7th Hullabaloo! to include Edenderry

It’s almost time to make way for Hullabaloo, and this year the children’s arts festival will be held not only in Birr and Clara but in Edenderry as well.

Now in its seventh year, Hullabaloo! has become an eagerly awaited event on calendars across Offaly. The festival takes place during the October mid-term break, and is a guaranteed great selection of family orientated creative workshops, shows and activities.

Included in this year’s festival line-up is mini-theatre, creating dangly giraffes and scary cartoon beasts, learning to be a human beatbox, having a go at playing in an orchestra and going on a spooky ghost walk.

Organised by Offaly County Council arts office together with Birr Theatre and Arts Centre, Clara Resource Centre, Public Access Arts Edenderry and Offaly library services, the festival’s aim is to give children aged three to twelve their own access to culture and arts experiences and to encourage children to use their imagination, discover new talents and be inspired by performances.

“We’re very excited by this year’s programme which has a huge range of activities and live family performances,” Birr Theatre manager Emma Nee Haslam said.

“Since establishing in 2007 it has always been the intention that this be a county-wide event. This year sees Edenderry coming on board which is very exciting and we look forward to more towns coming on board in the future.”

The Hullabaloo! programme will be available online at www.offaly.ie and www.birrtheatre.com, as well as at local libraries and council offices. More information is available by calling 057 9357400 or following the festival on Facebook.

Early booking is advised as places are limited and demand for the festival is high.