Body&Soul; launches children's activities
Body&Soul has announced an array of adventures and magical happenings for children at this year’s family friendly festival which takes place in Ballinlough Castle, Clonmellon from June 21st - 23rd. Venture into the magical gardens of the estate to discover the fantastical realm of the Soul Kids of Body&Soul and behold the wonderful adventures that lie within... where everything and anything is possible.
Rise with the sun and commence your day by discovering the colour yellow; see it, taste it and celebrate it by experiencing all the tranquillity and fun that it brings, through meditation with Hana Hall and Sara Fontannaz in the Mellow Yellow Mountain. Afterward transport yourself to the subconscious in the Dream Gardens where you will become at one with the Earth in workshops using natural and recycled materials as you explore the magic of the outdoor world through gardening, growing and caring for nature with your own Soul Kids.
In the afternoon, soak up the sun in the Boundless Bathing Hot Tubs before bouncing into a bundle of enchanting interactive story telling sessions. Be stunned at the Story of the Universe and discover the oldest tale in the world, beginning 13 billion years ago. The story is told in verse over a soundtrack of old Irish melodies, reawakening in your little ones, a sense of awe and wonder for the natural world. Using African drums and Indian lutes, Mattu Noone, the travelling musician and storyteller will weave mythical tales from the ancient corners of the world in Storytelling from Around the World.
Make and adorn your own fanciful hair wraps and bracelets in Wired to the Moon, an energetic workshop where enthusiastic artists recite myths about the fairy world before traipsing with the other pixies through the woodland installations with your little ones on the atmospheric Arts Trail at dusk, or enjoy the colourful craft of the Cut Out Dolls who hand design visually stunning life size paper doll costumes. Greencrafts is a live crafts village, totally off-grid and powered by the people! Featuring a wide range of craft groups offering interactive classes and workshops, traditional tools are used to make beautifully handcrafted items including felt bags, carved dishes and clay bowls.
With a myriad of musical madness to delight dancing souls, the surroundings of Ballinlough Castle come alive with performances such as Molly Golly and the Jolly’s, an interactive music show for kids of all ages. Elsewhere, be transported to another dimension with The Macnas’ performance of The Cockroach and the Inventor which creates wild happenings from the caustic to the hilarious with smoke, silly contraptions, dustbin lids and a genius apparatus that will tickle, tease and literally capture the audience.
Venues such as My House provide a perfect refuge for weary young festival goers. A comfortably familiar, nostalgic ‘Mam's house’ in the woods, with its spangled disco, chaotic gypsy bands and spectacular disc jockeys with an age range of 11 to 50, My House is a music venue that aims to please. Expect plentiful rounds of tea and toast, sofas you can lounge on and above all its welcoming good old fashioned party atmosphere.
Waiting to be discovered, these are the secret music-filled corners and twinkling alcoves hidden deep in the woodlands, dotted along the lake shore and winding pathways through the walled gardens and castle surrounds of the Body&Soul Festival. Alongside all the fabulous acts and activities are daily Kiddies Yoga, Arts & Crafts, Mask Making, Den Building, Jewelry Making, Funky Feet Dancing Workshops, Circus Skills, Trapeze Shows, a Kids Disco and lots more!
Body&Soul invites you and your family to come down to the woods on the summer solstice weekend to dance with the fairies and follow twinkling pathways to secret corners unknown, all with new sights, sounds and stories that will thrill, excite and enchant the spirits of your Soul Kids.