Various venues, Belfast May 22-31 048-90334455 www.belfastchildrensfestival.com

Now in its 12th year, the Belfast Children’s Festival offers a fantastic range of international theatre and music shows, and the best workshop programme in a children’s festival on this island.

The Waterfront Hall is the main venue this first weekend of the 10th festival, with everything from a baby rave (for ages four and under) to urban arts academy courses in DJing, drumming and digital animation, for 8-14 year olds.

There are also free drop-in workshops in finger painting and shadow puppetry tomorrow and Sunday between 11am and 4pm for children of all ages.

Recommended theatre shows include What a Wonderful World, Hansel and Greteland A Hedge Called Hog.Also worth checking out is the exhibition of art by young people, curated by the University of Ulster, and Champion of the Child, the moving exhibition of the life of Polish children's rights pioneer Janusz Korczak.

See listings for specific theatre shows at the Waterfront Hall, Old Museum Arts Centre and other Belfast- city-centre venues.