Fill your summer with flying colours as Dragonfly Festival returns
This summer, Dragonfly Festival is back and more colourful than ever - running throughout the school holidays at nine WWT wetland centres.
Dragonfly Festival brings dazzling performances, vibrant outdoor activities, and brilliant family fun to a wetland centre near you.
Enjoy live music by the water’s edge. See bubbleologists fill the air with shimmering colours. Try your hand at dragonfly arts and crafts. Or take a canoe safari to watch zipping, darting dragonflies weave their colours through the sky. Dragonfly Festival offers families a summer of memory making – all set within WWT’s spectacular wetlands.
What’s on across the UK:
Special summer headliners – including musicians, circus performers, bubbleologists, science shows, wooden sculpture carving and story time sessions, all bringing bursts of colour and energy to the festival.
Giant outdoor games – dragonfly-themed fun for all ages, with vibrant activities spread across the wild wetlands.
Creative craft workshops – depending on the centre, families can create their own colourful dragonfly crafts, from willow weaving and wing-making to dazzling dragonfly mobiles and festival bracelets to take home.
Dragonfly safaris – search for dragonflies by canoe or on foot, guided by our wetland wildlife specialists, and spot flashes of colour as they zip through the air.
Pond dipping sessions – explore the hidden world beneath the water’s surface and uncover a kaleidoscope of minibeasts living below.
Bug hunts – join our team in uncovering the tiny, often brilliantly coloured creatures that call the wetlands home.
Dragonfly expert walks – discover the secret lives of dragonflies, from their underwater beginnings to their aerobatic flights, and learn how their dazzling colours shimmer and shift in the sunlight.
Macrophotography workshops – get an incredible up-close look at these iridescent insects and learn how to capture their vivid colours and intricate details on camera.
Dragonflies are some of wetlands’ most beautiful creatures, agile aerial hunters with shimmering wings and remarkable life cycles that begin underwater, before transforming into masters of the air. But encounters with wildlife like this do more than inspire wonder.
Evidence shows that connecting with nature makes children feel happier, boosts their self-esteem and improves their behaviour, as well as their physical and mental health. Hands-on outdoor experiences help young people build confidence, curiosity and a deeper understanding of the world around them.
By celebrating dragonflies and the thriving wetlands they depend on, the festival gives families the chance to look closer and enjoy enriching outdoor adventures that build nature connection. The festival also shines a spotlight on the vital role dragonflies play in healthy wetland ecosystems and the importance on protecting the habitats they rely on.
With different nature activities running throughout the holidays – and with nine festival locations to choose from nationwide, families can enjoy something new all summer long.
Click here for full festival details, dates and what’s on listings
