Littledown family fun day returns this summer alongside a packed programme of events

Littledown’s annual free-to-attend Family Fun Day returns to Littledown Park on Sunday 28 July 2024 for a day packed with attractions and entertainment.

Whatever the weather, there is something for families with children of all ages to see and do.

Entertainment this year includes free Virtuality Reality sessions, free music sessions courtesy of Absolute Music, Circus Skills, a funfair, an Urban Bike display, a science dome, a static Birds of Prey display, a 300m assault course, and so much more.

There will be special guest appearances from characters including Spiderman, The Gruffalo, Transformer Robots Megatron and Bumblebee and Minky Moos’ Tinkerbelle, Barbie, Elsa and Anna from Disney’s Frozen II, and many more.

Visitors will be enthralled this year with Butterfly Stilt Walkers and the appearance of the world’s ‘largest walking dinosaur’ as he strolls Littledown Park’s main field with his friends.

Displays and activities available both indoors and outdoors will include Arts & Crafts as well as stalls selling artisan products. Face painting and hair wrapping will also be available for all ages.

Lookout at Littledown, the centre’s newest eating and drinking hotspot, will be open throughout the day selling cocktails, beers, soft drinks and food with live band performances held on its outdoor summer terrace overlooking the park. Stalls and vendors will also be available on Littledown’s parkland selling a range of refreshments and food throughout the day.

Dorset Police’s neighbourhood policing team will be at the event to meet and greet visitors.

As well as being a hub for swimming, classes, gym and sports, Littledown and its parkland is also a hub for community, sporting and social events.

Littledown’s play park and paddling pool (weather dependent) will also be open to visitors on the day and throughout the rest of the summer season.

Littledown Centre and Littledown Park are operated by registered charity BH Live in partnership with BCP Council.

Rob Cunningham, Director of Leisure and Business Development for BH Live, shared:
“The Littledown Family Fun Day is a highlight in my calendar every year. It’s a great opportunity to encourage more local families to come and explore Littledown’s fantastic facilities and beautiful parkland. I would also like to extend a huge thanks to this year’s event organisers and vendors who have worked so hard to provide a day packed with lots of things to see and do.

“As BH Live is a registered charity, any surplus generated through events such as Littledown Family Fun Day is reinvested into our local communities to improve public facilities and services. This means that by attending our Family Fun Day, visitors aren’t just having a great day out but are helping to improve what’s on in their local community too.”

Those unable to attend the family fun day will still be able to enjoy Littledown’s parkland throughout the school holidays with a packed programme of summer events.

The following public events and attractions are scheduled to take place at Littledown Centre – all information is correct at the time of writing:

What’s on at Littledown?

Lookout at Littledown

Please note that entry to Lookout at Littledown is restricted to individuals aged 18 and over. ID may be required to gain entry.

A funky bar with outdoor live music and dining, opened in May 2023.

Already a firm favourite with locals, the next Flamingo Quingo bingo and interactive quiz night will take place on Thursday 27 June 2024.

In the summer months there will be a host of live music events:

• Honey Kick (Friday 28 June)
• Mother Ukers (Friday 12 July)
• Route 66 (Friday 2 August)
• Down with the DJ (Friday 30 August)
• Tropicana Cabana Party Night

Saturday 22 June 2024 | 7:30pm 
£5 per person (includes welcome drink on arrival). Members and non-members welcome. Please drink responsibly. Food and drink (excluding welcome drink) are not included in cost of entry.

For more details visit Littledown Centre’s Facebook event page.

Come to the Lookout at Littledown for our tropically inspired party night packed with live music, DJ and dancing and start the evening off with a complimentary drink on arrival.

Chill out to the summer sounds of ‘The Sound of Steel’ under the cabana. The party vibes carry on into the evening with our fantastic DJ playing the best summer hits of past and present!

Grab some delicious grilled delights from our smoking hot BBQ* between 7.30pm-8.30pm and watch the sun go down with drinks under the cabana with our pop-up Peroni and cocktail bars!

Dress in your best tropical-inspired party wear for a chance to win a free drink!

*available at an additional cost.

• Amazing Animals in Littledown Park

Sunday 30 June 2024 | Doors open 1:30pm – performance starts at 2pm
Ticket Price £8-£10 (booking fee applies)

For ticketing and further information, click here.

A show dedicated to and celebrating all creatures great and small through realistic puppet displays! The only puppet show around where you can see life-sized crocodiles, sloths, reindeer, dinosaurs, penguins, orangutans and maybe even a spraying skunk bursting out onto the stage right before your very eyes.

Bring your camping chairs and blankets for a fun outdoor theatre-style show. Fun for all ages!

• Little Pickles Market

Sunday 21 July 2024 | 1pm-5pm
£1.50 entry (no charge for children)

Little Pickles Market provides customers with the opportunity to buy or sell second-hand maternity wear, nursery furniture, bikes, books, DVDs, games, clothes, toys and much more.

• Tuff Nutterz

Wednesday 24 July 2024 – Sunday 28 July 2024 | 9:30am-5:15pm
Each session is 1 hour and 45 minutes. Prices start from £22. Age restrictions apply.

For ticketing and further information, visit tuffnutterz.co.uk/our-eventsuk

Measuring 300 metres long, this supersize inflatable maze comes to Littledown packed with 30 fun and challenging obstacles to complete, including huge slides, climbing walls, hanging rails, balance balls and more!

• Littledown Family Fun Day

Sunday 28 July 2024 | 11am-4pm

A popular family fun day with lots for families and children to see and do. Stalls and activities such as inflatable axe throwing and face painting will be available on the day with special guest appearances from characters including Bumblebee and Megatron Transformers and the world’s biggest walking dinosaurs. We will also be welcoming stilt-walking butterflies and balloon artists, a mermaid, fairies, the Gruffalo, and other characters. Two 40-minute shows suitable for families and children will also be available to watch on the day - plus VR sessions, a funfair and a Planetarium!