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Family Friendly Events

Cork Culinary Tour

11am-2pm, Wednesday 13th August, Cork City Centre
2pm - 5pm, Friday 15th August, Cork City Centre
11am - 2pm, Saturday 16th August, Cork City Centre

A tour of storytelling, Irish culture, food and drink. Wander through the English Market and enjoy the very best the city has to offer. Includes tastings of local award-winning cheese, mouthwatering seafood fresh from the Atlantic, handmade Irish bread, gourmet country sausages, and more. The tour finishes in a relaxed gastro pub where guests can enjoy a sharing platter and a creamy pint of a local beverage of choice.

Tickets €110 per adult, €80/Per Youth 12-18, €35 per child.  Book here

Taste the Goodness Community Garden Party

Holyhill Community Garden

12.30pm – 4pm, Wednesday 13th August, Knocknaheeny Hollyhill Community Garden (Behind Apple Green garage)

Join NICHE Health Project at Knocknaheeny Community Garden for a special open garden party. Open to everyone, you'll enjoy freshly baked cob oven pizza and refreshing drinks. Plus, enjoy a guided tour of the beautiful garden and some music. A perfect family outing!

Tickets: FREE. No booking required. Donations welcome

The Hysterical Histories – Food, Fame and Frivolity Walking Tour

Hysterical Histories Walking Tour Group

11.00am, Thursday 14th & Friday 15th August, Cork City Centre

Discover the highlights of Cork’s 1500-year history, through the eyes of Corks quirky characters/Pickiest eaters and engage with our historical actor guide on this truly unique walking tour of Cork City. Booking essential as numbers are limited, duration 1.5hrs
Tickets: €25 per adult (€20 with discount), €20 per child aged 6–12 (€15 with discount), 0–5yrs FREE. Discount code: FORKWALK25.Book here

Children's Pizza Party Demo at Marina Market

Pizza Making Class with Oakfire Pizza at the Martina Market as part of Cork on a Fork Festival

11.00am – 12.00pm, Thursday 14th August, The Marina Market

Learn how to stretch and top pizza with some of Oak Fire Pizza's chefs at the Marina Market. In this hands-on workshop, kid's will make their own pizza which will then be cooked for them to taste their amazing creations! Booking Essential.
Tickets: €15 (includes a pizza). Book here

Hysterical Histories Cork – Dinner Theatre Experience

Hysterical Histories Dinner Experience

7.00pm, Thursday 14th August, Friday 15th August & Saturday 16th August, Amicus Restaurant Paul Street

A laugh-out-loud dinner theatre experience unlike anything else in Ireland. This packed performance is suitable for all ages. Discover the highlights of Cork's 1500 year history and become acquainted with the city's quirky characters. Enjoy Cork cuisine made from locally sourced ingredients served up with live music and plenty of personality as you engage with the actors. Leave with a belly full of food, a warm heart and a pain in your face from laughing. 
Tickets: €55 per adult (€50 with discount), €32 per child aged 3–12 (€27 with discount), 0–2yrs FREE. Discount code: FORKFEST25.Book here

Battle of the Smoothies Kids Sensory Cooking Class

Colourful Smoothies

11am - 12pm (3-12 years), Friday 15th August, St Peter's North Main St

Join Deirdre Doyle from the award winning The Cool Food School for a fun, interactive pop-up cooking class for children at St Peter's. Deirdre is a master at getting kids to have fun in the kitchen and promotes healthy eating in a fun and interactive way. From smelling to chopping to dancing and tasting, kids are sure to get lots out of these engaging cooking classes with simple, whole food recipes.

Tickets: €13.50 per child Book here

Marina Market Teddy Bears Picnic

Poster of teddy bears picnic

11.00am, Friday 15th August, The Marina Market

Head to the Marina Market with your teddies for this gorgeous outdoor teddy bears picnic. Kids will enjoy cupcakes from Messy Buns and a Glenilen yoghurt. Beekeeper Hanna Bäckmo from Hanna’s Bees will also showcase her bees and offer honey tastings and a small gift to take away. There will be free face painting. Everyone is also welcome to have lots of fun with giant games with the Let’s Play Cork play leaders. Parental supervision necessary. Sponsored by M&P O'Sullivan.

Tickets: €10 per person. Book here.

Carrot Cake Power Balls - Kids Sensory Cooking Class

Cool Food School

12.30pm-1.30pm, Friday 15th August, St Peter's North Main St

Join Deirdre Doyle from the award winning The Cool Food School for a fun, interactive pop-up cooking class for children at St Peter's. Deirdre is a master at getting kids to have fun in the kitchen and promotes healthy eating in a fun and interactive way. From smelling to chopping to dancing and tasting, kids are sure to get lots out of these engaging cooking classes with simple, whole food recipes.

Tickets: €13.50 per child. Book here

Bread, Beef, and Butter at The Butter Museum

Child making butter at the Butter Museum as part of Cork on a Fork Festival

2.30-4.30pm, Friday 15th August, The Butter Museum at Shandon

The Butter Museum at Shandon is the place to be on Friday afternoon with a number of demonstrations on the making of traditional soda bread and butter, and a talk from local butcher James Nolan on corned beef. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Tickets: Free Book here

Apple Donut Kids Sensory Cooking Class

Teacher and pupils in Food School

2.30-3.30pm (3-12 Years), Friday 15th August, St Peter's

Join Deirdre Doyle from the award winning The Cool Food School for a fun, interactive pop-up cooking class for children at St Peter's. Deirdre is a master at getting kids to have fun in the kitchen and promotes healthy eating in a fun and interactive way. From smelling to chopping to dancing and tasting, kids are sure to get lots out of these engaging cooking classes with simple, whole food recipes.

Tickets: €13.50 per child Book here

Cork Sugarcraft Workshop

Teddybear Cake Cork Sugarcraft Workshop

10.30am - 11.30am, Saturday 16th August, St. Peter's North Main Street

Cork Sugarcraft Association will host a fun interactive workshop suitable for children (age 6 & up) and adults. You will learn to make your very own 'Love Cork' bear complete with red love heart in sugarpaste and sign our 'Love Cork' cake at this hands on workshop.

Tickets: Kids €8, Adults €10  Book here

Food, Fun and Farm at the Cornmarket St Market (Coal Quay)

11.00am - 3.00pm, Saturday 16th August, Coal Quay Cornmarket Street

Pop down to the Cornmarket Street (Coal Quay) Market, enjoy light bites on the street and everyone can have lots of fun with a pop-up Rumleys Farm, facepainting and giant Jenga, connect four, corn hole, balance board games, colour catcher games, tug of war and more, with our Let’s Play Cork play leaders. Note: this is not supervised play and parents are responsible for children. Play street and facepainting from 11am-1pm.
Tickets: FREE (No booking required)

Cork on a Fork Food Market & Play Street

Emmett Place Market

11.00am - 5.00pm, Saturday 16th August, Emmet Place (outside The Crawford Art Gallery)

Get a taste of Cork's incredible produce and local businesses at the Cork on a Fork Food Market. There will be live music and family fun with giant games and free face painting during the day. A Cork City Council event, sponsored by Fáilte Ireland, Ireland's Ancient East and the Wild Atlantic Way.
FREE ENTRANCE No booking required

The Gruffalo’s Tasty Tale

Gruffalo Cupcake

12.00 Noon, Saturday 16th August, Eason's, St Patrick's Street

Enjoy a magical Gruffalo-themed event perfect for little ones ! It will begin with a fun and interactive reading of The Gruffalo on picnic blankets before kids roll up their sleeves and get creative decorating their very own Gruffalo Crumble muffins with Gingerbread House. Think chocolatey treats, edible eyes, and a sprinkle of imagination — it’s the perfect way to bring the story to life. Easons will also offer a 10% discount on any Gruffalo products bought on the day. Suitable for age 3-7.
Tickets: FREE
Book here

Food Explorers: A Tasty Cork Adventure for Kids!

Girl Holding Carrot

12 Noon - 1.00pm, Saturday 16th August, St Peter's North Main Street

A fun-filled children's workshop where we’ll play, learn, and create our way through the delicious world of food in Cork! Grown-ups who make rules (we call them policymakers) want to hear from YOU—so they can make the best plan for food that is good for you and good for nature.

  • Discover where your food comes from
  • Play games to learn how food travels from farms to forks
  • Explore how to spot healthy choices in your neighbourhood
  • Design your own dream food-friendly city
  • Hands-on fun
  • Arts & crafts with a food twist
  • Prizes and stickers for superfood explorers!

Come hungry for fun—and don’t forget your imagination. Let’s make Cork the healthiest, happiest place on the planet to eat and live – one snack at a time! Ages: 5-12yrs

Tickets: FREE [Booking will open soon]

Children's Food Trail

12.30pm, Saturday 16th August, Cork City Centre

Join our fun and fascinating children’s food trail through Cork City Centre. Children (and accompanying adults if they wish) can sample bite-size child-friendly local food as they wander through the city. They will also hear fun and interesting facts about food and history in Cork. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Tickets: €18 per person  Book here

Farm to Fork Cook-up and Guided Tour

Murphy's Farm

2.00pm - 3.30pm, Saturday 16th August, Murphy's Farm Community Garden, Curraheen (behind Bishopstown Tennis Club) T12VY10

All are welcome to Murphy's Farm's Farm to Fork Cook-Up, featuring fresh vegetables straight from their garden! Guest chef JJ from MTU will be cooking up a delicious stir-fry and vegetarian burgers on-site. Plus, enjoy a guided tour of their beautiful vegetable and flower gardens.
Tickets: FREE (All welcome, No booking required)

Children's Play with your Food Tastings

Parent and Child at Food Picnic

2.00pm - 3.00pm, Saturday 16th August, St Peter's North Main St

Children will meet some of Cork's famous artisan producers and enjoy fun tastings in St Peters, curated by On the Pigs Back. There will also be free facepainting! Parental supervision is required, but grown-ups can relax with coffee and light bites in the café area, or browse the On the Pigsback: Artisan Cheese & Drinks Market in the space while children enjoy the experience. Suitable for age 5-12.
Tickets: €10 per child
Book here

On the Pig's Back: Artisan Producers Market

2.00pm - 7.00pm, Saturday 16th August, St. Peter's North Main St

An On the Pig's Back curated market that brings together some of the region’s most beloved artisan producers. Sample a mouthwatering selection of local Cork cheeses & Charcuterie including the best of cheesemakers, charcuterie producers, biscuits, crisps and crackers etc.
All welcome No need to book

Irish Coffee, Irish Dancing, Irish Music Workshop

4.30pm - 6.30pm, Saturday 16th August, JJ Walshes


Experience the best of Irish and Cork tradition in this lively workshop! Master the art of making the perfect Irish Coffee, step into an Irish jig, and listen to local trad music. Soft drink alternative for kids.
Tickets: €25
Contact: info@clancyscork.ie to book referencing Cork on a Fork JJs

Cork on a Fork Food Market & Play Street

Emmett Place Market

11.00am - 5.00pm, Sunday 17th August, Emmet Place (outside the Crawford Art Gallery)

Get a taste of Cork's incredible produce and local businesses at the Cork on a Fork Food Market. There will also be live music and family fun with giant games and free facepainting during the day. A Cork City Council event, sponsored by Failte Ireland, Ireland's Ancient East and the Wild Atlantic Way.

Kids' Pasta-Making Demo!

2.00pm, Sunday 17th August, Don Gregorio, Washington Street

Join the fun at Don Gregorio on Washington Street for a FREE pasta-making demonstration for kids! Under the guidance of their head chef from Italy, little chefs will get hands-on experience as they roll out fresh dough and use a handheld pasta machine to create authentic, homemade pasta. A perfect way to introduce kids to the joy of cooking.

Tickets: FREE. Book here