BERNICE HARRISONon alternatives to movies and the mall
RoolaBoola festival
The Linenhall Arts Centre is in one of the most interesting buildings in Castlebar. It was built in 1790, and it is one of the oldest existing linen halls in the country. This week it’s home to the annual RoolaBoola Children’s Arts Festival. It’s a very hands-on event, because as well as a full programme of professional performances there are several free workshops and readings for children.
Fun performances include Lighter than Airby performer and clown Danny Schlesinger, which comes with a warning that loud balloon pops might occur; and The Musician, a new opera for children that tells the story of the child who was to become the best known flautist of them all, the Pied Piper.
Next Saturday and Sunday there are free storytelling sessions in the RoolaBoola stories room for children from four years.
Free drop-in workshop sessions next weekend at the Linen Hall include Mad Hatters, where children can design and make their own hats; the Chalk Challenge, where children are let loose on giant chalkboards; and the Mini Drawings Wall, were children are invited to draw small Post-it sized works and stick them on the wall.
The festival begins on October 19th and continues until October 26th.
www.thelinenhall.com/roola-boola.ie