This weekend, the National Festival of Making is bringing the Dodecalis Luminarium, created by Architects of Air, to Blackburn’s Corporation Park. Enter the Luminarium and enjoy a magical journey as you move through the winding paths and vast domes of the monumental, inflatable sculpture.
Hull’s award-winning international arts festival, Freedom Festival, returns today running until 5 Sep. There’s a solid programme of Outdoor Arts throughout and this weekend you can see Luke Jerram‘s Gaia, Gandini Juggling‘s Smashed2, SquidSoup – and watch Avant Garde Dance Company‘s Illegal Dance online.
Coventry City of Culture’s Caribbean Reggae Fever is sold out, but the Carnival Parade passes through the city centre on Saturday from 11am.
In Cheshire this weekend is Wild Rumpus’ Just So Festival at Rode Hall, encouraging families to step out of their day-to-day lives and into a wonderland of literature, arts, theatre, dance, music, comedy and creative pursuits together. Be sure to check out StrongWomen Science, a fun and fast-paced family circus performance where you can find out how jugglers, acrobats and hula hoop artists use science to create their amazing acts. Other Outdoor Arts stalwarts include Strong Lady Productions, Acrojou, Just More Productions, LAStheatre, Rost Productions, Dizzy O’Dare, Bumble Movement and The Fabularium.
Also in Cheshire this weekend is Geronimo Festival, a fun-packed family festival with Circus shows, a funfair, live music, workshops and activities such as tree climbing, parkour, crafts, and the world’s biggest bouncy castle!
Sparked Echo, Medway Council and Creative Estuary present Electric Medway – an ambitious 10-day arts programme held in a variety of locations, with free-to-see artworks and activities including virtual reality, streamed performances, animation, projection and sound.
For a floor stomping, live music, hilarious retelling of Kenneth Grahame’s classic story The Wind In The Willows from Calf2Cow, head to Holburne Museum tomorrow, or Victory Field in Bradford on Avon on Sunday. Join The Handlebards in the stunning grounds of Holker Hall this weekend as their all-female, pedal-powered, troupe presents Macbeth. See Scoot Theatre’s outdoor, family-friendly, sixty-minute productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Comedy of Errors this evening at Chessington Cricket Club, and tomorrow and Sunday at The Barn at Notgrove. Oddsocks are on the Isle of Sark this weekend with their own version of Comedy of Errors at La Seigneurie.
Moving Parts Arts presents Tyne Rising, an outdoor theatre spectacle for all the family at City Stadium, Newcastle this Sat and Sun. Featuring giant puppets, costumed ensembles, live music and landscape spectacles, the production has been specially commissioned for Newcastle Puppetry Festival 2021. It’s sold out – so beg or borrow a ticket.
See Inverted Theatre’s Box on the Pavilion Promenade & South Street Square tomorrow, part of Worthing Theatres and Museum’s SPIN-OUT Summer Season of free shows. In Brighton, experience Ready to Drop, an overnight sound art installation conceived and created by Orlando Gough and John Del’ Nero, at the Brighton Beach Basketball Court presented by Artichoke 10pm to 10am until 26 Aug.
Green Man Festival, held amongst the splendour of Wales’ Brecon Beacons, runs this weekend. There are loads of activities for the inquisitive festival-goer including scientific debate and experiments, spoken word poetry, stand-up comedy, and a strong line-up of Outdoor Arts, produced in association with Articulture Wales.
Also in Wales, catch Articulture commissions Afanc by f.a.b. The Detonators at the Newport Riverfront on Saturday and in Pembrey Country Park on Sunday; Qwerin by Osian Meilir is at Cardiff’s Millenium Centre on Saturday and also at Pembrey Country Park on Sunday.
On Saturday, Neighbourhood Watch Stilts International’s Insectopolis heads to Ushaw House near Durham, marvel at the gigantic butterflies and bees who will visit the gorgeous gardens and outdoor areas for the day.
Hanwell Carnival returns tomorrow, with a day of family fun for everyone including a music stage, animal zone, dog show, charity and trade stalls, craft tent, and funfair. Ashington Festival returns for 2021 tomorrow with all the usual favourites, kickstarting at 1.30pm with the Carnival, then enjoy stunning arena acts, funfair, dog show, car boot sale and fireworks at 10pm.
Don’t miss this weekend’s offerings from Kensington + Chelsea Festival including Lifted by Mimbre, and the Dance Showcase outside the Tabernacle featuring Portobello Dance, Arunima Kumar Dance Company and Open Age.
Join Jellyfish Theatre for The Wagon of Dreams, a hilarious dreamy adventure packed full of puppetry, fun and original music, touring Wandsworth Housing Estates throughout August. See it this afternoon at Copeland House. Bring a blanket to sit on and look out for the caravan! Tiny Wild Fox presents Bicycle Boy, a fast-paced, outdoor bicycle-powered eco-musical for families, this weekend at Fellfoot Windermere, part of A Summer of Stories.
My, my, at Harewood House there’s an outdoor version of Mamma Mia, in the open air for the very first time until 30 Aug. Fall in love with the irresistibly funny tale of a mother, a daughter and three possible dads on a Greek island, all unfolding to the magic of ABBA’s timeless songs.
SpareParts returns to Crewe with Journeys, a 2-day outdoor family art trail coming to the town this weekend. Visit three districts within the town, each offering a creative, interactive and immersive journey, exploring in some way the environment and our relationship with it.
There are free live performances and activities for all the family throughout August in Leicester at Curve on the Square. Swing by Orton Square this evening for a post-work wind-down with music, dance and spoken word. Then tomorrow families are invited to a morning of fun, before an afternoon programme for all ages including puppetry, musical theatre, and storytelling.
On Sunday, Devizes launches the first event of 2021 with Picnic in the Park, a fantastic gathering at Hillworth Park. Bring a picnic and relax with great music, chilled out family entertainment and copious refreshments of all types – the Devizes International Street Festival is next weekend with a fantastic line-up of Outdoor Arts.
