At the heart of the town and the Festival, Peacock Lawn is the place to be for children and families! It’s a safe, secure, and welcoming family area where you can enjoy daytime events and activities free of charge. Bring a picnic and stay for the day, or dip in and out of your favourite activities.
There’ll be music, theatre, dance, crafting, tried and tested favourites as well as some unexpected and truly magical moments.
DAYTIMES FREE OF CHARGE
During the daytime, activities and events are free of charge but donations are welcome. Every penny given helps us create a fantastic children’s festival for families at Sidmouth each year.
PEACOCK LAWN
Peacock Lawn is the place to be for children and families! The Seagull and Peacock marquees will be hosting a fantastic array of workshops and performances including crafting, songwriting, dance, singing and forest school, and Mornings at the Maypole.
We’re delighted to see the return of the Star Marquee hosting our Young Performers Stage, where families can enjoy performances from some of the UK folk scene’s finest up-and-coming musicians. It also makes for the best picnic spot of the festival!
Applications to perform at the Young Performers Stage are now open: www.littleseedsmusic.co.uk/
For families with very little ones, the Rainbow Tent will be back by popular demand, for drop in playtime, and providing a much needed space to chill out if the hustle and bustle of the main festival gets a bit much.
And don’t forget to pay a visit to the Sidmouth Postman, helping to run our very own Children’s Festival postal service throughout the week.
SEASIDE STOMPERS
For those children looking to tread the boards, 2024 sees the return of the now legendary Seaside Stompers, which takes the form of a series of workshops for children 8 years and over who play any musical instrument and builds up to a special evening performance of the Seaside Stompers Ceilidh Band as part of the festival ceilidh programme.
THE MINIMS
Children aged 5-8 will also have the opportunity to perform as part of The Minims, a daily workshop tailored for beginners, which also leads up to a performance slot as part of the main festival.
SINGING & DANCE WORKSHOPS
Jackie Oates & Miriam Ayling (Mini Singers) & Bryony Griffiths (Song Swell) cater for budding singers and if dance is your thing, we’ve got you covered with morris and mini morris dance workshops for ages 5-12, Bollywood dance workshops, and maypole sessions taking place on Peacock Lawn across the week.
Download the Children’s Festival Programme for detailed information
EVENINGS
We’ve got some special treats instore for our evening events!
After a packed day of fun, nothing quite beats sitting down as a whole family and enjoying an evening of brilliant theatre, music, storytelling or dance. Evening shows are ticketed – with priority to families with season tickets. Season tickets for Children (0-11) are free. Tickets will be sold on the door, space permitting. Children must be accompanied by ticket holding adults.
Saturday 3rd August – The Enchanted Garden
As dusk falls, Peacock Lawn transforms into the amazing Enchanted Garden. Come and discover magic and music in this special event featuring storytelling, wand making, a family ceilidh, and a special concert curated by Sidmouth legend Jackie Oates. And look out for your host, the mysterious Midnight Gardener, as he shares his knowledge of the many and varied fairy plants that only bloom when the moon is shining bright.
7pm, Peacock Lawn
Sunday 4th August – Where Do Our Missing Socks Go? with Under The Bed Theatre
Do they end up down the plug hole, or do they go sunbathing in the Caribbean? Milo thinks that wearing odd socks is embarrassing, so his weird and wonderful friend Luna leads him on an exciting expedition, determined to show Milo that he shouldn’t have to follow the crowd to fit in. Combining live music, original songs and a host of quirky characters, Where The Lost Socks Go celebrates the odd and invites you to be curious. This show can be enjoyed by everyone from 4 to 104!
7pm, Dance Studio at Dissenter (Unitarian)
Monday 5th August – Folk Funk Family Disco with The Oli Matthews Band
Come and get your dancing shoes on in this brilliant family event featuring a folkfunk 7 piece. There’ll be non-stop grooves, sensational disco lighting, and even a prize for the best dancer. 7pm, All Saints Church Hall
Tuesday 6th August – Smashing Stories with Peter Chand
A journey around the world with interactive, vibrant and fun stories from one of Europe’s finest storytellers. Expect desperate mice, mardy aunties, kindly rabbits and much more. Peter has been a full-time storyteller for over twenty years, entertaining audiences all across the world. With family roots in the Punjab, India, he welcomes you to a storytelling session full of culture, language and rhythm! 7pm, All Saints Church Hall
Wednesday 7th August – The Spooky Men’s Chorale
Join the legendary singing troop for this special family evening concert. Sure to be a sell-out, we recommend getting there early . 7pm, All Saints Church
Thursday 8th August – A Stomping Ceilidh
Featuring the music of the Sidmouth Seaside Stompers, and appearances from Hadrian Clog and Zulu Tradition. Caller: Nick Walden. 7.30 – 10.30pm, Blackmore Gardens Marquee
Friday 9th August – Lantern Parade at the Torchlight Procession
Meet at Peacock Lawn from 8.45pm. From here we will head to Glen Road ready for the start of the Procession at 10pm. The magical end to the Festival, the procession leads along the Esplanade onto the beach, followed by the traditional firework display. Bring your sparkle to celebrate our 70th Festival.
Thingumajig Theatre will be on hand throughout the week to help you make a magical lantern to carry during the parade, and Wild Heart Wales are running workshop Friday daytime to create a summer crown to wear.
Evening events are included in season tickets – tickets for Under 11s for the Evening Events are free, children must be accompanied by ticket holding adults.