Space Carnival

A RIOT OF COLOUR AND DANCE, FEATURING PARADES, DAY PARTIES AND MUCH MORE!

Your bluedot 2023 theme is…

SPACE CARNIVAL!

We’re so excited to unveil a truly extraordinary weekend of family fun for this year’s edition as well as a brand new festival theme of Space Carnival, inviting everyone to get creative and immerse themselves in a celebration of everything intergalactic. bluedot’s theme will be celebrated with an array of special parades, immersive art, silent disco parties and much more to be revealed in the coming months.

Expect a riot of colour, light and dance, as we take Rio to Orion, and Notting Hill to Neptune! From day parties to twilight parades, drum circles to dancers, bluedot 2023 will be a party like no other. Standby for amazing announcements of intergalactic fun from sunrise to sunset…

Want to be part of the fun? Apply now to our creative call-out! This is your opportunity to apply to perform, create and present as part of bluedot 2023. We’re looking for artists, dancers and more. To find out more, click below.

FAMILY FUN AT BLUEDOT

Join us for a fun family weekend at bluedot 2023, featuring a whole host of science shows, kids cinema, hands-on activities, Jedi Lightsaber training, interactive & dance-fuelled workshops, plus a dedicated Mother & Baby space, all designed for the young and young at heart. Children’s tickets start from just £35.00 and under 4’s are completely free.

REVEALING YOUR BLUEDOT 2023…

FAMILY LINE-UP

A WEEKEND OF EXTRAORDINARY FAMILY FUN WITH

BRAINIAC LIVE · KIDOCRACY

SPACE CARNIVAL DAYTIME PARade and illuminated parade (saturday 2.30pm and 11pm)
BIG FISH LITTLE FISH’S COSMIC DISCO · BHANGRACISE · JEDI LIGHTSABER TRAINING · ACTUAL REALITY ARCADE · Pop-Up Puppet Cinema · Dance Like A Mother · Kids Cinema · Our Kid’s Social Silent Disco · DRUM N BOUNCE · DJ SCHOOL

HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS · Live Science Shows · Arts Experiences
JODRELL BANK CENTRE FOR ENGAGEMENT · WHISPERING DISHES
WOODLAND NATURE TRAILS · THE ARBORETUM
plus Bedtime Stories hosted by bluedot favourites!

Join us for a fun family weekend at bluedot 2023, featuring a whole host of science shows, kids cinema, hands-on activities, Jedi Lightsaber training, interactive & dance-fuelled workshops, all designed for the young and young at heart. Children’s tickets start from just £35.00 and under 4’s are completely free.


saturday PARADES

bluedot 2023 will feature two amazing parades with Global Grooves on the Saturday afternoon and night. Get dressed up in your best space costume from 2.30pm for our brand new daytime Space Carnival parade, led by Henge and supported by Arts Council England, and following our Lovell Stage closing headliners Pavement don your glow-in-the-dark for the return of our much-loved Illuminated Parade!

BRAINIAC LIVE

Newly-announced family highlights include the outrageous Brainiac Live where fearless scientists will conduct all the experiments kids were never allowed to do at home: expect exploding dustbins, combusting microwave ovens and daredevil stunts that defy the very boundaries of science calamity! 

KIDOCRACY

Kidocracy makes its bluedot debut, with a hilarious and thought-provoking interactive theatre show. Kidocracy shows how adults have made a mess of the world and offers children the chance to learn a little bit about politics and governing and how by being part of a democracy they can work together and fix the mistakes the grown-ups have made and build the world of tomorrow. 

DANCE AND PARTY

When it comes to the party, bluedot has fun in spades – enter Big Fish Little Fish and their Cosmic Disco, a mighty mashup of club classics, safe and inclusive raving and big daft fun for all ages. Socks will be danced off. Start the day right with Dance Like A Mother’s unique and award-winning baby-wearing dance classes, led by expert instructors. There will also be a unique opportunity to learn the amazing skills of Bhangra dancing with teachers to the celebs, Bhangracise. Bhangra is a celebration, a way to stay fit, be mindful and have a massive laugh all at the same time. What’s not to love? And when it comes to popping the headphones on for a bit of quiet raving, Our Kids Social Silent Disco is a good old-fashioned knees up with a focus on great music, making friends and basically having a real good time. Did we mention dancing? 

JEDI LIGHTSABER TRAINING

From a universe far, far away Jedi Lightsaber Training makes a very welcome return allowing children to use the force and channel their inner Jedi for the day, taking part in a masterclass to perfect their lightsaber skills. One of the most in-demand family experiences at bluedot, the Jedi academy will be increasing capacity for 2023 with more classes throughout the weekend.

ACTUAL REALITY ARCADE

The Actual Reality Arcade, a life-sized interactive game zone suitable for children of all ages, will bring classic arcade games of the past to life with families playing together for a dose of classic arcade nostalgia.

POP-Up Puppet Cinema

Best described as Punch and Judy colliding with Hollywood, the Pop-Up Puppet Cinema return to bluedot for 2023 after an amazing reception in 2022. Original, inventive and very, very funny, the Pop-Up Puppet Cinema condense classic movies into punchy live puppets shows to comedic effect. Expect Back To The Future, and a special after-dark Forbidden Planet! 

plus still to come…

On top of all that there are the ever-popular perennials of bluedot including hands-on workshops, live science shows, arts experiences, woodland trails, the arboretum and bedtime stories by some very special guests. Not to mention the highly exciting full music bill that will be released soon! 

PREVIOUS FAMILY HIGHLIGHTS

Family Fun reigned supreme at bluedot 2022 with the Big Bang Stage of live science shows, Star Pavilion as the home of hands-on workshops and Brainiac Live bringing immersive science to thousands of families on the main Lovell Stage. Other highlights included SK Shlomo’s Beatbox Adventure For Kids, Dance Like A Mother’s baby dance classes, Jedi Lightsaber Training, Hengercise, and the brand new Actual Reality Arcade, giving kids the chance to play real-life versions of arcade classics like Pac Man and Space Invaders. 

EXPLORE MORE EXPERIENCES