25/05/2014. FREE TO USE IMAGE. Pictured at a photoshoot for the upcoming WiKID (Waterford Kids Festival) at Waterford’s Medieval Museum ready for their sleepover are: Matthew Fitzpatrick (7yrs), Kassie O’Mahony (8yrs), Sadbh Brennan (7yrs), A sleepover at Waterford’s Medieval Museum surrounded by ancient artefacts. Picture: Patrick Browne


A WiKID IDEA?Waterford1100 celebrates its birthday with children’s festival
(Sunday 25th May, 2014) - A sleepover at Waterford’s Medieval Museum surrounded by ancient artefacts, a Viking excavation where the kids are the archaeologists, a Viking School to make and handle your own weaponry, archery for families and an authentic Medieval Fair will be amongst the offerings at a special birthday weekend celebration for Waterford1100 next month, details of which were announced today.

Waterford1100 will celebrate its birthday from Fri. 20th June to Sun. 22nd June with a festival specifically tailored for kids – big and small. WiKID (Waterford Kids) encompasses history, arts, nature and performance under a series of programme strands children will relate to: Totally Wikid Stuff, Nature Stuff, Cool Stuff; Fun Stuff and Wikid Arty Stuff. WiKID is the only offering of its kind in the country, according to organisers Waterford City Council, which is completely focused on children and interactive children’s events while showcasing a city’s heritage and culture – in this case, the 1100th birthday of Waterford.

A highlight of the weekend will be the Vadrarfjordr Viking Village where people can meet and watch the ‘Vikings’ at work and play in an authentic recreation of Viking life. A special Viking School will allow young attendees to handle (under supervision) authentic weapons and chainmail and design and paint their own wooden shields. Viking history will further come to life at the Medieval Fair with its authentic sights, sounds and smells. Kids will have the opportunity to get their hands dirty at The Big Dig – a simulated and controlled archaeological dig where 5-12 year olds can work alongside real archaeologists. Have a Go Archery! offers safe target shooting for all the family with Hungarian Horse Bows. There will also be the exciting opportunity to witness that it’s like in a museum when the lights go out during the Sleepover at the Medieval Museum – a first for an Irish museum. 8-12yrs olds will take part in fun activities in their own private museum before bedding down for the night surrounded by ancient artefacts.

WiKID Streets will deliver a series of medieval street entertainment for families. This programme includes: stilt walkers, jesters and fire breathers in period costume from Wobbly Circus; jousting knights, minstrels and a mysterious queen courtesy of Bui Bolg’s The Joust and a traditional Punch & Judy show. Interactive theatre continues in such events as Tumble Circus, featuring disobedient clowns, suffering acrobats and confused jugglers. Circus antics are also part of The Tallest Smallest Circus, where the audience stand in for the missing circus acts!

Nature Stuff highlights include early morning nature walks for kids and Animal Magic where mammals, mammals, raptors, amphibians, arachnids and birds of prey and be viewed and handled at close quarters. Puppet-Making Workshops, the debut exhibition party by Waterford Young Arts Critics and backstage tours of the Theatre Royal are some of the Wikid Arty Stuff programme elements.

The Cool Stuff programme includes a personal talk by 14-year-old gaming CEO Jordan Casey entitled From the Suir Valley to Silicon Valley; a Rap & Beat Workshop where you can learn to write, record and produce your own rap and hip-hop music. Fun Stuff includes The WiKID Historic Treasure Hunt featuring four different routes.

“Heritage and culture are best brought to light when they is experienced personally and WiKID delivers a great programme that puts the focus on children – engaging with them and capturing their imagination”, said Eamonn McEneaney, Director, Waterford Museum of Treasures and one of the organisers of WiKID.

Full programme and booking info is on www.waterford1100.com.
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For reference: Alma Feeley or Gillian Burke, Midas PR?M: 087 8204934/ 087 9588774