Go kids

Spraoi in Waterfordis an established and much anticipated weekend-long event on the summer festival calendar.

Starting on Friday and running until August 1st the street theatre and world music festival attracts huge crowds – upwards of 80,000 – to the city’s streets.

It’s been running for 18 years and it’s so popular with children it’s spawned a specialist off-shoot called, wittily, sprÓg.

Produced by Garter Lane Arts Centre, the festival is for juniors from age five and runs for four days from Tuesday.

Children can take part in a whole range of workshops that teach them how to make a puppet or a book and listen to writers including award-winning illustrator and author Bruce Ingman reading from his children's books such as When Martha's Awayand Bad News I'm in Charge.

Drumming workshops, led by percussionist John Barron, for young people between 10 and 18 years of age will culminate in performances at next weekend's festival.

Highlights of the festival include street theatre and performances by bands from 11 countries, with eight Irish premieres of new street theatre work.

Look out for Indian troupe Kawa Circus, with their beautiful story of an itinerant group of artists from a circus in Rajasthan, blending acrobatics, rhythm and music.

• spraoi.com