Festival14, our new arts festival arrives in Canary Wharf this summer with a full programme of theatre, music, comedy and family events.
We’re delighted to be hosting a jam-packed programme of family events to keep our youngest audience members entertained throughout the festival.
As space is limited, a number of our family events require advance booking to reserve space. Most of our family events are free but please check individual event entries below for full details about each event.
As you wander round the festival you might just find a few surprises popping up along the way including free face painting, crafty workshops and magical street theatre. Details of these events will be listed in our full programme which will be available to download in July.
Saturday 23 July
Story-Makers, Crossrail Place Roof Garden, 11am-12noon
Join Bric à Brac Theatre for Story-Makers, an immersive story-telling event where the audience decide which way the story goes! Recommended for ages 6-11.
FREE, advance booking required
Jack Defrost, Jubilee Park, 11.45am-12.05pm, 1.30-1.50pm & 3.15-3.35pm
Jack Defrost is an enchanting dance performance, unravelling the traditional character of Jack Frost and his journey through the changing seasons. Suitable for all ages.
FREE – no booking required, just turn up
Bus King Theatre: Marvelo’s Circus, Montgomery Square, 12-1pm, 2-3pm & 3.30-4.30pm
All aboard the Bus King Theatre! This intimate puppet theatre is housed in an intricately converted vintage Routemaster double decker bus. Board the bus for a puppet show followed by a crafty workshop. 25 min puppet show followed by 30 min workshop. Recommended for ages 3+.
FREE, advance booking required
Professor Slug's House of Bugs, Crossrail Place Roof Garden, 1-2pm
Professor Slug’s House of Bugs is a show all about bugs. Professor Slug is an eccentric expert on invertebrates who helps bugs out with their buggy problems – and you can too!
FREE, advance booking required
Big Fish Little Fish Family Rave, Westferry Circus, 2-4pm
Created by ravers who wanted to share their love of dance music with their children, the ethos of BFLF is ‘By Families, For Families’. Come and party with festival favourite DJ Mandy playing club classics from acid house onwards while the kids enjoy crafting, bubbles, balloons, face-painting, and foam. Come and rave with the 2-to-4-hour party people! Recommended for ages 0 – 8.
Tickets: £10 adult, £7.50 child, under 2’s free
Sunday 24 July
Out of the Deep Blue, Jubilee Plaza, 11.30am-12noon, 2-2.50pm & 4.30-5.20pm
Out of the Deep Blue is an outdoor physical theatre performance featuring a 4-metre-tall puppet. This spectacle is designed specifically for family and festival audiences and tells the magical story of Eko, a sea giant who rises from the deep ocean and who encounters, on the shore, a courageous little girl called Violet. Recommended for ages 5+.
FREE – no booking required, just turn up
Bus King Theatre: Marvelo’s Circus, Montgomery Square, 12-1pm, 2-3pm & 3.30-4.30pm
All aboard the Bus King Theatre! This intimate puppet theatre is housed in an intricately converted vintage Routemaster double decker bus. Board the bus for a puppet show followed by a crafty workshop. 25 min puppet show followed by 30 min workshop. Recommended for ages 3+.
FULLY BOOKED
Family Jukebox, Crossrail Place Roof Garden, 1-1.45pm, 2.45-3.30pm & 4.30-5.15pm
Join David Gibb and his magical music Jukebox as he takes you on a trip of songs! Recommended for ages 3 to 8.
FREE, advance booking required
Taking place across our parks, plazas and open spaces, Festival14 will see Canary Wharf burst to life with over 50 performances and events to suit all tastes.
Click here to find out more
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