This summer holiday, Elizabeth Memorial Gardens and 20-21 Visual Arts Centre are bursting with free, family-friendly fun!
Get ready for a season packed with creativity, hands-on play, and unforgettable experiences. From building block adventures and dinosaur discoveries to live music, dazzling light shows, and colourful Pride celebrations — there’s something for everyone to enjoy! Counting down to the launch of Discover @20-21!
Tuesday to Saturday there will be creative activities in the Square bringing 20-21’s ARTivity table outdoors!
Plus, many of our activities have a brilliant STEAM twist — blending Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Maths to spark curiosity and inspire young minds. Whether your child loves experimenting, inventing, drawing, or dancing, they’ll find something to get excited about this summer.
Come explore, create, and play all summer long — for free!
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Pirates Ahoy! – A Swashbuckling Funday Adventure
Saturday 19 July, 10am to 4pm
Ahoy, me hearties! Drop anchor for a day of watery fun at our Pirate Funday! Meet the mischievous Ferryman Pirates, marvel at the magical mermaid Goldie Prawn, and be wowed by our towering pirate stilt-walker. Little buccaneers can get creative with free pirate crafts, join the bubble workshop for some bubbly mischief, and enjoy a themed menu in the café that’s sure to shiver your timbers!
Free Entry, No booking required
Discover Outdoors! Iron age survival skills and Cardboard Den making
Tuesday 22 July, 11am to 3pm
Step back in time and release your inner Bear Grills!
Join Liz Hill for an exciting hands-on session exploring Iron Age survival skills — from shelter-building to fire-lighting, learn how our ancient ancestors thrived in the wild.
Then get creative with Dancing Tiger Scrapstore to design and create your very own cardboard dens, towers and cities using recycled materials. It’s eco-friendly fun for children of all ages — ideal for future architects, inventors and daydreamers alike.
Come for the history, stay for the creativity — and get ready for an unforgettable day outdoors!
Free to attend, no booking Required
Orchestra of Objects: Sound Filled Fun for the whole Family
Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 July, 11am to 3pm
We’re thrilled to be joined by the incredible Orchestra of Objects!
Come and explore their imaginative world of sound in this playful, hands-on installation and workshop. Meet the marvellous Pump-a-Phone, Grass-Xylo-Hopper, and Twisty-Bata-Drum—just a few of the wonderfully wacky musical inventions waiting to be discovered!
With plenty of opportunities for creative, free-play music-making, Orchestra of Objects guarantees smiles, laughter, and toe-tapping tunes for curious minds of all ages.
Dino Discover Day!
Friday 25 July, 11pm to 4pm
Get ready for an incredible journey back in time at our Dino Takeover. Prepare to be awestruck by Zelda, the animatronic giant tortoise, and step into a world of prehistoric wonder at the Dinosaur Dome. Become a palaeontologist at the dinosaur fossil workshop and explore fascinating exhibits at the mini museum. Don’t forget to get your face painted with a fierce dinosaur design!
Keep your eyes peeled for our incredible walkabout dinosaurs and adorable baby dinosaurs roaming around. Plus, aspiring dinosaur experts can join the dinosaur ranger training to learn all about these magnificent creatures. It’s a day of adventure and discovery that you won’t want to miss! 11-4pm church square
Inside 20-21 Visual Arts Centre we are also filming Then and Now! Visitors have the chance to see a real life film set!
Discover Sport
Wednesday 30th July, 11am to 4pm
Get ready for an action-packed Discover Sports Week, where there’s something for every energy level! Test your balance and coordination with slacklining, or join in on some classic fun with Urban Canvas street games.
Ever wondered what you’d look like as a sports superstar? A roaming AI photographer will be on hand to capture your athletic prowess and transform you! Don’t forget to bring your collection of sports stickers and cards to print and swap with fellow enthusiasts.
Prepare for some side-splitting laughter as you watch our hilarious tennis duo in action, and be mesmerized by the artistry of a bubblologist. Plus, get involved in various other street sports throughout the day for a truly active and engaging experience!
Watch demonstrations from some of English Karate Federation Squad Member and have go drop-in taster Karate Session by England’s Para Karate Coach Sensei Luke Easton and Commonwealth Medallist Sensei Ailsa Brasier
Sports Themed Crafts on the ARTivity Table
Half a String – Theatre Performance and Puppet Making Workshop
Thursday 31 July, 11am to 3pm
The Awesome Half a String are back with their new Show Space Chickens!
Earth’s unlikely hero: an adventurous chicken who is blasted into space to solve all of our planet’s problems. Sounds ridiculous? Not for our heroic hen who will boldly go where no poultry has gone before…
No only will there be a 2 free showings of Space Chickens but they’ll also be a free puppet making workshop!
Free to attend No Booking Required
Urban Canvas – Interactive 3D Street Art
Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 August, 11am to 3pm
Come and watch a demonstration of The Urban Canvas – a huge 3D chalk artwork being created by Fool’s Paradise!
On the second day, once it’s finished, you’ll have the opportunity to take photos with this amazing 3D piece. We’ll also have chalks available so you can create your own artwork alongside it!
Lenny and Whale – Tower of Totem
Thursday 7 and Friday 8 August, 10 am to 4pm
Come and explore Lenny and Whale’s latest creation – The Tower of Totem!
This bright, bold and playful sculpture is popping up exclusively at 20-21 Visual Arts Centre – and it’s like nothing you’ve seen before! You can bring it to life using your phone and even help decorate it by adding your own patterns, characters, and doodles to the different parts.
Get creative, get colourful, and make your mark on this exciting, interactive artwork!
Discover Music
Friday 8 August
Get ready to groove and sway at our vibrant Discover Music Week! Immerse yourself in a world of rhythm and melody as a lively roaming Mariachi band fills the air with their festive tunes.
Be captivated by the dazzling costumes and energetic performances of our Rio Carnival performers, bringing the spirit of Brazil to life. And feel the powerful pulse of the earth with the mesmerizing beats of Coritani drumming. It’s a celebration of diverse musical traditions that will have you tapping your feet and dancing along!
Be amazing by Lenny and Whale’s Tower of Totem an Interactive Sculpture where you can make your mark!
Play! Under 5s Funday
Saturday 9 August, 11am to 3pm
A big day out for little ones! Join us for a fun-filled morning of creative play, movement and imagination – all themed around our environment. Perfect for under 5s and their grown-ups!
Get crafty with eco-inspired makes in ARTivity, then jump into interactive cardboard city play with Dancing Tiger Scrapstore. Enjoy giant outdoor games, and take part in a playful circus skills workshop, messy hands and feet painting, and even make your own vegetable critters. There’s also giant LEGO for big builds and even bigger fun!
Steel/Plant – Metal and Vegetable Music Making
Tuesday 12 August, 11am to 3pm
Ever made music with a carrot? Or a piece of steel? Now’s your chance!
Join artists Tony Wade and Helen Thomas for a brilliant hands-on workshop where everyday objects become amazing sound machines. From vegetables to steel, you’ll discover how to create music in the most unexpected ways!
As we celebrate our proud heritage as a steelworks town, this session brings art and industry together, feel free to bring in any objects from the steelworks to try and make music from!
Once the sounds are flowing, you’ll help turn them into wild visual creations — drawing, doodling, and decorating the windows and floor to show what sound looks like.
It’s loud, creative, and totally unique — come join the fun and make some noise with us!
Discover Play
Wednesday 13 August, 11 – 4pm
This exciting family event promises a day packed with entertainment and hands-on fun! Get ready to be amazed by the Van Buren magic show and workshop, and then dive into the world of science with Lab Rascals, where you can make slime and conduct cool experiments.
Test your luck and knowledge at the Michael Diamond family games show, featuring a lively game of higher or lower. Prepare to be enchanted by a mesmerizing Bubblologist, and for those who love a bit of action, there will be thrilling robot wars with mini fighting robots.
Creativity will flow freely with Dazzle Playbox from Playful Anywhere, offering opportunities to build dens and get crafty, and no fun day would be complete without some vibrant face painting! Make Sound Machines with artists Tony Wade and Helen Thompson!
Blocks & Beyond Fest!
Friday 15 August, 11am to 3pm
Get ready to craft an unforgettable day of building and adventure! We have loads in our inventory for a blocktastic mix of LEGO fun, Minecraft magic, and hands-on creativity. Start by getting your pixel-perfect face painted with Minecraft and LEGO designs by Flutterby Face Painting. Then, mine your way through LEGO building sessions and challenging LEGO mazes led by the 20-21 mob.
Explore the ores of science with StemPunx’s interactive ice and space volcano activities, plus a Minecraft meets geology table that shows you what’s under the blocks in real life. Don’t miss the block-breaking fun of 3D printing right from our Van, and leap into action with Team Reality Parkour’s demo and workshops.
Plus, ARTivity’s Minecraft craft table will have little builders crafting their own pixelated masterpieces. Whether you’re a redstone rookie or a building pro, there’s something here to stack up your day with fun!
Teen Takeover
Wednesday 20 August, 11am to 4pm
Mark your calendars for Wednesday 20 August because it’s time for our ultimate Teen Takeover event! Release your inner rhythm at beatbox workshops, then get involved into the gooey fun of science and slime with Lab Rascals.
Prepare to be amazed by the high-energy pedal power vs. parkour arena show, and enjoy awesome live music from local artists.
Get creative making polymer J-bag charms in the giant Dazzle Play Box and chill out in the comfy den space. Indulge your sweet tooth by carving sweets from the giant sweet ice sculpture, and glam up with free festival glitter tattoos.
For aspiring chefs, there will be exciting air fryer challenges at Scunthorpe Central Library. Dive into the world of pop culture with ComiCon in 20-21, and show off your moves at the giant roller rink in Church Square.
Plus, challenge your friends to some football or basketball, and hop aboard the gaming bus for some virtual fun! A picnic area with the UTC will also be available for you to relax and refuel. This is one event you won’t want to miss!
20-21 @Scunthorpe Pride
Saturday 23 August, 11am to 7pm
The 3rd Scunthorpe Pride takes place in Church Square, and we are once again honoured to be part of this important event! We’re right next to the action, so drop in for the re-opening of the main gallery with the jaw dropping Luxmuralis – Science a dazzling fusion of art and science through breathtaking architectural mapping projections.
Show off your vocal chops and sing your favourite pop bangers in our karaoke party, hosted by international fun-starter Elsie Diamond. Prepare to be amazed by the mind-blowing Guinness World Record skills of hula hoop superstar Chi Chi Revolver.
Make sure your outfit makes a statement with Cosplay workshops with Community Vision.
Don’t miss the Book Launch with artist Ruth Calland, celebrating her exhibition ‘This is All the Treasures we can Have or Hold’
Make sure to grab a bite with delicious festival-themed treats served fresh in our café.
Discover Creativity
Wednesday 27 August, 11am to 4pm
Discover your inner artist and innovator at Discover Creativity on August 27th! Try out exciting science experiments with Lab Rascals, explore your imagination on the giant doodle wall, and take part in a unique giant miniature drawings activity. If you’re in the mood to get moving, enjoy some fun street sport games too. It’s a day full of inspiration, creativity, and hands-on fun for everyone!
Join the Herd Theatre Company for Playworks
Friday 29 and Saturday 30 August
Join The Herd Theatre Company for a magical experience full to the brim with imagination, creativity, and play. Their pop-up play spaces are specially designed for children and families to explore, build, and dream together — with fun themes like construction and road safety.
Friday: Enjoy a brilliant outdoor theatre performance the whole family will love!
Saturday: The kids take over! Build wild characters, design crazy sculptures, and invent brand-new games.
Come play, create, explore — and make memories that last!
Toddler Tuesdays
Every Tuesday in the Summer Holidays, 10am to 4pm
Join our special play area designed just for little ones under 5. Parents and carers, bring your kids along to enjoy self- led play. Explore interactive and sensory toys, get creative with crayons, and unwind in our cosy reading nook.
Free to attend No Booking Required
Have a go! sessions
24 and 31 July, 21 and 27 August
10am to 12pm
Ever wanted to try a new art style but never had the chance?
Now’s your moment!
This summer, we’re running free, drop-in art sessions where you can explore all kinds of exciting materials and techniques — from paint and pastels to collage, clay, and more.
Each session is different, self-led, and designed for all ages to get stuck in and get creative. We’ll provide everything you need — just bring your imagination!
Summer in the Square is funded by the High Street Accelerator Fund and 20-21 Visual Arts Centre’s activities, exhibitions and outdoor events are supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
