While the chilly weather might tempt you to stay indoors, there’s still plenty of fun to be had at new festivals and the exciting events the new year brings. It will also be spring before we know it!

To help you make the most of your weekend, we’ve picked out five brilliant ideas to get you started. For even more inspiration, visit yourdaysout.com!

The Giggler Treatment
The Ark | Temple Bar, until 12th January

This is your last change to see the mischievous new musical based on the novel by Roddy Doyle.

If adults are mean to children, they get the Giggler Treatment. It's smelly. It's squishy. And it sticks to your shoe. But sometimes, just sometimes, the Gigglers make a mistake... Can Robbie, Kayla, Jimmy and Rover the dog come to Mr Mack's rescue before the poo hits the shoe? 

This glorious adaptation of the much-loved novel is teeming with Dublin wit, memorable melodies and belly laughs for children and grown-ups alike.

Biophilia | Guided Tour
National Botanic Gardens, Wed & Sat in Jan

Humans are thought to have an innate connection to nature—an instinctive bond that our increasingly urban lifestyles risk disrupting. This January, the much-loved Biophilia Tour returns to the Gardens as the featured guided tour every Wednesday and Saturday. Immerse yourself in the Gardens’ stunning surroundings and discover how spending time in nature can enhance your well-being and promote a healthier daily life.

Children under 12 go free so it can be a fun, affordable family outing.

Funderland
RDAs, until January 12th.

This is your also your final opportunity to experience Ireland’s most popular amusement park before it wraps up for another year.

Take a trip Around the World, enjoy stunning views from the Ferris Wheel, summon your courage for the Ghost Train or test your luck staying dry on the Jungle River and lots more. With rides and attractions to suit everyone in the family, Funderland is the perfect place to create some more happy memories that will last until next year.

Out To Lunch Arts Festival
Belfast, until January 26th.

Out to Lunch - which originated as part of the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival established in 1999 following the Good Friday Agreement - celebrates it's own 20th anniversary this month with a diverse programme of around 60 events across a range of unique venues including the Black Box, historic buildings, pubs, churches and galleries

This weekend kicks off with a Ceilí for Lunch in The Black Box on Friday, music from The White Horse Guitar Club, The Zac Schulze Gang and others and finishes with comedian Lucy Porter and her show all about regrets. You will only regret not going!

rides and attractions to suit everyone in the family, Funderland is the perfect place to create some more happy memories that will last until next year.

Dino Show Live
Portlaoise, 11th January, 4pm.

Get ready for a jaw-dropping, family-friendly show featuring some of the most realistic dinosaurs you’ll ever see. This amazing one-hour spectacle combines cutting-edge animatronics and award-winning puppetry to bring the prehistoric world to life.

Join a magical professor as they whisk you back 65 million years to meet an unforgettable cast of dinosaurs. Say hello to Archie, the cheeky ankylosaurus, and Bluey, the mischievous (and slightly dark) velociraptor. You’ll even come face-to-face with a full-size triceratops and many more dino stars.

Perfect for families, the show is aimed at children aged 3+ and features a mild scare factor to keep things exciting. Whether you’re a dinosaur enthusiast or just looking for a fun day out, this is an adventure that’ll leave you smiling. Also, there will be plenty of photo opportunities at the end!

First Published on Rollercoaster.ie