The Baboró International Arts Festival for children is Ireland’s flagship festival devoted exclusively to children and families. The 26th annual Baboró festival returns this year from Friday October 14th to Sunday October 23rd.
This festival takes places across theatres, galleries, schools and communities across Galway city and county. This year the festival will occur over an extended time period of 10 days and will feature over 50 live events!
Baboró celebrates art in all its forms, through literature, theatre, music and dance. The full festival programme will be announced on the 6th of September, but in the meantime, here is a sneak peek of the fun to come!
DER LAUF
Velocimanes Associes – Le Cirque du Bout du Monde
8+ years
Der Lauf features two circus performers, who are struggling to complete a series of bizarre challenges as they juggle blindly, spin plates wildly, and stack glasses while wearing a set of huge boxing gloves! This act showcases the performers attempting to play a series of absurd games with you being their only guide through their surreal circus world. This is sure to be a captivating experience for children and adults alike.
THE GLASSHOUSE
Ballet Ireland
6 -12 years
A beautiful new dance show choreographed by Róisín Whelan, The Glasshouse tells the story of Fiach, who is on a mission to keep his last plant alive, as the rest of the greenery in his city is burning to ashes. As he gathers new friends along the way, it becomes an adventure, trying to repopulate the earth with plants and make it green again.
GRAND SOFT DAY
Branar & New International Encounter
3 - 6 years
A cute and charming new show, Grand Soft Day showcases the wonders of the world and the weather. This is a show about always being prepared, even though you don’t always know what the day might bring, especially in Ireland! This is a mainly non-verbal show and features mostly physical storytelling as well as live music!
MINCÉIR FLOWER MAKING
Maggie McDonagh
6+ years
In association with Widden Ar Geels, join Maggie as she guides you through the skill of traditional flower making that’s been passed down through the generations. Participants will get the chance to make a selection of delicate and beautiful paper flowers using traditional Mincéir crafting.
MAKING WORTH WITH AND FOR AUTISTIC YOUNG AUDIENCES
Natasha Gilmore & Barrowland Ballet
Adults
Everyone has the right to artistic expression; however, we often find that young audiences with complex needs are under-represented underserved and face multiple barriers to accessing the arts. This workshop is for artists and creative professionals with an interest in working for young audiences with complex needs. The workshop will bring participants through practical work as well as presentations and discussions on the topic. *Participants are asked to wear comfortable clothing and footwear during this session.
OF BLUEBELLS AND BUTTERFLIES
Graffit:BEAG
0 - 12 months
Promising to soothe and delight both babies and parents, this interactive dance theatre performance brings children through a fantastical garden full of wonderous creatures that come to life with imagination. Performers playfully engage with children through song, gentle movement, touch and play in this immersive, multisensory experience. For almost 40 years, Graffiti has been creating theatre and quality arts experiences from Cork that give children and young people a voice; the freedom to express themselves and help them to imagine a better world.
ROTHAR
Branar
4 - 8 years
Where can you go when there is nowhere to go? In the little bike shop at the end of town, a world of adventure awaits. Two boys and their bikes travel the world in a show that conjures play from the everyday and where anything is possible. This joyful production celebrates the places your imagination can take you. Produced in association with Drama NUI Galway and Baboró International Arts Festival for Children, as part of Creative Europe’s Mapping Project.
Tickets are available now and can be purchased here!
