Cork Carnival of Science is coming to Fitzgerald Park this weekend and it's free
If you’re trying to figure out what to do with the kids this weekend and your brain is already fried from the week, we have very good news. Cork Carnival of Science is heading to Fitzgerald Park on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th June, and it’s free, it’s outdoors and it promises to keep even the most restless little ones thoroughly occupied for hours.
More than 50 exhibitors and 22 live shows will take over one of Cork’s most beloved green spaces across the two days, turning it into what is honestly one of Ireland’s biggest outdoor STEM celebrations of the year. Organised by Cork City Council and funded through the Research Ireland Discover Programme, this is the kind of event that genuinely delivers on its promises — science, discovery and plenty of spectacle, all without spending a cent at the gate.
The shows you won’t want to miss
Where do you even start? If your household has been heavily influenced by a certain wizarding world, Science 2 Life’s Discover the Science of Hogwarts show is going to be an absolute winner. It unpacks the chemistry and physics behind potions, levitation and magical-looking reactions — so yes, science is basically magic and you can tell your kids you said so first.
RTÉ’s own Mark the Science Guy will also be there with his Science is My Superhero show, which is packed with live demos and audience participation. If your child has ever watched him and immediately started raiding the kitchen for vinegar and baking soda, you’ll know exactly the level of enthusiasm we’re talking about.
There’s also What Could Possibly Go Wrong? from Simply Science — a lively outdoor show full of unexpected reactions and spectacular visual moments — and Circus Science from Inspirational Science, which combines actual circus stunts with the physics behind them. Genuinely brilliant for kids who can’t sit still (which is most of them, let’s be honest).
Young scientists get hands-on at ScienceFest.
Hands-on activities for every age
Beyond the main stages, there’s a huge amount going on across the park for kids who like to get stuck in. LEGO Education workshops will have young builders designing and problem-solving, while Merck’s Curiosity Cube — a travelling science lab — offers experiments and demos that explore technology and innovation in a way that actually makes sense to a seven-year-old.
The Science of Sport from Science Made Simple looks at balance, reaction times and athletic performance through interactive challenges, which is perfect for sporty kids who don’t yet realise they’re learning biomechanics. And the Living Seawalls project brings something genuinely interesting for curious older kids, showcasing how researchers and artists are working together to support marine biodiversity along our coastlines.
There’ll also be giant bubbles, balloon-powered experiments, roaming performers and outdoor storytelling dotted throughout the park — the kind of spontaneous moments that tend to end up as the highlight of the day according to most kids.
Good to know before you go
The festival has made real efforts on accessibility this year, with dedicated quiet spaces, interactive activity zones and a mobile sensory van on site across both days. If you have a child who finds big, noisy events overwhelming, it’s worth knowing those provisions are in place.
Sustainability and environmental themes run throughout the full programme too, so if your kids have been doing projects on nature or the ocean at school, a lot of what they see will connect in a really satisfying way.
Cork Carnival of Science is a Cork City Council festival, supported by Research Ireland and media partners the Irish Examiner and Cork’s 96FM. Entry is free. For the full programme and all the details, visit corkcity.ie/corkcarnivalofscience.