Family and Children’s Events at DBF23

The Dublin Book Festival is just around the corner, and this year it’s the place to be with a packed family and children’s programme full of free family events that are fun for all ages! Whether you and your children are interested in stories, drawing, dancing, or games, there is something for everyone with nearly 20 events of family fun. We’ve got a quick spotlight for you on a few events, happening around our Festival Hub at The Printworks on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th November, that we think you might enjoy. 

Fans of Percy Jackson might be waiting for the new Disney series, but in the meantime don’t forget that Ireland has some immortals of our own. Join us and learn about Ireland’s forgotten gods at God’s Don’t Cry with Ellen Ryan, the award-winning author of Girls Who Slay Monsters. Stop by Saturday at 1.30pm to listen to a reading, find out which Irish god you are, and draw along with illustrator Conor Merriman TICKETS HERE

Fancy a bit of interactive fun and illustration for a younger crowd? Come out to Wild City on Saturday at 11.30am to hang out with Ashwin Chacko and find everyday wonders in the world around us TICKETS HERE. Or hang along with Peter Donnelly and Little Wolf for a good howl at the moon Saturday at 12.30pm TICKETS HERE

For older kids, Wild Wonders on Sunday at 3pm with Aga Grandowicz and Gina McCrudden might be more your speed with a nature focused illustration and storytelling workshop TICKETS HERE. Searching for a bit of fun for the whole family? Look no further, because we’ve got Irish dancing, draw-alongs and goodies on Sunday at 11am with Leona Forde and Karen Harte at Milly McCarthy and the Irish Dancing Disaster TICKETS HERE. Is magic more your speed? Keith Barry is your man. Stop by on Sunday at 11.15am and join the world-renowned brain hacker and mentalist who will delight and inspire the entire family TICKETS HERE  

Put your brains to work with The Wizard’s Dagger murder mystery on Sunday at 12pm. Perfect for inquisitive minds, join crime writer and game designer Fiona Sherlock as you unite with other witches, wizards, and magical creatures to uncover what befell wizard authority Jippity Umlot. It’s an event you won’t want to miss TICKETS HERE

And what about all the drop-in fun we have lined up across the weekend? Get your next book prescription from the Children’s Books Ireland Book Doctors (drop-in but places limited and first come first served, so get your name down early!), get creative at our doodle and craft station, take part in our self-led Dublin Castle Family Treasure Hunt, pick up a brand new book at the bookshop, or swap an old one for someone else’s at the book swap stand. All from the comfort of our lively Winter Garden Festival Hub, with beanbags and hot chocolates a-plenty!

Browse our full programme of family events HERE to find out all about these events and much more.

Everything is free but tickets are going fast, so why not book now and fill your weekend with a bit of fun. We’re looking forward to seeing you in just a few short weeks!