Fun for all at the Big Festival Weekend

Families will be able to celebrate Father’s Day in style thanks to a huge selection of free events taking place at Plymouth University this weekend.

The Big Festival Weekend – being held on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June – will feature activities for children and adults of all ages, at various locations on the university campus.

Incorporating the Plymouth Respect Festival, the weekend aims to give visitors a flavour of life at the University and the role it is playing in transforming lives locally and globally.

It will kick off on the Saturday morning with a parade by local schoolchildren from the city centre with costumes and creations on a marine and maritime theme.

There will then be a range of craft activities, including a fish decorating competition, pirates and princesses, jewellery making and Father’s Day card making.

Face painting, a soft play area, an Infinity Tower and a climbing wall will add to the fun, as will a Junk Band workshop, storytelling and a special Mascot Olympics.

The campus will also play host creatures and creepy crawlies from Dartmoor Zoo, the Tamar Valley Donkey Park and Jack’s Zoo.

Families will be able to go on a Curious Campus tour, while there will be the chance to find out about studying at Plymouth University through a series of course showcases.

Live music, world food, health advice, stands and stalls, films and much more will ensure there is plenty to do whatever your age.

Christian Burden, Director of Development at Plymouth University, said: “This is a festival that is at the heart of the community and for the community, and we are looking forward to welcoming people of all ages to the University. The programme of events is designed to be entertaining and fun, while at the same time showcasing the stunning facilities and first-class courses and research that Plymouth University has to offer.”

As well as the family events, the Big Festival Weekend will include showcases of prominent partnerships and world class research, while university graduates are being invited to return for a ‘Back to Plymouth’ alumni events programme.

Innovative artwork will be showcased at HOT’15 – an exhibition of works by final-year students across a range of art and design disciplines – while events will also be staged in Drake’s Place Gardens and Reservoir, the Marine Building and the Immersive Vision Theatre.

More information about the Big Festival Weekend is available at www.plymouth.ac.uk/aweekend, and further details on the Plymouth Respect Festival can be found at www.plymouthrespectfestival.co.uk.