Young visitors to Waterford’s Harvest Festival this September 8th to 10th are in for a treat as an exciting kids zone is filled with a timetable of free fun events, workshops and entertainment all weekend long.
Kicking things off for the festival weekend on Friday, September 8th at 11am is a Storytelling session and Seed Sowing at Ardkeen Library. Little ones imaginations will soar as they are captivated by tales of magic, wonder, and the beauty of the harvest season.
During Saturday September 9th and Sunday September 10th from 11am to 5pm each day there will be a variety of fun and engaging events for kids of all ages. The Junior GIY’ers Kids seed sowing will be in full swing all day long along with kids fun with Wooly Farm along with workshops from Cool Food School plus craft workshops with SE Craft Studios and opportunities to join Monty Potts Kids Growing Workshops.
Monty Potts the legendary grower with a lifelong love for cultivating plants, kids can join him for exciting and educational growing workshops designed especially for children.And of course, Monty’s beloved mascot, Russell Sprout, will be there to inspire and bring a smile to everyone’s face.
SE Craft Studios is a new collaboration between two local Waterford artists and makers Jo McCluskey & Jennie O Neill. They want to bring joy with their work and inspire collaborative, creative & socially engaged art. As much as possible, their art-making sessions use recycled/sustainable materials with their Bees Knees workshops and their Paper Flowers Workshops. For animal lovers the Wooly Farm is sure to be a hit and children can get up close and personal with the adorable furry and feathered friends. From fluffy chicks to cute guinea pigs, from playful hens to gentle ducks, and from cuddly rabbits to bouncing lambs and piglets – they’ll have a chance to pet, interact with, and even feed these delightful creatures.
The crew from Cool Food School will be placing healthy eating to the fore with a delightful adventure for kids of all ages! Join the interactive workshop that will inspire children to develop lifelong healthy habits.
The GIY team will also be on hand to share how even a small food-growing experience can create a profound impact for children. Join an exciting adventure at GIY’s Kids Seed Sowing Station, where children will uncover just how easy and rewarding it is to start growing their own food as they plant their very own seed and take it home to nurture and grow. This hands-on experience will ignite their curiosity and inspire a lifelong love for gardening and fresh produce.
The Harvest Festival has a jam packed programme of events for all tastes and ages throughout the weekend. Highlights include ‘Food Matters’ food sustainability talks with some of the country’s most esteemed food writers, chefs, activists, journalists and business people, it’s guaranteed to be an educational, engaging and entertaining debate each day.
For the food fans Waterford’s rich food heritage will be key, celebrating the City’s diverse restaurants, eateries and producers. The best of Waterford’s food and drink will be centre stage at the giant Harvest Festival Market which will traverse across Waterford’s wonderful squares and interconnecting streets. On the Taste Waterford Kitchen Stage sponsored by Waterford’s Local Enterprise Office, there will be a host of Waterford’s very own food producers and Chefs who will all be sharing their best recipes and food tips.
Special events will also be on offer including a restaurants trail, the World Honey Championships and more.
The Waterford Harvest Festival is funded by Waterford City & County Council and is a weekend-long celebration taking place from Friday 8th to Sunday 10th of September and will see the city come to life with markets, special dining events, panel discussions and plenty more. For further details and to browse the full programme of free entertainment and events see https://harvest.giy.ie/