Kaleidoscope is billed as Ireland’s most family-friendly, fully inclusive festival of the summer and runs this weekend from June 30th to July 2nd in the grounds of Russborough House. The organisers expect thousands of families for three days and nights as the final school bells rings for summer holidays.
Where’s that?
Russborough House & Park, Blessington, Co Wicklow is 30 minutes (or more) from Dublin. Russborough is just off the N81, close to Blessington. For Sat Nav, Eircode is W91 W284 or GPS co-ordinates: 53.1417N, 6.5695W.
All public cars, accessible parking, caravans and campervans follow the festival traffic signs, and directions of stewards and gardaí.
There is no right or left turn allowed off the N81 at the L3863 towards Russborough House.
FROM DUBLIN/M50: N81 Route (traffic coming from Dublin): Drive through Blessington Town on the N81 and turn right at the Burgage roundabout, then left on to the Kilmalum road. Continue on the L6052 until the L3863, turn left and be directed into the car parks via Gate 1.
FROM NAAS/ M7/M9 M7/M9 Route (traffic approaching from Naas): Take the south Naas exit from the M7 (Junction 10), take the Naas ring road as far as the R411 roundabout join the R411and through to Ballymore Eustace. Follow the L6056 and enter the festival site via Gate 1.
FROM CARLOW N81 Northbound Route (Coming from Baltinglass): All festival traffic heading northbound on the N81 will be directed to Ballymore Eustace. Follow the L6056 and enter the festival site at Gate 1.
What’s on?
Friday headliner is B*Witched, Saturday is Gavin James and Sunday is Nile Rodgers & CHIC. This year the main stage is tented so no need to worry about a summer shower. Other acts playing include Roisin O, Cairde, Paper Tides, King Kong Company,,Newton Faulkner, Fun Lovin’ Criminals and the ringmaster Jerry Fish.
The family-focused festival encompasses education, sports and wellness with a programme of yoga, daily 5km-runs, tug-of-war, zip lining, archery, climbing wall, t’ai chi, drumming workshops, storytelling and welly-throwing competitions. There are art and science workshops plus close encounters with Alpacas, lizards, snakes, spiders and creepy crawlies.
Family activities start at 8am with a cartoon marathon in the Ickle Big Tent programmed by RTÉ Jr. Learn about creatures and critters from Collie Ennis who will have salamanders, giant cockroaches, toads and boa constrictors. Joe the Alpaca Man will have these wonderful animals on site for children to meet. Mark the Science Guy will perform experiments. There will also be arts and crafts, lazer tag, zumba, baby raves, the world’s biggest bouncy castle and a fun fair.
Signage will direct festivalgoers to the curated areas of the festival, including the vintage funfair inspired by 19th-century travelling fairgrounds, and Wonderland on the Lady Beit Island of Russborough House (science and nature, arts and crafts). RTÉ Jr helps kids be DJ for a Day with Seamus the Dog and MC, there’s magic with Magician Joe from Dizzy Deliveries and RTÉ Jr story time with seanchaí and storyteller Hugh Cooney.
Download the Kaleidoscope app on IOS and Android for full details and build a schedule
Tickets
Weekend camping tickets are still available. If you don’t want to camp you can purchase day tickets for any day (€85 adults, €40 under 18s). With each adult ticket purchased a child goes free. Family weekend camping passes for two adults and two children are €263.16 including booking fee. Babies under 24 months are free but require a ticket. Tent prices vary and camper van pass is €98.65 each. All admission tickets include parking for one car.
People of all ages are welcome, and ID is required for every ticket holder. Some “big friendly characters” will be easily spotted to act as meeting points. Kaleidoscope does not accept parental or supervisory duty of care or liability for under-18s.
Security is family-friendly with the main concern that parents and children don’t get separated. PhoneWatch host a meeting point in the middle of the main arena, for reuniting lost children. Children get a paper wristband on which their parents’ number can be written.
All about timing
Gates open at 9am for campsites and car parks at noon for the main arena on Friday 30th June. Music finishes about 10.30pm each day.
– Campervans and Caravans can arrive from 5pm – 9pm on Thursday 29th June
General campers and people visiting from home can enter the festival site from 9am on Friday, June 30th (organisers warn delays may occur).
– Festival admission opens from 8am Saturday, July 1st
– Festival admission opens from 8am Sunday, July 2nd
Driving is not permitted on the camping fields and trolleys/boogies are permitted to help move belongings.
Car parks are beside the campsites, which fill up quickly, so walking distance from car to tent can vary.
All camping gear, equipment and vehicles are to be cleared from the site by noon on Monday, July 3rd. The festival asks visitors to leave no trace, to help protect and maintain the site.
Camping equipment and cooking
Barbecues and hot coals/ash must be disposed of in metal bins in the campsite cooking area. Do not dispose of hot coals/ash in plastic bins. Barbecues can only be used in the designated campsite cooking area. No gas barbecues. No barbecues can be used in the main tent camping space.
Caravans and campervans can use awnings, but be mindful not to interfere with the space of fellow campers.
There are communal charging points but no electric hookups.
The dosh
Kaleidoscope is cashless this year. Everyone’s wristband will include a RDIF chip that can be topped up via your phone or at one of the AIB TAPPY kiosks using cash or card. You can pay for food, drinks, merchandise, and funfair rides and activities via AIB Tappy or you can use your card www.kaleidoscopefestival.ie/tappy.
Food and drink
Festivalgoers can bring their own food, soft drinks and water, but no glass is allowed. Bring reusable and refillable water bottles for all the family. There are plenty of free drinking water points to refill.
Organisers ask you don’t bring your own alcohol beyond your tent. Day-ticket holders cannot bring their own alcohol. Alcohol purchased at Kaleidoscope can be consumed anywhere on site. There will be searches between the campsites and main arena and any alcohol found will be confiscated and disposed of.
Russborough Café: avoid queuing by pre-ordering lunch for collection with a Kaleidoscope Picnic to Go (sandwiches, snacks, drinks and fresh fruit for a family of four). There’s afternoon tea at Lady Beit’s Pantry, with gourmet sandwiches, scones, cakes and bakes, tea and coffee or elderflower cordial (places limited, booking recommended). Walk-in breakfast and lunch options.
Inclusivity
All Abilities Ireland neurodiversity champions are working with the festival on its accessibility programme. There are accessible campsites with plenty of room for those with all abilities and needs, wheelchair-accessible toilets in the accessible campsite, and accessible showers in the shower block beside the campsite. Accessible carparking is near the campsite. The accessibility area is be ideal for calming anyone overwhelmed, with large, clean, indoor toilets that fit two people, if assistance is needed. The accessibility area is located along the route to the main arena.
