If you can make it to Belfast any time between May 21-30 then don’t miss the chance to get your kids involved in the 2010 Belfast Children’s Festival.  Packed with fun, free and original events and activities aimed at children ranging in age from 0-14 years, the Festival brings together artists from across Europe in an international celebration the like of which NI has never seen before – in fact, the festival is the first in the province to have been awarded ‘ASSITEJ International Festival status.

This year’s festival takes the theme ‘Perspectives’ and there are a whole host of really cool things to see and do over the course of the 10 days.  Many of the events are free, some require tickets and others need to be booked in advance.  For full event listings and information visit the Festival’s website.  Here’s our pick of the must-sees:

Special Opening Event

Waterfront Hall, Friday 21st May, 6pm.

Suitable for children aged 6 and up, the Festival will be officially opened by Children’s Laureate, author and illustrator Anthony Browne.  He will introduce children to his work with a talk and a reading, exploring some of the games he uses to develop imagination. Following this, audiences will be treated to a performance of Replay Theatre Company’s Mickey & Lionel.  This event is free of charge for children and their families, and there will be a collection on the night in aid of ChildLine.

Cardboard Cities

Out of Place, Castle Lane / Multiple showings

Cardboard Cities is a unique installation piece created by artists and architects with children. Using freestanding pieces built from cardboard and adding their own extra features, visitors of all ages to the exhibition can adapt and rebuild the city as often as they wish. A child’s favourite toy is a cardboard box – imagine a city made from them!  Suitable for all ages, the event is hosted in association with PS2, PLACE and SPACE: School of Planning Architecture and Civil Engineering.

Once Upon a Time

PS2 – Donegall Street / Multiple showings

Interactive storytelling where the ending is decided by the kids!  In Once Upon a Time, Patrick Sanders encourages 5-8 year olds to exercise their imaginations by dreaming up vivid twists and turns in the story and bringing it to life with fabulous illustrations.  Places are strictly limited and booking a necessity.

Festival goes to the Waterworks

Waterworks Park, Antrim Road / Sat 22 May, 12-8pm

A fantastic day out for kids of all ages (even grown-up ones!), the Festival goes to the Waterworks Park on the Antrim Road with its beautiful surroundings specially dressed for the occasion.  There will be something for everyone, including workshops, circus performances, face painting, an open air music arena in partnership with Oh Yeah Music Centre, a visit from the Cool FM Roadshow, the Wheelworks ArtCart, a skate park and a special children’s market including food stalls in a circus tent – this fun filled day will be a big hit with the whole family. Bring a picnic for a really great day out!

The Seasons of Pallina

Crescent Arts Centre / Multiple showings

Suitable for 2-8 year olds, award winning production ‘The Seasons of Pallina’ tells the exciting story of a little red ball as it travels through life!  Painting, video projection, storytelling and music are cleverly blended in a captivating production that follows the ball as it grows and transforms into a fish, a flower, a worm, a chick and a snow flake.

Goblin Market

Black Box / Sunday 23 May, 1-5pm

The most bizarre bazaar, the Goblin Market is a real feast for the imagination and kids are sure to be entranced by the menagerie of weird and wonderful creatures bustling among the stalls and peddling their fantastical faerie fayre!  Suitable for all ages and definitely not to be missed.

Tea & Tales

Ulster Hall / Multiple showings

With comfy bean bags and lots of books children of all ages and their parents can choose to listen to stories read on the hour from the best of contemporary children’s fiction or simply relax in a quiet comfy area to choose something to read for themselves.  Tea & Tales is a welcome ‘time out’ amid the hustle and bustle of the city.

Olga Volt the Electric Fairy

Grand Opera House / 26&27 May, multiple showings

Fantastic theatre for kids and adults alike from Shona Reppe Puppets, Scotland.  Join Olga Volt the Electric Fairy as she prepares to dazzle yet another audience when catastrophe strikes and something goes horribly wrong. What will she do now? Does anyone have a torch?  Engaging and unforgettable.  Suitable for 7 and overs.

Minor Matters

Crescent Arts Centre / Multiple showings

Minor Matters, sponsored by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, offers children aged over 6 years the opportunity to hear from a beggar sleeping in a corner. The man has a sophisticated yet funny story to tell them; he was once a farmer, he tended to his cattle and to his fields. He was content.  But suddenly he started to think something was missing. In this exceptional performance he asks his young audience ‘what do we need, to be happy?’ while he tells us about the breakdown of his life.

Charlie & Lola’s Best Bestest Play

Waterfront Hall / 28&29 May, multiple showings

Kids’ favourites Charlie and Lola are brought to life with a magical mix of music and puppetry.  Aimed at children aged three and up, this is an ideal early theatre experience.
Baby Rave – Waterfront Hall

The ever-popular baby rave event takes on a Bollywood theme this year so dust off your sari and prepare to boogy on down, Bhangra style!  Complete with pram parking, the event is suitable for under 4s.

Pre-Teenage Kicks

Black Box / 30 May, 7-9pm

Suitable for kids aged 6 and up and their parents, the Pre-Teenage Kicks event was a massive success at last year’s event and is back for 2010, offering discerning young music lovers the chance to see some rising local talent play live.

Get Involved!

Young at Art, the company behind Belfast Children’s Festival, are currently recruiting volunteers aged 14 and upwards to help children and their families as they enjoy and interact within the Festival’s many events.  If you’re interested, find out more here.