Fun and Free things to do all over Dalston!
Saturday 27th May
10 Minute Caricatures
10AM–NOON & 2PM-4PM
Donna Fugassa Café, Dalston Square, E8 3BQ
DROP IN
Is your child really a secret agent, super hero, princess or dragon? Let them tell their story and they will get a bespoke caricature, to remind them they're special.
Wrap Co-work & Play
10AM–12.30PM
Vortex Jazz Club And Gillett Square, 11 Gillett Square, N16 8AZ
BOOK A PLACE FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILD - EMAIL wraphackney@gmail.com
Join WRAP for an interactive storytelling session and adventure to a far-away land. There will be map drawing, telescope building and more. (Plus desk space, wifi & coffee for your Mum & Dad!)
Tots Tunes
10.30AM–11.15AM
Gillett Square, N16 8AZ
For ages 0-5 and their parents
No need to book, but please arrive promptly (limited places).
Interactive parent and baby classes combining original tunes and folk songs from around the world with a bit of a workout!
Francais au Rio
11AM: film screening (A Cat in Paris, with English subtitles)
12.30PM: performance (Kirikou)
Rio Cinema, 107 Kingsland High Street, E8 2PB
BOOK YOUR PLACE - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/francais-au-rio-tickets-32465839199
A fun French morning of film, games and theatre for all the family presented by Mind Your Language.
Play-tastic!
11AM–2PM
Dalston Square, E8 3BQ
For under 7s, parents & prospective parents
DROP IN
Chalk, skip, hopscotch and play away at this intergenerational session hosted by Hackney Play Streets, Hackney Playbus, Universal Board Games and Bump Buddies! With moneysmart activities including homemade playdough (with a recipe for families to reproduce at home) and games from around the world including classics like Backgammon and Giant Chess.
- www.hackneyplay.org/playstreets/home
- www.shoreditchtrust.org.uk/Bump-Buddies
- www.hackneyplaybus.org
- www.universalboardgames.co.uk
- www.hackney.gov.uk/dalston-square
Puppet Making
11AM–1PM
Arcola Theatre, 24 Ashwin Street, E8 3DL
No need to book, but please arrive promptly.
Let your imagination run wild as we explore creatures and monsters through puppet making and performance! Join us at Arcola Theatre on this magical adventure.
Gillett Square Free Play
11AM–5PM
Gillett Square, N16 8AZ
DROP IN
Pop in to our pop-up playground and play, build and create! Try ping-pong, table football and giant chess. Hula-Hoop and Jump Rope for all ages throughout the day with Marawa’s Majorettes. Free workshops at: 12:30pm Hula-Hoop, 2pm Jump-Rope, 4pm Hula-Hoop.
Code, Craft and Create Day
11AM–4PM
Dalston C.L.R. James Library, Dalston Square, E8 3BQ
DROP IN
11am-12pm: Under-5s Rhyme Time2-4pm: Coding2.30pm-4pm: Children’s Film Club3-4pm: Concertina Book Art - Create a Secret Garden inside a pocket sized book
Dalston Flower Show for Children
12PM–5PM
Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, 13 Dalston Lane, E8 3DF
DROP IN
Join in an afternoon of free art, design and cooking, surrounded by the flowers and greenery of the Garden, with local artists and chefs.
Immediate Theatre
1PM–3PM
Forest Road Youth Hub, 29 Forest Road, E8 3BY
BOOK YOUR PLACE - Email jo@immediate-theatre.com
Join Immediate Theatre in their half term theatre project, leading to a performance next Saturday.
Big and Small Beat It Band!
1.30PM–3PM
Vortex Jazz Club, 11 Gillett Square, N16 8AZ
No need to book, but please arrive promptly (limited places).
No disabled access. Families welcome.
Using sticks, chairs, djembe drums and improvised instruments, come and join the band and create a new rhythmic piece together.
Saturday 3rd June
Arts & Crafts in the Bee Garden
11AM–1PM
Bee Garden, Abbot Street (off Kingsland High Street) E8 3DP
DROP IN
Enjoy arts and crafts activities in the buzzing bee garden!
Gillett Square Free Play
11AM–5PM
Gillett Square, N16 8AZ
DROP IN
Pop in to our pop-up playground and play, build and create! Try ping-pong, table football and giant chess. Hula-Hoop and Jump Rope for all ages throughout the day with Marawa’s Majorettes. Free workshops at: 12:30pm Hula-Hoop, 2pm Jump-Rope, 4pm Hula-Hoop.
Pasta Armando Day
11AM–3PM
Dalston Square, E8 3BQ
DROP IN
Join us for the first Pasta Armando Festival in Dalston! Come and taste the delicious pasta dishes created by chef Lorenzo Toppi! 500 free portions available from 12noon – be quick!
Festival Fun and Games
11AM–5PM
Dalston C.L.R. James Library Dalston Square, E8 3BQ
DROP IN
11am-12pm: Under-5s Rhyme Time2.30-3.30pm: Creative Writing3-5pm: Games Club
Carnival Crafts
12PM–3PM
Rose Lipman Building, 43 De Beauvoir Rd, N1 5SF
BOOK YOUR PLACE - Email tropicalisles@btconnect.com
Indulge yourself in this world of sparkles, feathers and sequins to make carnival headdresses at this fun workshop led by Tropical Isles carnival group.
Fun on the Canal
12PM–4PM
Chug, Kingsland Basin, Off the Canal, Hertford Road, N1 5BB
DROP IN
No disabled access.
Visit the iconic Kingsland Basin where you will find a community of narrow boat-dwellers, a floating allotment, bees, ducks and freshly baked cakes! Come and take a trip on a narrowboat.
Book Swap!
2PM–5PM
Ship of Adventures, 138 Kingsland High Street, E8 2NS
DROP IN
Bring along any good quality children’s book and swap it for another from our selection of new and second hand books, at the Ship of Adventures.
Immediate Theatre
2.30PM
Forest Road Youth Hub, 29 Forest Road, E8 3BY
Join the audience for Immediate Theatre’s performance piece, developed with local young people.
Festival Events Map
To help you get around, view our map and find the number of the event you are interested in.
View Map
