An EPIC Experience at Santa in the Sky at the Epic Museum in Dublin

While selection boxes have adorned supermarket shelves since September, the festive season is finally in full swing. To mark the occasion, I brought the family to Santa in the Sky at Epic. This is within the Epic Museum at CHQ in the IFSC, Dublin 1, during November and December.

I kept the Santa piece a secret and explained we were off to learn history on the weekend. Clearly excited when a friendly elf greeted them with boarding cards and passports, we stepped into the vaulted labyrinth of EPIC – The Irish Emigration Museum. Patrons can skip the exhibitions and go straight to the festive land of Santa and his helpers, but I urge you not to and to factor in time to explore Ireland’s history brought to life in a state-of-the-art interactive way.

Any school-going child will have context for the plight of the Irish, but this lifts static history out of the textbooks and brings it to life, that kids and adults will find fascinating and very moving. While much of the earlier history would have been stored in the recesses of my mind: the Penal Laws, the Great Famine, the coffin ships – I’m now at an age where moments I recalled from my childhood were relived on the big screen, from Sonia O’Sullivan’s Olympic Medal win, Mary Robinson’s inuguration and Italia ’90 where Ireland made the quater-finals in the World Cup.

It also covers everything in between – the decades of our grandparents and parents’ lives and the sheer volume of people who left our shores and hoped for fortune and a better future anywhere but here. I would have known the draw of the UK, the USA and Australia. I had little idea that so many also made the likes of Canada and Argentina their home.

From a sorrowful past, to sporting prowess and world leaders with strong Irish heritage – it is a fantastic and often moving experience for young and old.

The Main Event This Season

After exploring the museum at our leisure, we embraced the festivities of the Santa experience. Children begin with colouring and reindeer food-making stations. Kids can craft letters at the post office and post the letters to the North Pole (remember to snap a picture of the letter before it goes in the post so your darling can remember what he or she asked for).

Storytelling by the elves in a cosy nook sets the mood before boarding Reindeer Airways to visit the man in red.

Clearly excited for the season, this was Santa at his very, very best. He answered every random question, knew every name, kept each kid laughing and gave some sage advice. I haven’t seen him in better form anywhere else. Despite ages ranging from a wonder-filled six to an oh-so-cool thirteen, everyone really enjoyed the experience and the (quite fancy) fluffy friends for each child were a welcome treat as we departed.

For the adults, the elves, Santa, and staff are caring and friendly. The gentle pace and personal touch made this memorable for all the right reasons. There were no queues or a feeling of being rushed. Families get a buzzer to indicate when Santa is ready, and up to that point, there is plenty of time to explore, colour, craft or find a cosy spot for a story. During the chat with Santa, an expert photographer (Simon Archer) captures the mood with each family getting a mounted photograph as a memento and the option for more photos or copies if desired (cost a nominal extra fee).

The Verdict – The Santa is the Real Deal & the Experience was Epic

Young kids will adore this. Parents will enjoy it. Older kids who might be borderline for this kind of experience will still get so much out of the state-of-the-art museum and interactive exhibits. This really caters for the whole family and everyone of us loved it.

Booking Online

Book online at Santa in the Sky at EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum – on for selected dates in November and December 2025.

It is really great value – a family of four (2 adults + 2 kids aged 6-12) going to the EPIC museum would cost €53. The Santa in the Sky at EPIC costs €86 for the same family. It is really well worth it and a fascinating and fantastical experience.

My family spent 45 minutes at the museum and 45 minutes at the Santa experience (but could easily have spent longer).

Getting There

Plenty of public transport links with Connolly Station a 2-minute walk, the Luas Red Line from The Point or from Tallaght passes by the doors and, for those of you up from the country like myself, there is an IFSC Q-Park car park around the corner (there is even a discount code for the parking – here)