A series of free family events for the Christmas festivities, including a screening of ‘The Muppets Christmas Carol’ at the Light House Cinema, will take place on 3 December between 2pm-5pm at Smithfield Square.
The event called ‘Glow’ is “based around seasonal themes of winter and light, with a warm and intimate programme of family performances, comedy, music and workshops in Smithfield Square”, explains a spokesperson for the one-day Christmas-themed event.
This is the third year the Glow event is being arranged in Smithfield; it's programmed by Grasshopper Events for Dublin City Council.
“Activities will take place in Smithfield Square, with locations on and around the Square hosting indoor and outdoor activities,” the spokesperson adds.
“Dublin City Council, Grasshopper Events and Glow have linked with local businesses, such as Brown Bag Films to create bespoke workshops and music performances and is supported by local businesses the Generator, Oscars Cafe Bar and Maldron Hotel.”
A beautifully lit long barn tent on Smithfield Plaza will host an eclectic mix of music, storytelling, comedy, workshops and interactive fun. From 2-4pm there will lantern making with artist Maeve Clancy, a giant glow doodle, toddler play area, workshops with Dublin Circus project and music.
At 4-5pm, there will be a family comedy show called ‘Danger Really is Everywhere’ with writer and comedian David O’Doherty and illustrator Chris Judge, creators of the Danger is Everywhere book series.
The show is based on the newest edition of the series, ‘Danger Really is Everywhere’, launched in September 2016. It was shortlisted for the Laugh Out Load Children’s Book Awards 2016. ‘Danger is Everywhere Part One’ was the book chosen by Dublin City Council’s Public Library Service for the Citywide Reading Campaign for Children in 2015.
Brown Bag Films will host Glow Workshops from 2pm-5pm. “An afternoon of free workshops and interactive family activities including workshops for children to create glow-in- the-dark monsters at Brown Bag Films Studio,” says Glows' spokesperson. “With artists from Brown Bag Films, including Emmy Award-winning storyboard artist, Marten Jonmark, and The Ravenous Beast and Henry Hugglemonster creator Niamh Sharkey.”
In Smithfield Square, there will be a magical LED paper lantern installation created by artist Maeve Clancy with children from Dublin 7 Educate Together National School. The lanterns will be lit with LED lights and strung on Smithfield Plaza.
Outdoor performances in Smithfield Square will include pop-up family performances on Smithfield Plaza featuring acrobatics, juggling and hula hooping.
And, as we mentioned at the start of the article, the Light House Cinema will be screening ‘The Muppets Christmas Carol’, as part of the ‘Naughty or Nice Christma’s family season.