A sleepover at Waterford's Medieval Museum surrounded by ancient artefacts, a Viking excavation where the kids are the archaeologists, a Viking School to make and handle your own weaponry, archery for families and an authentic Medieval Fair will be amongst the offerings at the inaugural WiKID (Waterford Kids) festival, which takes place from Fri. 20th June to Sun. 22nd June.
Part of the Waterford1100 celebrations, WiKID is tailored for kids - big and small - and encompasses history, arts, nature and performance under a series of programme strands children will relate to: Totally Wikid Stuff, Nature Stuff, Cool Stuff; Fun Stuff and Wikid Arty Stuff.
Sleepover at the Medieval Museum - a first for an Irish museum - allows 8-12yrs olds to bed down for the night surrounded by ancient artefacts. Vadrarfjordr Viking Village showcases 'Vikings' at work and play. A special Viking School allows young attendees to handle (under supervision) authentic weapons and chainmail and design and paint their own wooden shields.
The Big Dig offers a simulated and controlled archaeological dig where 5-12 year olds can work alongside real archaeologists. Have a Go Archery! offers safe target shooting for all the family. WiKID Streets deliver a series of medieval street entertainment - jousting knights, minstrels, fire eaters - and a traditional Punch & Judy show.
Circus theatre continues with Tumble Circus, featuring disobedient clowns, suffering acrobats and confused jugglers, and The Tallest Smallest Circus, where the audience stand in for the missing circus acts! Nature Stuff highlights include early morning nature walks for kids and Animal Magic where mammals, raptors, amphibians, arachnids and birds of prey and be viewed and handled at close quarters.
Puppet-Making Workshops, the debut exhibition party by Waterford Young Arts Critics and backstage tours of the Theatre Royal are some of the Wikid Arty Stuff programme elements. The Cool Stuff programme includes a personal talk by 14-year-old gaming CEO Jordan Casey entitled From the Suir Valley to Silicon Valley; a Rap & Beat Workshop where you can learn to write, record and produce your own rap and hip-hop music. Fun Stuff includes The WiKID Historic Treasure Hunt featuring four different routes.