• The lineup includes live science shows in circus tents that investigate topics like weather, water, forces of gravity and the silly side of science, along with scientific showstoppers, giant puzzles, Lego mania, remote controlled robots, DNA investigations, battery making and more ! 
• Adding some sizzle to the science will be foodie delights from 12  different Cork based  food trucks

There’s only one week to go until Ireland’s largest outdoor science engagement event, Cork Carnival of Science, pops up at Fitzgerald Park from 8th – 9th June.  Don’t miss out on this STEMTASTIC FREE family science fun weekend!

Supported by Cork City Council and Science Foundation Ireland and organised by Cork City Council’s Lifetime Lab @ Old Cork Waterworks Experience,  the hugely impressive and high quality 2 day STEM engagement event will see Fitzgerald Park transformed into a science super park for one weekend only!

Curious kids and fun-loving families are  invited to explore, investigate, experiment, and discover the wonders of science, which will delve into climate and the natural world from a scientific point of view.

Almost 25,000 people attend each year and this year’s budding scientists are invited to unlock nature’s secrets and explore more than 45 different STEM based activities.  There will be 26 live seated science shows in Circus Top and Stretch Tents, demonstrations throughout the scenic park, walkabout scientific performers, the animal roadshow, interactive stands, an active zone, microscopic wonders, lego mania, remote controlled robots, DNA investigations,  and discoveries big and small along the way – all for free.

Topping the bill are, of course, the live science shows performed by stars of the science education and entertainment realm. These seated shows  draw large crowds and offer regular performances throughout the day.  This year’s headliners include Airforce’ by Simply Science physicists Dr. Stephen Davitt and Phil Smyth from RTÉ’s Home School Hub, ‘The Crazy Weather Show’ by Science 2 Life’s wonderfully dramatic Scientific Sue, ‘Now that’s what I call Science’ by W5 from Belfast ‘Its Only Water’ by Science Made Simple,  ‘Airheads’ by Thunder Bolts & Lightning and ‘The Circus Science Show’ by Inspirational Science.

New activities on the programme for 2024 include ‘Bee-ology’ a circus-science performance that juggles bee and insect stories and facts.  There’s also ‘OurKidsCode’ offering parents of primary school aged children  taster coding club workshops which they hope will inspire a network of coding clubs around the country.   UCC will be on hand to showcase their Free Hydro Cells research project which aims to create energy from sustainable materials. Also new on Discovery Drive will be the Curiosity Cube where kids can join the team from Merck and investigate the life cycle of a t-shirt in a fun and hands-on way.

Also new is the activity from INSIGHT  which presents “Discover the Enchanted Bog-‘ and brings an ancient discovery in an Irish bog to life through  Science and Creative Writing.

‘Saérlaith’ is the name given to  skeleton was found deep in a bog in Roscommon by turfcutters in 2005 and carbon dated to the 7th century (14 hundred years ago). Join INSIGHT at Discovery Drive between 11am and 5pm as Saérlaith tells stories about her bog and all its enchantments. Learn about miraculous mosses and their carbon capture, snigger with the snipe as you discover how these birds make their extraordinary sounds, get curious with CO2 as you watch it being taken up by sphagnum moss and help Saérlaith put her shattered cloak back together as we restore the bog! Practical Workshops led by Professor Jools Gilson & sound artist Benjamin Burns happen twice a day following the enchanted bog tent activities. The timings for these are 12.00 – 12.45 Letters to Saérlaith: Creative Writing & Movement [Ages 6 – 12] and 14.30 – 15.00 Sounds for Saérlaith: Sound Workshop [Ages 5 – 10]. Note that places are limited and are assigned on a first come first served – max. 10 per workshop. Children must be supervised by a parent or guardian.

This year’s theme will put nature under the microscope with a number of activities. The Irish Tree Network will take you on a remarkable journey through the world of plants where you will learn about plants as sources of oxygen, food, fuel and medicine, habitats, mitigators in climate change and importance in health and wellbeing.  The Marine Institute will bring their Explorers Education Programme which aims to encourage greater understanding of the marine world and encourage more young people to become ocean champions in Ireland. Cork’s very own Lifetime Lab will be on hand to demonstrate the use of microscopes to get up and close with mini beasties from our rivers and the Animal Roadshow will bring along their petting zoo featuring lizards, snakes, spiders, owls, frogs and more.

Large scale favourites making a welcome return include the Stardome Giant Inflatable Planetarium from Blackrock Castle Observatory and the  40ft walkthrough inflatable model of the human digestive system from APC Microbiome Ireland, while the Active Zone will feature a host of ‘science of sport’ activities facilitated by Transport for Ireland, Cork City Sports Partnership, IRFU and FAI.

Guiding you on your scientific adventure will be themed routes including ‘Exploration Avenue’, ‘Innovation Way’ and ‘Discovery Drive’ which will map out where rows of workshops and interactive experiences are located within the park. Here hands-on workshops will offer the chance to try out a broad variety of science-based tasks.

Families wishing to make a day of it will delight in the opportunity to bring a leave no trace picnic or choose from the 12 food trucks  located near the Rose Garden section of the park, which will have plenty of picnic tables and space to lay a picnic blanket. All the food operators are Cork based with the lineup including: Bo burgers and steaks, Bad Boys BBQ, Dinky Donuts, Sultan Delight, Munchies, Bubble Waffle House, O’Flynn’s Gourmet Sausage Company, Glanmire Ices, Keith’s Cones, Pizza base, Candy Rock Lane, The Crepe Man. On Sunday at 12.30 a Youth Orchestra will perform near the picnic area, adding some extra ambiance.

Accessibility is a key focus to ensure enjoyment for all, and in consultation with the Deaf Community in Cork, provision will again be made by Cork Carnival of Science to ensure sign language interpretation is available at live show performances and for ad hoc requests. They will also have a designated quiet zone in the area near the Sky Garden (where the reflective silver spheres are) which might be useful for young children or those with noise sensitivities.

Make sure to scan the QR Code for the festival brochure on arrival, this includes a colourful map of Fitzgerald’s Park with all the festival attractions laid out alongside the key what, where and when details of shows, workshops, and demonstrations to check out throughout the weekend.

For more information see www.corkcity.ie/corkcarnivalofscience or stay tuned to social media updates from @corkcitycouncilofficial. #BelieveInScience