Bloom 2023 takes place from June 1st to 5th 2023 and features 21 stunning show gardens, from the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Musical Garden to the Loom and Blooms Garden, designed to celebrate 300 years of Avoca.

The Easy steps to dream gardens is an initiative designed to help people plant their own garden at home. There are 7 designs in total, all from Bloom award winning designers, with easy-to-follow planting plans and planting lists that can be implemented at home, according to the time, space and budget available.

To make the most of Bloom this year, follow our top tips for visiting Bloom with kids:

Before your visit, stop by the Bloom website for detailed information. Check travel tips, whether planning to arrive by car or public transport, and download a site map to plot your route around the extensive Bloom site.

Decide which show gardens are top of your list, which events/demos you’d like to see and check out the kids’ event programme.

Top tip: The event schedule for each day differs, so do make sure to check in advance so you can plan your day out and make the most of all that’s on offer.

Of course you’ll want some browsing time for yourself, but it’s a good idea to plan in your kids’ activities to keep them happy throughout the day.

This year there are lots of things happening at the Budding Bloomers Stage. The Kids Zone hosts an exciting mix of fun and games for all the family to enjoy, with programmed events every day including:

• First 5 Play
• RTÉjr Let’s Find Out with Mark Langtry
• Weaving with Natural Irish Wool
• RTÉjr Storybud on the big screen
• Face painting and much more

Your child might also enjoy some of the demos at the Quality Kitchen stage featuring some of  Ireland’s leading chefs including Rory O’Connor, Catherine Fulvio, Brian McDermot, Mark Moriatry, Shane Smith and JP McMahon. There will also be cook-alongs for kids with Neven Maguire.

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There are plenty of food options at Bloom, for example, the Food Village will feature more than 90 food producers showcasing the best of Irish food; from chocolate to smoked salmon, cheese to beetroot juice, artisan sausages, fresh vegetables and meats, coffee and jams.

There are also on-site restaurants, Country Crest Food Fayre and Farm Shop, The Garden View Restaurant and Bistro Bloom offering indoor and outdoor dining options with a wide range of tasty food options from artisan food trucks located around the site.

Bring snacks and back up food just in case your kids aren’t keen on the options on offer. There are plenty of spots to set up a mini picnic for them, while the dedicated Picnic Area is also a good spot to take some time out, relax and enjoy the live entertainment.

Top tip: When you first arrive, scope out what’s on offer as you go around to see what you think your kids might like and plan to come back at feeding times. It’s also a good idea to try and time your meals outside of the peak times, e.g. try an early lunch at noon with a snack later after the lunch rush has died down.

Top essentials for the day:

• Sunscreen and hats
• Wet wipes (so handy for those messy spills)
• Refillable water bottles, you can refill at the water stations
• Books or toys for kids to play with when you have rest stops
• Label coats, jumpers and backpacks with your mobile number in case any smallies get lost.

Bord Bia is also running a number of sustainable initiatives at the festival, from providing a free shuttle bus service and an increased number of bicycle parking spaces, to ensuring that all food and drink packaging sold on-site is fully compostable or recyclable.

Many of the show gardens will highlight environmentally-friendly practices and systems, such as rainwater collection, pollinator-friendly planting, habitats for wildlife, and greener building materials in order to inspire visitors to make changes at home.