Hoo-Ha! Festival, Bristol’s biggest annual event made for kids, returns with a bang this August, and for the first time we are bringing the Hoo-Ha! party to our Southmead home, Beacon Music Centre.
We’re throwing open our doors and bringing interactive fun and activities galore to Southmead, alongside shows and festival favourites taking place both indoors and outdoors across our creative learning centre.
It’s free entry, no tickets required – so come and join the Hoo-Ha: a hullaballoo of family fun!
We’ll be announcing the full line-up of fun over the next few weeks, so RSVP to receive the latest updates and information about the festival straight to your email inbox.
Presented by Bristol Beacon
All ages welcome
Hoo-Ha! is free to attend and no booking is required – sign-up for email updates about the festival.
Buggy parking and baby changing facilities available
Garden Stage
ICHI
11.00 – 11.45
ICHI
11.00 – 11.45
Bristol-based Japanese experimental singer-songwriter ICHI presents a show featuring quirky handmade instrument inventions. ICHI’s playful, danceable creations reflect punk, reggae, dub, Henri Salvador, tribal music, and old 78s. He captures elements with his trusty sampler, comparing it to “catching an animal.”
Flamingo Chicks
12.00 – 12.20
Flamingo Chicks
12.00 – 12.20
Flamingo Chicks’ award-winning classes make dance accessible for all! Through a combination of active learning, story-telling, sensory props and magical music we bring our Flamingo Chicks sparkle and joy to schools and community groups across the UK. This session is a dance a long for any one who wants to give it a go!
RSVP Bhangra
12.45 – 13.30
RSVP Bhangra
12.45 – 13.30
RSVP Bhangra present a high-energy, interactive and fun Bhangra music experience that really rocks the crowd and keeps them dancing. RSVP has rocked legendary UK festivals, leaving delighted audiences everywhere screaming for more…
Kid Carpet
13.45 – 14.30
Kid Carpet
13.45 – 14.30
A rock gig for families and beginners with songs and games from Kid Carpet’s anarchic family theatre shows. Do you know how to rock out? Will you win the Grand Dance Contest or the Penguin Race? This lively, interactive and entertaining show contains a unique mix of live music, performance, comedy and ping pong balls.
Car Park
Kiss My Putt
10.00 – 15.00
Kiss My Putt
10.00 – 15.00
Kiss My Putt is golf, but not as you know it! Forget traditional clubs—grab a snooker cue, an umbrella, or even use your head. You’ll be dancing and hopscotching your way to each hole in this wildly entertaining twist on the classic game. The ever so unhelpful “Kiss My Putt” caddy teams are there to assist, but beware—they’re sticklers for their quirky rules. It’s golf gone crazy!
The Incredibly Clever Canine Circus
11.00, 12.30 and 14.00 (around 40-45 minutes per session)
The Incredibly Clever Canine Circus
11.00, 12.30 and 14.00 (around 40-45 minutes per session)
Roll up, Roll up! Ever wondered if your dog harbours a secret desire to be a star? Or perhaps your particular pooch is the World’s Greatest Diva in need of the perfect place to showcase their myriad talents? Come along with your pawsome pal and in less than one hour, Ringleader extraordinaire Dakota will conjure the most incredible spectacle out of each and every participant, no matter your prior experience!
Suitable for dogs and people who are comfortable around their own species. Please note only assistance dogs can come inside Beacon Music Centre – dogs and their owners can enjoy the outdoor activities.
Afro Leana
10.00 – 15.00
Afro Leana
10.00 – 15.00
Larger than life at ten feet tall, her bright, vibrant Caribbean colours capture the eye and the imagination. Afro-Leana’s large outstretched hands welcome the crowd as she meets and greets. Visible from afar, she soon becomes the centre of attention, bringing a smile to the faces of everyone around her. The crowd can interact with the puppet visually and the puppeteer verbally. They will always get an answer to any question to take away with them.
Jumpstreet – Pop Up
Various times from 12.00 – 13.45
Jumpstreet – Pop Up
Various times from 12.00 – 13.45
Bristol based street band, serving up a brass heavy mix of funk, soul, pop & New Orleans tunes
Main Hall
Main Hall
Explorer Dome
10.00 – 15.00
Explorer Dome
10.00 – 15.00
Explorer Dome returns to the Hoo Ha! with a selection of its lively, interactive science shows for all the family. Crawl through the tunnel to enter our pop-up planetarium, immerse yourself in its magical atmosphere, meet our expert presenters who will guide you on a journey to inspire awe and wonder, curiosity and imagination. Volunteers will be required and we love being asked questions. We will be exploring The Wonder of Space, Light Fantastic, Life on Earth and Disgusting Digestion. Check on the day for topics and timings. Content will be aimed at ages 4-12, but everyone is welcome. If you can’t crawl that’s fine – just let us know and we can lift the sides for you. Explorer Dome is one of the UK’s leading science outreach organisations bringing science to life for over 80,000 people each year. We’re based in Bristol and this is one of our favourite events of the year. See you there!
Noisy Toys
10.00 – 15.00
Noisy Toys
10.00 – 15.00
Feel 1000 watts of bass power though your fingers, make laser-blaster sounds with a slinky, and discover amazing sounds hidden in everyday objects with Noisy Toys and their sound experiments, demonstrations and short workshop activities.
Craft Room (Room 1)
Craft Room (Room 1)
Lets Make Art
Making and Decorating Tambourines
10.00 – 14.00
Lets Make Art
Making and Decorating Tambourines
10.00 – 14.00
Come and join Let’s Make Art to create your own percussion instrument! We will be showing you how to make a tambourine with bells and ribbons! When made you can decorate it in your own style with stickers and vinyl. Baby, I’m just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake.
Victoria Willmott Art
Dream Fantastical Animal Band
10.00 – 15.00
Victoria Willmott Art
Dream Fantastical Animal Band
10.00 – 15.00
Come along and design your own fantastical animal band led by artist Victoria Willmott. Using collage materials, drawings and paper creations invent a dream band made up of wild and wonderous animals. Design and illustrate your very own record sleeve for the fantastical animals latest song release!
Crafting with Raised in Bristol
10.00 – 13.00
Crafting with Raised in Bristol
10.00 – 13.00
Make your own musical shaker with the team from Raised In Bristol nurseries.
Dance Room (Room 2)
Dance Room (Room 2)
Flamingo Chicks
11.00 – 11.45
Flamingo Chicks
11.00 – 11.45
Flamingo Chicks’ award-winning classes make dance accessible for all! Through a combination of active learning, story-telling, sensory props and magical music we bring our Flamingo Chicks sparkle and joy to schools and community groups across the UK. This session is for children with additional needs and disabilities.
Street Envy
13.00 – 13.45
Street Envy
13.00 – 13.45
Street Envy is a Bristol dance school with leading instructors in street dance, commercial, reggaeton, dance fitness, contemporary, musical theatre, cabaret and GloEnvy fitness classes for adults, teenagers and children.
Movema Dance
14.00 – 14.45
Movema Dance
14.00 – 14.45
Movema is a charity that bring communities together through high quality dance experiences. The team run dance classes and events for people of all backgrounds and abilities in both Bristol & Liverpool, UK. We celebrate diversity and culture and believe in the power of dance to make a difference!
Event information
Arrival
The entrance to Beacon Music Centre is on Stanton Road, off Pen Park Road, and is signposted opposite the entrance.
Chill-out zone
We will have a chill out room in the building which will be open to anyone looking for a bit of peace and quiet throughout the day. There will be lots of comfortable seating for you to take a bit of time to reset.
Food & Drink
There are no cafe facilities at Beacon Music Centre. You’re very welcome to bring your own food and drink, and have a picnic – we just ask that you don’t bring any alcohol or glass onto site. We will have an ice-cream van in the car park.
Dogs at Beacon Music Centre
While we encourage you to bring your dog along to take part in the Incredibly Clever Canine Circus, taking place in the car park, please note that only assistance dogs can come inside Beacon Music Centre.
Parking
There is no parking available on-site. There is on-street parking on Stanton Road and surrounding roads, but as we are in a residential area we encourage you to walk, cycle or use public transport where possible.
Access and experience information
Beacon Music Centre is wheelchair accessible. There is level access throughout the building with ramps to higher levels.
Accessible Toilets
Our accessible toilets are found near the main entrance.
Social Story
View our Social Story for visitors to Hoo-Ha! with clear and easy to read information about what to expect.
Hoo-Ha! at Bristol Beacon
Hoo-Ha! Festival, Bristol’s biggest annual event made for kids, returns to Bristol Beacon this August for two days of music, dancing and fun for little people and their families.
Let us know you’re coming
RSVP and we’ll keep you updated with the latest line-up announcements, stage times and everything you need to know about Hoo-Ha.
Music, messiness & merry-making
View 16 images
Music, messiness & merry-making
View 16 images
