Excitement is building for this year’s Tallafest

By Mary Dennehy

THERE’S just over two weeks to go until community celebration Tallafest sets up camp in Tallaght village, with the fun factor being turned up a notch in the Kids Zone this year.

While it’s hard to imagine the popular Kids Zone being any more fun, the team behind Tallafest has managed to up the fun factor this year – with lots to keep little ones entertained.

Firm favourites such as the famous giant sandbox, garden games, face painting, art classes, craft tables and the mega soft play area are back on the programme, with a few super new surprises in store this year.

According to Tara De Buitlear, PRO of organisers Tallaght Community Council (TCC): “We are always adding new and interesting activities to the program and have new creative and interactive activities in the Kids Zone this year such as bodhran drumming circles and reading in trees.”

Mary Butler, a Kids Zone volunteer, told The Echo that this year the festival is also running a best dressed superhero competition.

Mary said: “We hope to see lots of different superhero characters in Kids Zone on June 24.

“Register [for the competition] before the festival online and the judging will take place in the afternoon [of Tallafest] with prizes for boys and girls.”

Now in its fifth year, Tallafest is organised by TCC with support from an army of volunteers, local businesses, groups, clubs and Tallaght-based services, who work together in showcasing all that is great about Tallaght through a fun day of activities, history, culture, live music, dancing and food in the village area.

The festival is staged across the ground of St Mary’s Priory, St Maelruain’s Church of Ireland and Main Street, Tallaght – with other highlights this year including a pop-up Gaeltacht, heritage walks, clay modelling workshops, a creative tent, Tallaght Bake Off, toddler labs, a scarecrow competition, wood turning for adults and much more.

Tallafest is being staged on June 24 and for a full programme of free events, some of which require registration, visit www.tallafest.ie