Fun and Free things to do all over Dalston!
Saturday 26th May
10 Minute Caricatures
10AM–12PM & 2-4PM
Donna Fugassa Café, Dalston Square, E8 3BQ
DROP IN
Is your child really a secret agent, superhero, princess or dragon? Let us draw them a bespoke caricature. Workshop with illustrator Sara Pittaluga.
Hack the Library
10AM–4PM
Dalston C.L.R. James Library, Dalston Square, E8 3BQ
DROP IN
10AM-12PM: School of Noise: Join us in exploring the wonderful world of sound and electronic music, leading to a performance in Dalston Square at 1PM (for ages 7+).
11AM-12PM: Under-5s Rhyme Time with end of day performance.
2.30-4PM: Children's Film Club.
3-4PM: Hacking Science Club.
12-4PM: Peace Quilt sessions with Elav8 World. Make your own Dalston quilt square to decorate with arts and crafts.
Tots Tunes
11–11.45AM
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!
Make a play in a day
11AM–3PM
Performance 3PM
Forest Road Youth Hub, 29 Forest Road, E8 3BY
Register your interest - text 07525 892953
Join our youth theatre for a dramatic experience and perform to family and friends at 3PM. To register your interest text Charmain on 07525 892953
Fun in the Square!
11AM–4PM
Dalston Square, E8 3BQ
DROP IN
11AM–2PM: Under 7s can play away at this session led by Hackney Playbus, Hackney Play Streets and Universal Board Games. 1PM: Listen to the amazing School of Noise festival band.
1.20–4PM: Children aged 7+ are invited to explore noise and the science of sound at this music-making workshop by School of Noise.
- www.hackneyplay.org/street-play
- www.hackneyplaybus.org
- www.universalboardgames.co.uk
- www.schoolofnoise.com
- www.hackney.gov.uk/dalston-square
Dalston Flower Show for Children
12–5PM
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.
Carnival Crafts
Indulge yourself in this world of sparkles, feathers and sequins to make carnival headdresses at this fun workshop led by Tropical Isles carnival group.
Sonic Image
1–5PM
Gillett Square, N16 8AZ
Is your child a music maverick in the making? An imaginative story-teller with a penchant for technology? Let their creativity run wild with electronic samplers, vocal pedals, instruments and group composition!
Big and Small Beat It Band!
1.30–3PM
Vortex Jazz Club, 11 Gillett Square, N16 8AZ
No need to book, but limited places
No disabled access
Using sticks, chairs, djembe drums and improvised instruments, come and join the band and create a new rhythmic piece together.
Book Swap and storytelling!
2–4PM
Ship Of Adventures, 138 Kingsland High Street, E8 2NS
DROP IN
Get excited about reading with our storytelling workshop and swap-shop. Bring along any good quality children's book and swap it for another from our selection of new and second hand books.
Pride in the park picnic
1.30–3PM
Snake Park (Stonebridge Gardens), E8 4DT
DROP IN
A relaxed day of children's activities, including Drag Queen storyteller Maxi More, sports and face painting. Aimed at LGBTQI+ families in Hackney, their friends and allies, bring along a picnic and enjoy the sunshine.
Gillett Square Free Play
2–5PM
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.
Saturday 2nd June
Serious fun
10AM–2PM
Arcola Theatre, 24 Ashwin Street, E8 3DL
Working with Arcola Youth Theatre directors and leaders, participants will explore clowning and improvisation, creating unique characters and the silliest of stories.
Hack the Library
10AM–4PM
Dalston C.L.R. James Library, Dalston Square, E8 3BQ
DROP IN
10AM–12PM: School of Noise: Join us in exploring the wonderful world of sound and electronic music, leading to a performance in Dalston Square at 1PM (for ages 7+).
11AM–12PM: Under-5s Rhyme Time with end of day performance.
1–2PM: ELCAF (East London Comics & Arts Festival) presents illustrator and author Sandra Dieckmann for a storytelling and craft workshop.
3–4PM: Hacking Science Club.
12–4PM: Peace Quilt sessions with Elav8 World. Make your own Dalston quilt square to decorate with arts and crafts.
Fun in the Square!
11AM–5PM
Dalston Square, E8 3BQ
DROP IN
11AM: Join in a Bollywood dance class, for kids aged 5+ and their parents.
11AM–2PM: Enjoy fruit pizza making with Café Route, then remake them at home.
12–4PM: Bring your own bike or use one of ours at the Stars 'n' Stripes Pop-up Play-road. It's a family cycle experience which promotes safe cycling involving traffic lights, zebra crossings and dressing up as traffic police, lollipop people and much more!
1PM: Listen to the amazing School of Noise festival band.
1.20-4pm: Children aged 7+ are invited to explore noise and the science of sound at this music-making workshop by School of Noise.
2–5PM: Under 7s can chalk, skip and hopscotch away at this session led by Hackney Play Streets.
Coco en Espanol
Rio Cinema, 107 Kingsland High Street, E8 2PB
Book your place
11AM: film screening of Pixar's Coco screened in Spanish with English subtitles
From 1PM: Using the Day of the Dead theme for mask making and colouring in sheets in the Rio lobby
A fun morning of film, games and crafts.
Gillett Square Free Play
2–5PM
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!
12.30–4PM
Gillett Square, N16 8AZ
DROP IN
Have a go at Hula-Hoop and Jump Rope with Marawa's Majorettes. Workshops at: 12.30PM Hula-Hoop, 2PM Jump-Rope, 4PM Hula-Hoop.
Fun on the Canal
12–4PM
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 narrowboat-dwellers, a floating allotment, bees, ducks and freshly baked cakes! Come and take a trip on a narrowboat.
Book Swap and storytelling!
2–4PM
Ship Of Adventures, 138 Kingsland High Street, E8 2NS
DROP IN
Get excited about reading with our storytelling workshop and swapshop. Bring along any good quality children's book and swap it for another from our selection of new and second hand books.
Festival Events Map
To help you get around, view our map and find the number of the event you are interested in.
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