kidz who will host confidence building activities and learning strategies for children with autism to help with communication. We have limited availability to join online sessions with authors such as Judi Curtin, Lisa Thompson and James Campbell.
The family fun continues throughout the week with opportunities to attend a bedtime screening of Alice in Wonderland at the Regional Cultural Centre on Tuesday 11th at 7pm. Enjoy a Family Fun Day at Donegal Railway Heritage Centre on the 13th and there’s availability for a range of activities with Spraoi agus Sport in Carndonagh.
On Saturday 15th a fun intercultural workshop with Karolina Olchowska at Central Library will explore the similarities between Polish and Irish Cultures. Ceol na Sióg with Gráinne Holland, an Irish language event, will take place in Arainn Mhór and Amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair. Explore the wonders of nature with RTE’s Éanna Ni Lamhna in her Wild about Nature events in Muff and Buncrana on the 15th and Letterkenny on 16th. And visit Glenveagh National Park on Sunday 16th where they will host a woodland workshop and exhibition. Booking is essential for most events.
The festival committee have also arranged a free online workshop for parents on Wednesday 12th October at 7pm with Rachel Varney, Therapeutic SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) for the ADHD Foundation. The event will explore Neurodiversity focusing specifically on ADHD, the Neuroscience, how it can present & strategies that can support lifestyle.
Speaking about the festival, joint festival coordinator Sinéad McLaughlin said “We’re so glad to have a return to an environment where children can flourish by coming together in a physical setting. At the same time, we’re mindful of the flexibility that online opportunities have offered schools over the past number of years, so we’re delighted to offer a hybrid approach. We are looking forward to welcoming thousands of children, their teachers, parents, and carers to something tailored just for them this Wainfest. There’s lots of fun to be had and many of the events are free to attend.”
To avoid disappointment, visit www.wainfest.ie and book your place today, as some events have sold out already”.
For more information about the festival including booking information and event times visit www.wainfest.ie or follow @DonegalCountyLibrary on Facebook and @DonegalLibrary on Twitter.
