FREE FAMILY FUN IN THE HEART OF DUBLIN CITY

Dublin City Council's Funtropolis returns to Mountjoy Square Park on Saturday and Sunday, August 19th & 20th, from 12 pm-6 pm.

Families can expect a packed programme of weekend events designed to entertain, amuse and ignite imaginations, from immersive storytelling and exciting street theatre and circus to live music, delicious food & drink, and much more. Funtropolis will also feature a new outdoor mobile sensory unit for neurodiverse children. The unit will be available at all suitable DCC outdoor events in future.

Music lovers can expect an eclectic mix of performers like CÓRus Choir, Code of Behaviour, Rathfarnham Ukulele Group and the one and only DJ Donal Dineen. We will also showcase local music with up-and-coming talent from each area scheduled to perform in association with First Music Contact. The fantastic, multicultural collective that is Go Dance for Change will also be on hand with performances at Merrion Square Park and Mountjoy Square Park to represent and showcase the diverse cultures that make the city the fantastic place it is today.

Expect great entertainment from some well-known faces, including Mark the Science Guy with his energetic display of his favourite experiments, Snatch & Grab, a two-woman punk circus from Belfast, and all-woman cabaret act Daring Dames. There will be tumbles galore from Death or Circus presented by Tumble Circus and an explosive acrobatic show for all ages at On Tish by Síolta Circus.

The hilarious tragicomedy Le pOpéra by Curious State will surely be a hit with humour, live music and comic songs all built into one act. For even more laughs, all-female clown duo Bill & Fred will present their hit show, The Grannies, while much loved Fanzini Productions will showcase their new masterpiece of dance & comedy, Ballet Poulet. Grant Goldie will amaze audiences with his very own projectile assault on gravity, and make sure to keep an eye out for some wandering entertainment like Science on Stilts, Flea Circus, Snails Tale and Mr H as you meander from stage to stage too. The Little Gem Puppet Show will captivate younger guests, who can also get their faces painted for free at the face-painting tent in the park. When you've worked up an appetite, why not check out the range of delicious food & drink options catering to different tastes and dietary requirements?

There's plenty more to keep young minds busy throughout the day, with GOAL providing regular one-hour Changemakers workshops, including interactive storytelling sessions and performances. Younger children (ages 3 -6) will love learning all things Samba at Ta Tum Tum, while over at ReCreate, the slightly older gang can get involved in some collaborative art and games, learning how important it is to reuse and recycle as they play. Learn something new in the Science Zone, or take some time to get Zen in the DCC Sports and Wellbeing Zone, complete with various sports demos. The mobile library is also sure to be a big hit with book lovers, young and old!

Funtropolis is an initiative of Dublin City Council which goes the extra mile to ensure an engaging and enjoyable experience for everyone attending. As guests are encouraged to make their way in on foot or via public transport, buggy storage and bike racks will be available for use, and a drinking water station will be on-site to ensure that everyone can refill their reusable bottles easily throughout the day. A convenient baby feeding area has also been included while removing pitch fees for food and drink vendors will result in better value.

In a move to lead by example in terms of sustainability, Dublin City Council has also implemented a no-single-plastic measure at both events. It is reducing the festival's Carbon Footprint by using only HVO generators throughout. The festival programme has also been thoughtfully curated to ensure that it is truly inclusive and representative of the people and cultures of modern Dublin.