Description
Solstice Arts Centre is a world-class regional cultural facility located in the heart of Navan, County Meath, where contemporary creativity and community gathering seamlessly come together. Housed in a striking, award-winning building that functions as Meath's primary hub for the arts, this modern space hosts an exceptional mix of theatre, visual arts, music, cinema, and dance. It ranks highly among the best things to do with kids in West Ireland because it explicitly designs free family craft mornings, dedicated sensory-friendly events, and lively youth performance festivals that effortlessly spark young imaginations.
Admission to the main visual art galleries and dedicated creative areas is completely free of charge for families, offering an exceptionally affordable local cultural day out. While separate tickets are required for major auditorium performances, professional musical theater shows, and structured summer camps, the main gallery costs nothing to explore. You do not need to register or buy tickets in advance for general gallery access, making it incredibly straightforward to drop in with your little ones whenever you are looking for an indoor creative escape.
If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids that blends hands-on creative crafting with inspiring regional culture, this state-of-the-art arts hub is an essential destination. Children will love drawing in the open art corners, watching international bubble artists, and testing their performance skills in professional summer dance camps. The welcoming, fully accessible layout ensuring that families with babies or young toddlers can explore every corner at a thoroughly relaxed, friendly pace.
Features
- Paid
- Host birthday parties: No
Features
What Makes the Venue Special?
- Sensory play opportunities are explicitly built into the core schedule, most notably during specialized exhibition tours designed intentionally for young groups with additional needs.
- Interactive exhibits come to life inside the free family creative zones, where children can physically handle raw materials, draw, and craft their own personal art pieces.
- Educational day out options introduce young visitors to local Irish heritage, global programming, cinema, multi-disciplinary performance art, and contemporary creative thinking.
Key Highlights of the Centre
- The Solstice Level 3 Gallery: A beautifully designed, light-filled exhibition arena that showcases changing modern installations from local and international artists. The towering, bright spaces intrigue children as they gaze at large-scale sculptures and vivid paintings. It is completely free to enter, featuring polished, flat floors that allow toddlers and prams to move around with total freedom.
- The Solstice Creative Corner: A magnificent, dedicated family workshop space that operates on Saturdays throughout active gallery exhibition seasons. This room requires absolutely no booking and costs nothing to enjoy, allowing families to walk straight in. Kids love using the supplied creative tools, paints, and markers to sketch their own responses to the gallery artworks.
- The Professional Main Auditorium: A modern, state-of-the-art performance venue that plays host to a rich, family-oriented schedule of touring groups and regional youth showcases. Depending on the week, children can experience the magic of Guinness World Record-holding bubbleologists, live orchestral music, or traditional youth dance showcases. The seating is expertly tiered to ensure that smaller children enjoy clear views.
- Sensory Connections Gallery Sessions: These specialized, highly relaxed 60-minute interactive tours are crafted specifically for all age groups with additional and sensory needs. Guided by empathetic staff, the relaxed sessions turn standard museum browsing into an inclusive, touch-friendly, and stress-free family experience. The sessions cost just €5 per group, presenting a wonderfully supportive environment.
- The Solstice Café & Sun Deck: Located directly within the ground floor lobby area, this vibrant community café is the perfect place to unwind after exploring. The café serves excellent locally sourced treats, hot babycinos, and fresh snacks for little ones. Parents love sitting out on the attached sun terrace while kids comfortably finish their snacks.
Beyond the Main Attraction
- Navan Town Park: Situated just a short distance away, this large green space features broad walking paths, grassy picnic lawns, and an exceptional adventure playground for energetic kids.
- The Zone Activity Centre: A brilliant, high-energy indoor multi-activity venue located within Navan, offering indoor karting, laser tag, and bowling for older children and teenagers.
- Navan Library Cultural Events: Positioned close by in the town center, the modern public library regularly hosts free children's storytelling hours, reading challenges, and community workshops.
22.96 miles
