The Toddler Take Over 2025

A Little Event for the Youngest Citizens of Dublin 15
Where musicians play, singers sing, dancers dance and storytellers weave tales ... Join us for our 10th Toddler Take Over Adventure in May!

Created by Lead Artist Órla Kelly
Curated by Sarah Beirne, Children & Youth Arts Officer, Draíocht

Image Gallery

Deputy Mayor of Fingal Cllr John-Kingsley Onwumereh Launched the 10th Edition of Draíocht's Toddler Take Over Festival

This is Draíocht’s 10th Toddler Take Over event which celebrates the limitless imagination of the very young child and the magic that happens when it is combined with the world of artists and the arts. With a combination of self-led and artist-led events and happenings, children are invited to bring their insatiable curiosity and their adults to explore our spaces, discover a range of artforms, to create, play, draw, and nurture their creative potential, while having fun too.

So let your toddler take the lead, as we open up our building just for them and invite them to explore!

Programme - 5 Spaces to Explore

The Night Forest | Ground Floor Gallery | Ground Floor

Stars and shadows, a midnight picnic, a giant’s bed, animals in the forest and then ... Who is this? A pop-up theatre & story-making session awakens ... Become part of the story in this character-led session. You are part of the adventure. Your magic and your actions can steer us through. Ready your imagination to go on an adventure with the night forest characters brought to life by our actors Eimear Morrissey & Rebecca Grimes.

Creative Camping | Main Auditorium | Ground Floor

Tents of red and yellow and blue fill our toddler campsite. Build a fire, step on stones and then what's that sound? A pop-up ceilí erupts by the campfire.
Get ready for a live music pop-up extravaganza like no other, when our SongTales sa Spéir experience surprises us right in the middle of our campsite! Full of imagination, magic and beautiful songs that transports you to a brand new exciting world.
SongTales sa Spéir featured Ceol Connected Traditional Musicians, Thomas Johnston, Aine McGeeney & Stephen Markham.

Inside the Cardboard Box | Workshop Room | Ground Floor

Paint, draw and explore inside our cardboard wonderland. Use a paint brush, your fingers or your toes to paint and draw and make your mark (or a mess), on the floor, on the walls, everywhere!

In the Clouds | Upstairs Gallery | First Floor

Off with your shoes and bounce around the clouds. Play, explore, imagine, construct.
Many thanks to Helium Arts in their support via a loan of elements from the set of Bedtime Adventures included here.

Space Between the Stars | The Studio | First Floor

Beyond the sky and into space, to dance and play … and then ... movements will animate the space with pop-up dancers that delight and surprise.
With a series of themes and a range of movements, accompanied by rhythms and some interesting props to enhance exploration of movement, colour and rhythm, this is an interactive and responsive dance and sound session to engage and explore with in your own unique way.
With Dancers Jess Rowell and Anderson DeSouza.

"The Toddler Take Over has always been a magical and creatively productive time for me, ever since we invented the first one 10 years ago. A huge amount of background work goes into the Toddler Take Over, taking 4 weeks to build all the elements, but the team at Draíocht and the artists they engage with are champions at what they do; bringing together ideas, technical elements, materials, spaces and playfully gathering people to put things in motion. Draíocht is aptly named; it’s just magic to be a part of it!" - Lead Artist Órla Kelly

TTO Sensory Friendly Event
Wed 14 May / 10.30am-12.30pm
Suitable for Special Units/Schools
We also had a Sensory Friendly Toddler Morning, for special units and pre-schools catering for children with sensory needs in our local area.