Culture Night returns on September 22nd, giving the people of Ireland the opportunity to visit many of our cultural attractions for free. If you're looking for inspiration for what to see and do this year, check out this list of events that might offer something a bit different. 

Aerial Cirque, Dublin

Aerial Cirque is an aerial performance and teaching studio. Look up at those big stain glass windows and you'll often catch them flying about in the air! They will be hosting two 50 minute child + parent cocoon classes from 5-7pm and opening up the viewing area from 7-9pm for the public to watch student members practicing their skills. The classes are a ticketed event with limited space; please visit aerialcirque.org/culturenight to book a spot for your child. Please note that for the classes, we require one guardian per child, who will both be taking part.

Castle Dracula, Dublin

Travel back in time and enjoy a heart-thumping visit to Castle Dracula. Meet the weird and wonderful characters from the story of Dracula and learn about Irish writer Bram Stoker, who wrote Dracula, at one of Dublin’s most exciting, fun and unique Irish adult attractions.

Introduction to Geocaching, Dublin

Learn about the wonderful world of geocaching, a game where players hide and seek containers called ‘geocaches’ at specific locations, marked by coordinates, all over the world. Join members of Geocaching Ireland and seek out some caches yourself!

The Clockwork Door, Dublin

The Clockwork Door is Ireland's first and only TimeHouse; a brand new concept business being pioneered here. A TimeHouse is a pay per minute venue where guests have free and unlimited access to everything; tea, coffee, biscuits, popcorn, games and all live events. There are 6 active rooms, from the video games room with more than 12,000 video games, to a cosy room filled with teddy bears and bubble wrap! This is a non-alcoholic venue dedicated to providing a friendly place to meet, stay and play with friends old and new.

Bishopstown Library, Cork

Two short talks on Jane Austen by the co-founders of West Cork College, Dr. Bernie McCarthy and Dr. Emma Bidwell. Bernie will look at reason: Jane Austen’s passion for reason and her use of reason for controlling passion. Emma will be giving a humorous and informative look at people's passion for Jane Austen. From the early critical reviews of her work to the first Jane Austen societies, the fans, the festivals and the obsessive’s will be explored. She will finish off with some examples of the weirder homage’s to Jane Austen in film, clothes and even cats.

Cultural Collisions, Edenderry, Co. Offaly

Edenderry Town Hall square will metamorphose through music, dance, food, puppetry, surreal carnival and theatrics to shout out an invitation to all the diverse people of the community to play! The chair is the central motif of the night, a symbol of the stories and identity of multicultural Edenderry. There will be all manner of weird and wonderful chairs dotted around the space. Which one will capture your imagination? Bring your favourite chair to sit on or donate a chair or take part in a chair exchange. The evening will celebrate the familiar and unfamiliar featuring writer Steve Downes and internationally renowned composer and soundscape artist Anne Cleare lending diminutive beauty to our Edenderry experience through sonic bog fonics!

Festival of Fashion & Light at the National Design & Craft Gallery

Bring a picnic and join us for a Festival of Fashion & Light! With music and making, fashion and fun we invite you to get creative with unusual drop-in workshops such as Shibori & Indigo Installation, Japanese Lantern Making and Felt Fidget Making! Bring your knitting to join our KNITATHON or check out upcoming talent with Primary School Fashion Eye-Cons, Junk Kouture Fashion Show and Ossory Youth Bands performing!

The Pine Rack, Ballintober, Co. Mayo

The Pine Rack is a traditional country workshop using traditional tools and furniture making skills. As part of Culture Night 2017 Brendan Murphy will be taking a closer look at traditional wooden stool making. On the evening he will demonstrate and talk in greater detail about the process and inviting the audience to see how the three-legged milking stools are made from start to finish. This is a wonderful opportunity to visit a master craftsman in his workshop and gain an insight into some of the traditional skills he is preserving in his work. The evening will also include an exhibition of miniature replicas of derelict cottages from the west of Ireland.