Children
There’s plenty to do here at Purbeck Valley Folk Festival – no matter your age! Each year we try to increase our offer for kids. We use all the money we receive from children’s ticket sales into kids activities, so once you’re in the festival it’s all free!
Please remember that you are responsible for your children at all times. You’re very welcome to watch from afar, but please don’t turn our workshop leaders into babysitters!
Activity Zone
Fancy something a little more adventurous? Head to our Activity Zone for climbing, archery and slacklining – with activities suitable for a wide range of ages and abilities.
It’s all included in your festival ticket – no extra costs!
Climbing Wall & Archery
Wiltshire Outdoor Learning Team are joining us at Purbeck again this year. With a huge amount of experience working with all ages and abilities, they’ll be bringing their climbing walls and archery for you to have a go.
Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10:30am–5:30pm
Slacklining
Slacklining is a sport and art that combines balance training, recreation and even a little moving meditation. It involves walking along a 1–2 inch wide length of nylon or polyester webbing stretched between two anchor points.
It’s great for concentration, fitness, core strength and balance – come and have a go!
Friday, Saturday & Sunday 11:30am–4:30pm
Space Hopper Obstacle Course
One of the most fun parts of the weekend – you’d be hopping mad to miss it!
Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10am–5pm | Fire Field
Arts, Crafts & Activities
Arts & Crafts
Get creative in the kids’ craft tent! Our crafty folk will be running a variety of weird and wonderful things for you to make, draw and paint. Activities change throughout the weekend, so keep coming back to see what’s next.
Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10:30am–5:30pm | Kids Area
Activity Sheet
Pick up our super-fun activity sheet from the Info Desk, with colouring-in, dot-to-dots and puzzles aimed at ages 5–10. There’s also a treasure map to get you exploring the festival.
Available all weekend | Info Desk
Treasure Hunt
On the back of your activity sheet you’ll find a treasure map. Hunt around the festival for our Purbeck treasure chests – each contains a stamp for your map and a letter. Collect them all to discover where the treasure is hidden. Prizes for everyone!
All weekend | Start at the Info Desk
Wishing Tree
Make a wish, tie it to the tree and let it flutter in the wind. As the weekend goes on, watch the tree blossom as everyone’s wishes unfurl.
Open throughout the weekend
Giant Scrabble
Take your letters, have your turn, then write an acrostic poem using your word as inspiration. Your poem will become part of the poetry washing line! Good fun for adults and children.
Open throughout the weekend
Welly Wanging
Have you ever wanged a welly? Now’s your chance! Wang Commander Taylor is back, armed with wellies and a measuring stick. How far can you wang it?!
Friday, Saturday & Sunday from 2pm | Fire Field
Circus, Dancing & Magic
Circus Skills
Circus Wessex present a continuous programme of workshops and shows including aerial skills, trapeze, tumble track, circus skills, crazy bikes and lots more. All you need is a smile and a desire to enjoy yourself – come and run away with us in the circus area!
Workshops: Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10:30am–5:30pm
Shows: Friday, Saturday & Sunday 12:30pm & 4pm
Fire Show with Steamship Circus: Sunday 8:10pm
Maypole Dancing
We’ll get you dancing round in circles and (hopefully not) tied up in knots. Come and have a go at maypole dancing – all ages welcome.
Friday, Saturday & Sunday 12pm | Nr Word Stage
Mr Bert
Step into the whimsical world of Mr Bert, where juggling, comedy, magic, giant bubbles and balloons spark laughter and imagination. This highly interactive family show celebrates play, curiosity and audience participation, delighting children aged 3–7 and beyond.
Friday, Saturday & Sunday 1:15pm–1:45pm | Nr Storytelling Tent
Squidge & Pop
A special kind of magic awaits with Squidge and Pop’s bubble workshops. Join their multi-sensory experience featuring immersive environments, light-up play stations, impressive tricks and giant bubbles.
Friday & Saturday 11:30am | Duck Tent
…and look out for more bubbles when you least expect it!
Pirates in a Barrel
A family-friendly roleplaying game where you’ll explore the seven seas, learn fun facts, create your own pirate character and learn some basic TTRPG skills while playing with friends and family.
Sunday 2pm–4pm | The Hangout
Dinosaurs
Dinosaurs and Dragons are joining us at Purbeck to bring magical and mythical creatures to life! Throughout the weekend you’ll meet quirky cavefolk, adventurous dino explorers and, of course, their fearsome friend Rex-Ann.
There’ll be storytelling, dino training and the chance to come face-to-face with a hyper-realistic dinosaur. If you’re lucky she might let you pet her. If you’re even luckier, she might not eat you!
Storytelling
Morag of the Moor
Morag of the Moor is a travelling storyteller who has collected tales from all over the globe, with a particular love for Celtic and English stories. Expect dragons and wizards, magic carpets, knights and faery queens, battles and heroes.
Friday, Saturday & Sunday 12pm & 3pm | Storytelling Tent
Tom Spencer
Join storyteller Thomas Spencer as he reimagines a bunch of wild summer folk tales, full of magical creatures and unlikely heroes. Then pitch in your own ideas to help create a brand-new adventure story on the spot.
Friday, Saturday & Sunday 2pm | Storytelling Tent
Michele O’Brien
Michele O’Brien brings her engaging story of The Tinder Box – a magical telling that invites you to open your imagination and journey into a world of make-believe that feels very real.
Friday 4pm | Storytelling Tent
Tony Horitz
Tony Horitz has been telling stories and making theatre with young people for longer than he can remember! Many of his stories have grown out of good, rich Dorset soil – Tall Tales from Purbeck and beyond to amuse and excite all ages.
Saturday 4pm | Storytelling Tent
Tony will also be creating a brand-new Tall Tale of the Purbeck Valley Folk Festival with your help – and acting it out on the spot!
Instant Theatre: Sunday 4pm | Storytelling Tent
Theatre
Theatre Arts
Using theatre arts and games, create various pieces that can be performed on the busking stage at any time. Join Kylie for this performance workshop for children aged 9–14.
Saturday & Sunday 11am–12pm | Storytelling Tent
Mr & Mr Burn
An explosive, offbeat Vegas double act where disaster is always just around the corner. Blending live-looped music, clowning, fire and unexpected mishaps, Ramshacklicious deliver a riot of mayhem and humour.
Friday 3pm | Nr Word Stage
Saturday 3pm | Nr Word Stage
Sunday 2:30pm | Nr Word Stage
Hand to Mouth Theatre
Hand to Mouth Theatre return with the ever-popular Piggery Jokery – a whimsical wander through the seasons led by the Green Man, his hurdy-gurdy-playing Droning Crone and a cast of quirky characters. Packed with laughter, it’s a delightful show for all ages.
Friday, Saturday & Sunday 1:45pm | Duck Tent
Circus of Science
Expect hands-on experiments, whizzing bath bombs, rockets, Frankenstein’s monster and plenty of science disguised as fun!
The Air Around Us
Discover the gases in the air we breathe and explore their properties. Suitable for all ages; under 6s must be accompanied by an adult.
Friday 12:30pm | Word Stage
Bath Bomb Workshop
Come and make your own phizz-whizzing bath bomb and find out why they fizz and make your bath get cooler. Suitable for all ages; under 6s must be accompanied by an adult.
Friday 1:45pm | Word Stage
Frankenstein’s Monster Show
Watch Frankenstein’s monster and Einstein battle in the ultimate science competition! Expect hair-raising experiments, static electricity and things being blown up.
Suitable for ages 6+; under 6s must be accompanied by an adult.
Saturday 12:30pm | Word Stage
What’s in Our Cells? Workshop
Extract DNA from your own cheek cells to take home in a pendant, using a simple technique that lets you see strands of the building blocks that make you who you are.
Saturday 1:45pm | Word Stage
Frankenstein’s Monster’s Cryogenic Sleep
Marvel at the liquid that allows Frankenstein’s monster to slumber safely in the magic of a liquid nitrogen show. Suitable for ages 6+.
Sunday 12pm | Word Stage
Flying High Workshop
Make a phizz-whizzing rocket in this hands-on drop-in session. Suitable for all ages; under 6s must be accompanied by an adult.
Sunday 1:15pm | Word Stage
Wild Science
Children and families are invited to meet a broad mix of mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates, with a knowledgeable presenter introducing each animal and answering questions.
The session combines a short show with hands-on time, giving everyone the chance to get up close with some genuinely unique creatures.
Sunday 10:30am–12:30pm | Duck Tent
