Excitement building for free festival’s return

12 May 2025

The award-winning Lancashire Science Festival takes place this Saturday

Excitement is building as the family friendly Lancashire Science Festival returns on Saturday.

The University of Central Lancashire’s* award-winning event will showcase the fun and real-world applications of science, technology, engineering and maths.

New electrifying shows, fantastic workshops, exciting exhibits and hands-on activities will be on offer at the University’s Preston Campus along with some returning favourites.

This year’s extravaganza, which will be one of the biggest free events in the county, includes Meet the Dinosaurs: Tyrone, Terry and Donna, which will introduce life-like puppet friends who will communicate in their own pteranodon language.

Emergency Heroes will allow children to step inside a fire engine, ambulance and police car; Chemistry Unleashed: Explosions, Reactions, and the Science Behind It All will take youngsters on a journey into the heart of chemistry; while little ones can meet and make friends with amazing minibeasts from all around the world at Bugfest.

Look Up will explore some of the science behind space exploration; while Music To Your Ears will uncover the mysteries of what sound is, how you hear it, and how you turn it into music.

"We’ve curated a free programme to offer something for everyone, with popular favourites returning alongside some really exciting new shows and workshops"

Dr Liz Granger, Lancashire Science Festival Director

Now in its 11th year, returning popular attractions include This is Amazing Chemistry, which features a range of demonstrations using fire, chemical clocks and whoosh bottles; the unique and interactive Bubble Science Show, which creates bubbles of all shapes and sizes; and the Teddy Bear’s Clinic, which allows children to assess some poorly teddy bears and bandage their injuries.

A host of hands-on fun-filled activities will also take place across show floors in the Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre and Foster Building. Space enthusiasts will be able to control a model Mars Rover and walk on the Moon. Budding engineers can have a go at flying a real drone around an obstacle course. For your little scientists, there’ll be a play zone with soft play and dress up games. Plus many more exciting activities delivered by real scientists and engineers.

Dr Liz Granger, Lancashire Science Festival Director, said: “We’re getting very excited as we look ahead to welcoming thousands of visitors to our Preston Campus for Saturday’s public day.

“We’ve curated a free programme to offer something for everyone, with popular favourites returning alongside some really exciting new shows and workshops.

“The long-term benefits of our Science Festival are proven. Our new research highlights how attendees are inspired to do more science-related activities after they’ve attended and the hands-on nature lives long in the memory, with our festival’s impact being known for three or more years after visiting.”

Get your free tickets online.