What is the Bishop Auckland Family Festival?
Bishop Auckland Family Festival is a free outdoor event taking place on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th August at Jane Armstrong Park (opposite ALDI) Watling Road, DL14 6PP.
What time is the festival on?
The event is open from 11am until 4pm each day.
Are the activities the same for Saturday and Sunday?
Eko the giant puppet is only performing on Saturday, 16th. And, for those who may benefit from a calmer environment, Sunday is our Sensory Considerate Day, offering mostly the same programme of activities, but with a few changes to suit a more relaxed environment.
Is there a charge?
The festival overall is a free event with 90% of activities completely free to enjoy. There is a very small fee for selected activities.
Do I need to book in advance?
No booking is necessary and you can just turn up on the day.
What should I wear/bring?
This is an outdoor event, so please dress for the weather and feel free to bring camping chairs or blankets to sit on.
Is parking available?
There is no official car park at Jane Armstrong Park, however there is plenty of free parking surrounding the park within just a few minutes walk.
How do I get to the festival on public transport?
From Bishop Auckland town centre the number 6 bus to West Auckland and the number 1 bus to Darlington (via Shildon) both stop at Jane Armstrong Park.
Are pets allowed?
Well-behaved animals are more than welcome, but we kindly ask you to clean up after them and that they always remain on a lead.
Will there be toilets on site?
Yes, portaloos are available for the duration of the event, including accessible portaloos.
What if bad weather occurs?
We’ve got you covered. We have marquees with activities taking place inside so if wet weather does occur the event will go ahead as planned. Please come along, whatever the weather, and embrace the proud North East we live in!
Is there a baby change station?
Yes, a baby changing facility will be available for the duration of the event.
Is the event wheelchair friendly?
Most of the site is flat, however the site takes place in the park, on grassy terrain. Some areas are uneven, but we’ll do all we can to place activities away from these areas. There is a main pathway that runs through the centre of the park which will be suitable for wheelchairs and pushchair use. If you have any concerns or questions, please get in touch at info@baccanalia.co.uk or call 01388 540823.
Will there be security?
Yes, we will have security and medical staff on site during the festival as well as overnight security at Jane Armstrong Park on Saturday 16th.
What is a Sensory Considerate Day?
Sunday’s programme will feature reduced noise levels, calmer spaces, and no sudden loud effects to create a more relaxed environment. This is our first time running a sensory considerate day, and we welcome feedback to help us improve.
Is there an age limit for activities?
The festival has been designed for visitors of all ages to enjoy. While some brick activities are recommended for children aged 6 upwards, we also offer larger bricks and play areas for younger children to safely engage and have fun.
