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By Joe Goulding on

What to see and do for kids and young people at Manchester Science Festival 2024

Ahead of Manchester Science Festival 2024, which gets underway on 18 October, we're taking a look at some of the highlights for families this year—from extreme science explorations to incredible installations—and even a giant spider.

1. Watch out for the Arachnobot!

A mechanical spider on display in front of a palace
Image credit: Tim Davies

Arachnobot, a dynamic work of art created by Artistic Director Tim Davies, combines a giant inflatable skin with a complex cable skeleton that controls eight independently articulated legs controlled by a single puppeteer. Be both terrified and enchanted by Arachnobot, a world-first giant spider puppet, as it roams Manchester Arndale ahead of Halloween in the City. Get hands on and test your spider senses. Discover how a sticky web traps unsuspecting insects and how a spider senses its prey.

Find out more

2. BBC CBeebies Bedtime Stories – Live at the museum!

Mini star gazers can snuggle down for a special BBC CBeebies Bedtime Story inspired by Manchester Science Festival and read by CBeebies House presenters and a constellation of special guests, including Dodge, Rhys Stephenson, Evie Pickerill and more.

All story time sessions are now fully booked but limited spaces will be available on the door.

Find out more

3. State of Mind by Squidsoup

Dive inside the human brain in this new large-scale installation created by pioneering light, sound and technology artists Squidsoup. Immerse yourself in a rich and colourful audio-visual experience which explores the impact of smartphones, apps and media on our lives and minds. Soak up the atmosphere in this abstract and playful representation of our digitised world, saturated with sensory stimuli from ever-changing media technologies. Move between the order and chaos created by rhythm in light and sound representing the millions of sensory inputs we receive every day.

Find out more

4. Extreme Space

See if you have what it takes to become an astronaut with The University of Manchester and CRADLE Robotics. Take part in a virtual reality space expedition, navigate the challenges of lunar terrain and discover the latest technology allowing extreme exploration. See if you could land a lunar lander on the moon’s surface or collect rock samples with a rover.

A woman and a child drawing together at a museum
Science Museum Group © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

5. Extreme Gaming

Grab a controller and play one of KeepItHuman Studio’s (University of Manchester) video games that show the positive impact we can all have on the planet. Help a community stop fast fashion impacting their water supplies, restore mangrove trees on an island in the Philippines or use renewable energy to save planet Nimbylon.

6. Drumming for Health

Get creative and discover the amazing physical and mental health benefits of drumming with the Clem Burke Drumming Project and Universities of Chichester, Exeter, Hartpury and KCL. Rock out on a legendary Roland drumkit and get tips and tricks from experienced drum tutors. Then make your own unique sounds with specially created drum pads.

7. Sensing Volcanoes

Explore one of the most extreme environments on the planet with the Curating Crises Team. Discover what an active volcano smells like and find out how to survive a volcanic eruption with a special game of ‘The Floor is Magma’. Learn how scientists predict volcanic eruptions and how they learn from communities at risk through archival accounts and first-hand experiences.

Find out more about activities 4–7 here

8. Extreme Science Show

Join our expert Explainers for our extremely awesome live science show! Get ready to be blown away by typhoons and prepare for blast-off in this explosive show which introduces some of the science you can discover across the Festival programme.

Find out more

A man sat in a driving simulator with people stood behind him watching
Science Museum Group © The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

9. Brain and Body

Compete against friends and family in fun games and challenges to discover how gaming and physical exercise affect your mind and mood. Play with video games or get moving, then find out your brain and body score with some quick-fire challenges.

Find out more

10. Colour and Emotion: Embracing Your Colours

Explore the link between colour and emotion in this interactive installation from the festival Young People’s Project with Pinc College. With hands-on activities, creative challenges and brand-new artworks reflect on how different colours affect your memory, mood and behaviour.

Find out more


Manchester Science Festival is also great for grown-ups. Read our festival guide for our top picks for adults.

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