Samhain Festival 2024: Family Fun Day - VISUAL

VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art &
The George Bernard Shaw Theatre

Samhain Festival 2024: Family Fun Day

Cross the threshold into an otherworldly realm of traditional games, magical art workshops, crafting with straw, and haunting tales!

Sunday 27th October 2024 | 2pm - 5pm

Admission: Free, booking required for 'Ghostly Tales and Spooky Shenanigans' ONLY

Book free tickets for Ghostly Tales and Spooky Shenanigans
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2pm - 5pm | Spooky Scavenger Hunt

Set by the team of artists working in VISUAL, this Scavenger Hunt is fun for all ages with lots of spooky surprises, creepy clues and hidden codes. Families can drop-in at the front of VISUAL to pick up a treasure hunt map and follow the hunt around the grounds of VISUAL and Carlow College. There are fantastic art prizes to be won!

2pm - 5pm | A "Scary" Story Without Words @ The Lobby Gallery

Drop-in Art Workshop

Enter this interactive space for all ages exploring spooky collage and layering with images and objects from the natural and man-made world. Play with live projection, lights and sounds and create an imagined world and the scary story that could take place there…

2pm - 5pm | Space Horrors Workshop @ The Link Gallery

Drop-in Art Workshop

Enter the astral realm of magical stars where space ghosts float and lurk! Lighting up the darkness with an ethereal glow! Using glow in the dark elements, we invite you to explore different materials creating the characters, ghosts and stars that might inhabit this other worldly space... Families with children of all ages are invited to join this art workshop in the gallery.

2pm - 5pm | Asterisms @ The Main Gallery

Explore Asterisms in the eerie dark of the Main Gallery. This immersive solo exhibition by Amie Siegel is both a moving-image work and a sculptural installation, featuring a uniquely star-shaped wall of overlapping images.

2pm - 5pm | Little "Creepy Crawlies" VISUAL

Early Years Play Area

The Early Years Play Area is for Little VISUAL visitors, aged 1 - 4 years, to play and explore with some “not-too-spooky” materials, and for parents to relax. Free, drop-in anytime!

2pm - 5pm | Straw Craft Workshop in Carlow College

Learn to work with straw, inspired by traditional Mumming garb. Make headpieces, dolls, crosses and chat about the history of using straw in traditional Samhain celebrations in Ireland. Free, drop-in workshop, all ages welcome!

2pm - 5pm | Deadly Disco with DJ Robbie

Follow the music and find yourself in a glowing, otherworldly disco filled with dynamic beats and creatures that dance and sway. Upstairs in the Digital Gallery at VISUAL, show us your sweetest moves and be in with a chance to win prizes for THROWING THE WEIRDEST SHAPES, MOST TERRIFYING, THE SILLIEST MOVER, THE SASSIEST MOVER, THE MOST GHOULISH GROOVE.

2pm - 5pm | Costume Competition

Costumes Essential!!! Judges will be roaming the venue and grounds awarding prizes throughout the day. These discerning judges are professional spooks and ghouls and they’ll be looking for the most creative and terrifying costumes. There are some fabulous prizes to be won for: BEST HOMEMADE COSTUME, MOST CREATIVE, MOST TERRIFYING TODDLER, BEST THEMED TEAM and THE PUNNIEST COSTUME!

2pm - 5pm | Old School Games with Carlow Sports Partnership

Enjoy broomstick racing in witch costumes, toss bean bags into a monster’s mouth or try your hand at a witch ring toss. Get creative with Samhain-themed kite making and relive childhood fun with traditional games like sack races and hopscotch. In case of rain, most activities will move indoors, ensuring the fun continues no matter the weather!

2.20pm, 3.20pm, 4.20pm | Ghostly Tales and Spooky Shenanigans

At this time of year when shadows are darkest and you might hear a devilish shriek on the breeze, enter the theatre if you dare, for some terrifying tales from The Storyteller.

Samhain Festival at VISUAL runs from Friday 25th to Sunday 27th October, offering something for everyone, from workshops and performances to exhibitions and more. For full details and updates, visit our website or follow us on social media.

Samhain Festival 2024 is made possible thanks to support from Fáilte Ireland and Carlow County Council under the Festivals, Events and Tourism Venue Fund and the Arts Council of Ireland.

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