International artists from Germany, the US and Britain promise mischief and mayhem during two children's festivals which open in Galway and Mayo next week.
In Galway, the Sixth Baboro International Arts Festival opens on Monday, with music, puppetry, exhibitions and workshops throughout the week, winding up with a street parade and a "jamboree" of free events on Saturday, October 19th.
In south Mayo, Sonas, the Louisburgh Children's Arts Festival, starts on the same day.
On the Sonas programme is a shadow puppet show entitled Titanic by Carrowbeg Productions, while there will also be performances by the Armagh Rhymers, Puca Puppets, the Graffiti Classics string quartet, and Iowa-born singer and songwriter Barbara Martin.
Ms Martin also performs in Galway, as does her fellow north American Tom Chapin.
European theatre is well represented at this year's Baboro Festival by the master performer and puppeteer from Scotland Shona Reppe, with her critically-acclaimed show Cinderella.
Irish work is prominent in this year's Baboro programme, with Barabbas in co-production with The Ark (Dublin's Cultural Centre for Children), presenting Blowfish by Veronica Coburn.
Both Baboro and Sonas take the performances into schools, and there is a strong community dimension to their parades.
All events are free.
