Tiny Treasure Hunt – Can you find the little Big Top?
To celebrate the Galway International Arts Festival (GIAF) 2025, Galway City Museum will be unveiling a brand new special edition miniature version of the iconic Festival Big Top for a limited time only. The display will be located in one of the Museum galleries from Friday 11 to Sunday 26 July. No clues will be given regarding location – it’s up to the visitors to see if they can find it!

The miniature GIAF Festival Big Top forms part of the Museum’s Tiny Treasure Hunt activity for young people. The activity features twelve tiny scenes from Galway’s past and present, created by LEGO® brick artist Jessica Farrell. Visitors are invited to pick up an activity sheet from reception and tick off the scenes as they find them.

About the GIAF Festival Big Top
Founded in 1978, the GIAF takes place over two weeks in late July, presenting and producing a vibrant programme spanning all art forms – including theatre, music, visual arts, street spectacle, dance, discussion and comedy. Over the years, the Festival has firmly established Galway as both a leading cultural hub and a prime destination for cultural tourism

In 1989, the Festival raised a big top circus marquee for the first time in Fisheries Field by the River Corrib to host The Waterboys – marking the beginning of what is now known as the Festival Big Top. Since then, this iconic temporary blue structure has welcomed a remarkable lineup of Irish and international artists, including Sinéad O’Connor, Kneecap, the Saw Doctors, Elvis Costello, Blondie, and The National.

Its arrival on the Galway skyline each summer signals the return of the GIAF – an event that turns the city into a dynamic, living spectacle.