We’re back with our pick of the best things to do with your dinky Dubliners this February. It’s all about hearts and hogs this month as Dublin embraces Valentine’s Day and gets festive for the Year of the Pig.
Dublin Chinese New Year Festival is from 1st – 17th with a packed programme of fun for all ages, many more than we can include here.
1st 2 – 4pm: St Brigid’s Cross Make and Take Workshop @ Christchurch Cathedral.
Mark the feast day of St Brigid by crafting your own traditional woven cross in this drop-in workshop. Kids under 12 participating in the workshop are entitled to free admission to the Cathedral (normal fee applies to accompanying adults).
FREE
All ages
Dublin 8
1st – 3rd Feb from 12.00pm: Being an Astronaut VR Experience @ Science Gallery
View the first VR film ever shot in space! Through 360° Virtual Reality films, discover what it means to be an astronaut from training on Earth to travelling to the International Space Station or go for a spacewalk!
FREE
13+
Dublin 2
2nd from 9.30am: Family Day @ dlr LexIcon
A celebration of Chinese New Year with an Irish Twist. Expect parent and toddler yoga, kite-making, concerts, art workshops, virtual reality and dragon and lion dancers.
FREE
All ages
Dun Laoghaire
2nd 11.00am – 2.00pm: Meet the Pigs @ Dublin City Farm
Welcome the Year of the Pig at the newly-developed Dublin City Farm by meeting two of the farm’s resident hogs, Willow and Ash. With knowledgeable farm staff on hand, you can learn all about a day in the life of these two prized piggies!
FREE
All ages
Dublin 5
2nd 11.15am: Chinese New Year Traditions (Creative Teens Lab) @ Chester Beatty Library
Gather together to learn all about Chinese New Year customs. Try your hand at using chopsticks, explore the culinary traditions, and learn about arts and crafts of this ancient culture.
FREE, booking required
Ages 12-17
Dublin 2
2nd 2.00 – 3.00pm: Chinese New Year Family Workshop @ Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane
Join artist Kathryn Maguire to make Chinese Lanterns and Blossom Trees decorated with symbols inspired the Year of the Pig.
FREE
All ages
Dublin 1
6th & 20th 10.00am – Parent and Toddler Session @ Dublin Zoo
Toddlers will get an opportunity to learn more about the zoo’s wonderful wildlife through stories, crafts and visits to their habitats.
€5 Annual Pass Holders, €10 Non-Pass Holders
Ages 1 – 3
Dublin 8
6th 10.30am: Tiny Fingers Little Toes – Animals of the Zodiac @ Chester Beatty Library
Come and meet the Jade Emperor and listen to stories about all his animals.
FREE (booking required)
Under 6’s
Dublin 2
8th & 9th, various times: String Play @ The Ark
Enjoy a musical trip through an ordinary day. Three friends go on a playful non-verbal journey using only music and sounds to tell you about all the activities they do together.
€12.50
Ages 5+
Dublin 2
9th & 10th from 11.00am: Spring Festival Fair @ CHQ Building
Inspired by Chinese temple fairs, or ‘Miaohui’, this event combines performances, workshops, storytelling with Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin and more, screenings, demonstrations and games, plus tasty food stalls and special appearances by international visitors.
FREE
All ages
Dublin 1
9th 11.00am – 7.00pm: 5th Annual Chinese New Year Celebration @ Hill Street Family Resource Centre
Enjoy performances by local children and adults in Chinese Music, Dance, Drama and Visual Arts. This is an unmissable opportunity for families to celebrate inclusion and diversity as we say goodbye to the Year of the Dog and welcome the year of the Pig.
FREE
All Ages
Dublin 1
9th 2.00pm – 3pm: Chinese New Year – Bolang Gu @ Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane
Work with artist Jane Fogarty to make your own Bolang Gu instrument and use colours and symbols from China to decorate it.
€7
Ages 6 – 8
Dublin 1
10th 11.30am & 1.30pm: Valentine’s Craft Workshop @ Rathfarnham Castle
Make a Valentine’s card for someone special in this workshop.
FREE, booking essential
Ages 7 – 11
Dublin 14
10th & 24th 3.00-4.00pm: Family Tour – An Introduction to Collins Barracks @ National Museum Decorative Arts & History
Learn about the history of Collins Barracks, from the 1700s to the present day and its transition from Barracks to Museum, taking in some of the highlights from the Museum’s exhibitions.
FREE
All ages
Dublin 7
12th 10.30am – 12.00pm: Tiny Tots Tuesday – Gymboree @ EPIC
Learning is made fun through this workshop of music, dance and games for little hands and feet.
€12
Ages 6 months – 3.5 years
Dublin 1
13th 3.00pm – Valentine’s Day Card Making @ Ballyroan Library
Valentine’s themed craft workshop.
FREE, booking required (from 4th Feb)
Ages 5+
Dublin 14
14th 12.00, 2.00 & 4.00pm: Pop-Up Valentine’s Card @ Imaginosity
Card making workshop in the Art Workshop Room at Dublin’s Children’s Museum.
Free with admission to museum (adults €8, children 3+ €8)
Ages 3 – 9
Dublin 18
16th 2.30 – 4.00pm: Movie Time at the Library @ Blackrock Library
Autism friendly film screening for families.
FREE
All ages
Blackrock
17th 1.00 – 4.00pm – Jurassic Skies Open Day @ National Museum Decorative Arts & History
Visit the temporary exhibition, Jurassic Skies and join in one of several related events including storytelling, art workshops and fossil handling.
FREE
All ages
Dublin 7
19th -22nd 11.00am – 12.00pm: Early Years Spring Course for 1 – 3 Year Olds @ Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane
Celebrate the colours, textures and sounds of Spring during this four day art camp with artists Frances Coghlan and Ashleigh Downey.
€22
Ages 1 – 3
Dublin 1
21st & 22nd 10.00am – 2.30pm: Junior Spring Workshops @ Dublin Zoo
Fun, educational one-day workshops that harness springtime activities.
€30 Annual Pass Holders, €35 Non-Pass Holders
Ages 6-12
Dublin 8
21st 11.30am – 1.30pm: Medieval Love Tokens @ National Museum – Archaeology
Find out more about love and courting in Medieval times and to make your own love token to bring home.
FREE
Ages 8+
Dublin 2
23rd 2.30 – 4.30pm: Prehistory Mysteries! Humans and the Natural World @ National Museum – Archaeology
Chat to the Museum Educators who will have an array of replica artefacts and raw materials to pick up and examine.
FREE
All ages
Dublin 2
24th 9.40am: The Jungle Book @ Stella Theatre
Family screening of the 1967 Disney classic.
€8
All ages
Dublin 6
25th 10.30am & 12.30pm: Bring Along a Baby @ National Concert Hall
Enjoy a relaxed performance of chamber music while babies and very young children sleep feed and play.
€13 adults, babies go free
Dublin 2
From 28th various times: Peat @ The Ark
World premiere of new play by Kate Heffernan.With lightness and humour, Peat asks big questions about life, death, time and history.
€12.50
Ages 8+
Dublin 2
Mum Tribe Ireland 