Dragonfly festival At Castle Espie Wetland Centre

Dragonfly Festival FAQs

Tickets

Is the festival included in the price of my WWT Castle Espie entry ticket?

Yes! The festival is free with your entry ticket to WWT Castle Espie with lots of daily activities included. Check out our events on our What’s On page.

Do I need to book my ticket and how do I book?

For the best value tickets, and to save 10% off ticket price when booked in advance, festival visitors can book online. Or you can turn up and pay on the day. Check out our events on our What’s On page for further details.

Is the festival included with my WWT membership?

Yes. The festival is free with your WWT membership with lots of daily activities included. For those looking for something a bit different, 3D dragonfly crafts can be enjoyed for an additional cost of £1. Check out our events on our What’s On page.

Dates and opening times

Are there activities on every day, or just on specific dates?

There is a festival line-up of activities and events that you can enjoy daily from 30 June to 1 September 2026. Family favourites like pond dipping and outdoor dragonfly games are available during the school summer holidays and for those looking for something a bit different we have headline events available during set dates. Check out our events on our What’s On page for further details.

What times does the festival run each day?

The festival runs during opening times 10am – 5.00pm (last entry at 4.30pm). Find out more about our opening times.

Will the festival still go ahead if the weather is bad?

On a sunny or a soggy day, WWT Castle Espie is the perfect place, with something for everyone to enjoy. If we have extreme weather, we may need to close certain elements of the experience including the woodland and woodland play area. Please check our Facebook page or call us on 02891 874146 on the day you intend to visit to ensure you are not disappointed.

Directions and parking

How do I get to WWT Castle Espie?

Visit our Directions page for ways to get to WWT Castle Espie.

Is there a car park at WWT Castle Espie and do I need to pay for parking?

We have a free car park, which visitors to WWT Castle Espie are welcome to use. There are no parking charges. The car park has 2 designated disabled spaces.

Family

What family-friendly facilities do you have at WWT Castle Espie?

Our festival is great for families looking to make special memories this summer. From family pond dipping and woodland play to family-friendly trails and creative craft workshops, there’s fun for all ages. Enjoying a visit to our wetlands is easy for families with free parking, accessible, buggy and wheelchair-friendly paths and a visitor centre with café with high chairs and changing facilities, a shop and everything needed for a great day out, whatever the weather.

Is the festival just for kids?

Our festival line-up has been designed with all ages in mind, with activities and events for everyone to enjoy. Festival goers, young and young-at-heart, are invited to come together and experience something a bit different. At the height of summer, during the school summer holidays and during weekends there will be more events and activities aimed at families. In September you’ll find more events and activities for adults to enjoy. Check out our events page for further details.

Do I need to bring anything special?

No. Any equipment needed for activities and events will be provided (unless otherwise stated).

Accessibility

Is the festival accessible?

We want everyone to enjoy our Dragonfly Festival at WWT Castle Espie and have access to our wonderful wildlife-filled wetlands. Our site has free accessible car parking, buggy and wheelchair-friendly paths and a visitor centre with accessible toilets. Find out everything you need to help you plan your visit. Our friendly and welcoming team are on hand, should you have any questions before or during your visit.

Can I bring my dog?

Unfortunately, we can’t allow dogs or pets of any kind at WWT Castle Espie. Our site is home to an array of wetland birds and mammals who can be a little shy and easily distressed by dogs and other animals. We welcome trained assistance dogs on leads but are unable to allow other dogs or animals into our car parks or around our site. Please note that there may be some areas or exhibits that trained assistance dogs cannot access due to animal welfare and/or biosecurity requirements. Please ask on arrival for details. Please do not leave your dog in your car whilst visiting.

Food and drink

Will food and drink be available?

We have a selection of hot and cold food, snacks, drinks and ice cream available for you to buy to fuel your wetland adventure. Find out more about our Kingfisher Kitchen. If you’d prefer you can also bring your own food to enjoy at the many picnic areas and seating around our wonderful wetlands.

Get involved

How can I share my festival experience?

We hope you make special memories with us at our festival this summer. We’d love you to share your wetland adventures with us so we can see what fun our festival goers (young and young-at-heart) have had! Follow us and tag us in your pictures on social media Instagram and Facebook using @WWTCastleEspie and add our hashtags:
#WWTDragonflyFestival
#WWTCastleEspie

As this is our first-ever Dragonfly Festival, your opinion really matters to us. Look out for festival feedback opportunities on-site, where we’ll invite you to share your thoughts, ideas and feedback about your experience.

Where can I find out more about dragonflies?

Before or after your visit, we hope you are inspired to find out more about these fascinating creatures. We can help you become a dragonfly expert – let’s buzz through some fun facts, answer your burning questions, and help you start spotting and identifying dragonflies like a pro. Dive in.