Hoo-Ha! Festival at Bristol Beacon

About

Visitors can expect three jam-packed days of music, dancing and activities for little ones of all ages and their families to get involved with, which is sure to burn off that excess excitable energy during the summer holidays.

The festival will kick off on Wednesday 17 August with a Relaxed Day for disabled and neurodivergent people, or anyone who would prefer a gentler environment. With reduced lighting, lower noise levels and a maximum capacity of 150 visitors, families can enjoy performances from Kid Carpet and sing along with TJ Band on the main stage.

For kids looking to get crafty, workshops run by Let’s Make Art and Aardman Animations in the Stalls Bar will spark their creative sides with a range of artistic activities. Visitors can expect to make their very own plasticine characters with the creators of Wallace & Gromit, and get creative with a supply of recycled fabric to make carnival headdresses and masks. 

Attendees can even jump into an out-of-this-world adventure by travelling across the solar system inside the Explorer Dome. Curiosity is encouraged as children are welcome to ponder the stars, learn about the legends behind each constellation and consider the possibility of life beyond Earth.

Children will also be able to bring their ideas to life through a host of scientific activities, including learning how to make their own scribbling robot using motors and switches, experimenting with sounds in a Noisy Toys workshop and controlling digital music by simply just plugging a cable into an apple with Conductive Music. There is an endless list of possibilities to explore, and no idea is out of bounds!

A range of quieter activities will also be running throughout the three days, including an illustration workshop by Lucie Sheridan, who is returning to Hoo-Ha! Festival for her third year with her Live Art Booth, drawing “Rubbish Portraits” of her visitors. 

Independent harbourside bookshop BookHaus will also be taking up residence on the Terrace Bar, inviting listeners to explore magical realms and fictional worlds in their storytelling sessions.

Workshops will take place throughout a variety of spaces in Bristol Beacon. The main stage on the lower ground floor will become a lively hub of activity, with Disco Shed raising the roof and getting bodies moving to the groove.

The ground floor will transport visitors through a portal into outer-space, while level one becomes a creative centre for all things arts and crafts. The Terrace Bar on level 3 will welcome a calmer environment too, with a range of activities encouraging the ultimate zen, including tranquil music making and children’s yoga.

Throughout the day, visitors can indulge in daily breakfast and lunch menus provided by the Bristol Loaf, which offers a tantalising range of food and drink options, from pastries and cakes to focaccia, ciabatta and artisan loaves.

Free Event