The smallies will love you for this one!
The annual Cork Carnival of Science festival returns to Fitzgerald Park this weekend, and it promises to be a weekend of mini robots, hourly fun science shows, pop-up performances and more.
Curious kids and fun-loving families are invited to explore, investigate, experiment, and discover the wonders of science in the park from 11am to 6pm for the weekend with over 45 FREE science-based activities.
The science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) festival features a packed line-up of live (fun) science shows in circus style tents, walk-about scientific entertainers, hands on workshops, and interactive STEM experiences that will blow kids’ minds!
Here’s our roundup of the top ten things to do to ensure you get the best out of your visit to the Cork Carnival of Science:
- Take a seat at a science show! Seated shows will take place every hour on three stages at the Show Marquee and two Circus Little Tops. Live shows include: Whizzes, Pops and Booms with Mark the Science Guy, The Devastatingly Dramatic Climate Show with Scientific Sue, Air Force hosted by physicists Dr. Stephen Davitt and Phil Smyth from RTÉ’s Home School Hub, an Airheads show by Eureka, Edinburgh, and ‘It’s only Water’ by Science made Simple.
- Be amazed by Pop-up scientists
Science performers will pop up all around the park including Science in a Suitcase, Scientists doing experiments on stilts, and balloons and bubby maths fun with Bubbles the Clown, so keep your eyes peeled for scientific fun just about anywhere!
- Roam the routes for hands-on workshops and activities
Guiding you on your scientific adventure will be themed routes including ‘Exploration Avenue’, ‘Innovation Way’ and ‘Discovery Drive’ which will map out where rows of workshops and interactive experiences are located within the park. Here hands-on workshops will offer the chance to try out a broad variety of science-based tasks, everything from extracting DNA to Cubetto coding for toddlers, working mini robots, making your own battery, and computer science unplugged.
- Listen out for a dino roar!
Join Dale from Naturally Wild and his crew of dinosaur handlers for an interactive dinosaur experience. You’ll journey into the past and even pet some baby dino’s but watch out as the big one is about.
- Get upclose with wildlife!
Younger children will love the mini petting zoo featuring lizards, snakes, spiders, owls, frogs by Animal Roadshow.
- Learn new skills with Lego, games and puzzles:
Children will have tons of fun exploring mechanics, engineering and much more using LEGO® Education at the Learn it LEGO Building Station. They can engage with circuits and electricity to make motorised creations come to life, and there will be large Maths Games, Puzzles and Activities with Lifetime Lab.
- Journey into space via the ‘Stardome’
An inflatable planetarium by the Blackrock Castle Observatory will give everyone the chance to journey into space! This will be located on Innovation Way so make sure to check it out!
- Get in the sports zone
A fun filled active sports zone with tug of war, bean bag races, soccer and rugby will be facilitated by Cork City Council’s Sports and Sustainability division with activities from Cork Sports Partnership, the FAI and IRFU, blend all the fun of sport and the role of the laws of physics.
- Kick off summer with a festival vibe
Make sure to check out the festival’s food markets and live entertainment including Cork’s very own marching band ‘Boolaboom’ and dance for joy with ‘New Moon Dance Company’ both taking place on the River stage, located near the rose garden. Here you’ll also find a selection of street cuisine vendors and picnic benches.
- Map out your discoveries. Make sure to get your hands on the festival brochure on arrival, which includes a colourful map of Fitzgerald’s Park with all the festival attractions laid out alongside the key what, where and when details of shows, workshops, and demonstrations to check out throughout the weekend.
Of course, Fitzgerald Park already features a gigantic wooden playground, extensive gardens, the Cork Public Museum and Café all so it combines perfectly with all the science fun for the ultimate family day out.
For more details see www.corkcity.ie/en/cork-carnival-of-science/ or stay tuned to social media updates from @corkcitycouncilofficial