Chatsworth Family Festival

Meet Claire Powell

Saturday & Sunday | in the Garden

Saturday: 10.15am, 12.45pm, 3.15pm
The Old Potting Shed

Sunday 12.30pm & 5pm
Marquee

Join New York Times bestselling children’s book illustrator, Claire Powell, for an interactive session, where you'll dive into the world of Marty Moose, learn how to create your very own mischievous character, and join a themed game.

Sarah Horne: Illustration Workshops

Saturday - Monday | Marquee

Times: 11.15am, 1.45pm & 4.15pm

Design your very own book character and learn how to tell their story in this workshop led by Sarah Horne, whose illustration work includes Betty Steady and the Toad Witch, Charlie Changes into a Chicken, Fizzlebert Stump: The Boy Who Ran Away From the Circus (and joined the library), Puppy Academy, and Ask Oscar and its sequels.

Big Top Circus Show

Saturday - Monday | Salisbury Lawn in the Garden

Times: 11.30am, 1pm and 2pm

Enjoy all the fun of the circus! Each performance lasts 20 minutes, with four performances each day.

Meet Spoz

Saturday & Sunday | The Old Potting Shed

Times: 11.30am, 2pm & 4.15pm

Join award-winning performance poet, playwright and singer-songwriter Spoz, who will be performing poems from his books, Spoz's Shorts and the Occasional Long One and Cheese Before Bedtime. The whole family can then get involved by writing their own poems or raps inspired by everyone's favourite food... chocolate!

Concerteenies

Sunday - Monday | Stretch Tent in the Garden

Times: All day

Take part in interactive workshops with Concerteenies, a Sheffield-based, award-winning producer of musical events and activities for children and their adults.

Into Wilderness Bushcraft

Saturday - Monday | By the Canal Pond in the Garden

Times: all day

Develop a deeper understanding of nature through bushcraft, foraging, archery, whittling and forest bathing with the team from Into Wilderness. Enjoy a live reading of Wild Human by it's author, Lewis Tingle.

Mini Olympics

Saturday - Monday | Salisbury Lawn in the Garden

Times: all day, self guided

Join in a series of games and activities designed to get you moving. Can you score the most goals or be the fastest in the race? 

Archery

Saturday - Monday | South Lawn in the Garden

Times: all day

Have a go at archery under expert guidance in these drop-in sessions. 

Arty Party: Tiger Crafts

Saturday - Monday | The Maze in the Garden

Times: All day

Create a tiger puppet inspired by the classic children's book, The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr; an endearing tale of a polite, giant tiger who arrives unannounced, consumes all the food in the house, and leaves without ever returning.

Floral Crafts

Sunday - Monday | By the Old Duke's Glasshouse

Times: drop in between 11am - 2pm

Join the garden team to make creations from seasonal flowers, including floral crowns.

Paperback Theatre: Flag Making Workshop

Sunday & Monday | Garden

Times: Drop in between 11am - 11.50am & 2pm - 2.50pm

Inspired by Paperback Theatre’s production of The Railway Children, in this workshop you will design and make your own railway flag which you can wave during the show, as well as take home as a souvenir from your visit. You will also contribute to the Chatsworth community flag - which will be used in the live production.

Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Aimed at ages 5+

Circus Skills

Saturday - Monday | Garden

Times: Drop in between 10.30am and 5pm

Drop in on a circus skills workshop for all ages and abilities, and learn how to juggle, hula hoop, spin a diablo, walk a tightwire, and more. You can also make your own poi.

JJ Family Magic & Balloon Show

Saturday - Monday | Garden

Times: Throughout the day 

Keep a look out for JJ in the garden, who will be entertaining the whole family with his interactive magic and balloon making show. 

Erig the Earwig Workshop

Sunday & Monday | Marquee

Times: 10.15am

Join illustrator Lucy Fleming and author Andy Evans as they share the inspiration behind the stories and artwork from their multi-award-winning Erig the Earwig children’s book series. Then, get creative by drawing your very own bug character and crafting a mini bug-themed story!

Water Battles

Saturday - Monday | Cascade

Soak your opponent in these fun water battles around the Cascade area. Taking place throughout the day.